Letters to Kurt Vonnegut, the legendary American writer of XX century - it is very interesting reading for those who want to learn useful tips on creativity, work and life.
Do not follow the crowd
Not always what make everything - the best. Do what they thought was right, without regard to society and fashion.
Someone had advised me not to join a student society, and instead spend time with independent persons, of whom was then a little bit. I would have grown faster. Someone should have told me that to get drunk, even if it was fashionable - it is dangerous and stupid. And to say that you need to forget about higher education, but instead to work in the newspaper. That was exactly what made the most promising and purposeful young writers of my time. Today, of course, you can not get a job in the newspaper if you do not graduate, and that's too bad.
Bend his line
It is impossible to achieve greatness in art, working alone: creators work in a team with like-minded people. This gives a person a huge amount of courage to make a contribution to culture. This work gives him a fighting and team spirit, the possibility of a few minds, and - perhaps most important - confidence in his point of view. I am convinced that it is impossible to succeed in the art of being a soft, compassionate to all and takes into account all points of view.
Isaac Asimov once mentioned that the most important thing for prolific writer - it is confidence. You must believe in your ideas to others, too, believed in them.
About Parenting Tips
Parents always wish us the best, but whether they are objective or simply projected his vision of life on us?
Most of the letters from the parents provide their own unfulfilled dreams, disguised as good advice. Here's a good tip: pay someone that he taught you to speak a foreign language, met him two or three times a week and talk. And find someone who will teach you how to play a musical instrument. What makes this advice is particularly shallow and meaningless, so that's what I'm still alive. If he was in any way good, I would have used it.
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On the identity crisis
For a creative person important confidence not only in his work, but also in itself, because the product always carry a part of the author.
Ability - it's magic. At least, I always think so, when I see people, they are gifted. You say that you have an identity crisis? Well, the people with the strongest self-consciousness, it seems to me, are those who have useful skills and perform meaningful work.
About art as about communication
Writer, painter, musician or engineer must not forget that he is - a person of their works.
Contemplate a work of art - it is a social activity. You either have a good time or not. And you should not post to explain why. You do not owe anything to say. People who can fall in love with a painting or engraving, are rarely able to do so without knowing anything about the artist. The reasons for this social rather than scientific. Every work of art - it is part of a dialogue between two people, and it is important to know who you're talking about. There is virtually no one loved or respected creations made by those about whom we know nothing. On the contrary, we can assume a lot about the artist's life, even looking at the rock painting. I would venture to suggest that no work of art can not attract serious attention without attention to its author.
On the role of the teacher
Teacher - this is an important figure in the development of students. He should raise his student as well as a flower grower raises, not forcing it into the rigid framework.
Two years require students to demonstrate the development of his ability to write. Training programs lasting a semester or a year, just do not give students enough time to rise. The teacher also should only help the student to become a writer, and do not teach him to write. The teacher should try to figure out who is trying to become his disciple, and help him in this. Cruel and destructive to force the student to become what he is not intended to be. It can only be those who have to.
