For a number of years now I have followed Marian Call http://mariancall.com/, an indie musician who writes some of the most literate and literary songs I’ve ever heard: powerful lyrics about universal subjects set to rich and complex melodies. How can you not like a song with the word “cacophony”? Or one about the moon, written for waking up astronauts? http://mariancall.com/757/ And she performs with a vintage typewriter. A musician for writers!
As part of her Donors’ Circle, I’m privy to her creative process. She posted some new material for us this morning, which I won’t share as it’s not for public consumption yet.
I did get her permission to share something she said about the editing process. It applies to authors as well as to musicians:
“It is SUCH a relief that we are not stuck with our first drafts! That first inspiration is lovely — it means a lot in the moment it visits us. But the process of editing makes so so so so much difference in the quality of the art, editing is the makeup and coffee that prepares our poetry to walk out the door of our brains and meet the audience. I believe in editing.”
Me too.