Bob Dylan on Magical Writing

Over the holidays, I watched the movie A Complete Unknown, the new biopic about Bob Dylan. It covers four pivotal early years during which Dylan, while remaining an ever-changing enigma, began to truly become "known." Dylan went on to produce over 500 songs and more than 40 albums, many of which became instantly ingrained in our culture (Blowin' in the Wind, Lay Lady Lay, Mr. Tambourine Man, to name a few). Regardless of how you may feel about him, for anyone who creates, his output is undeniably enviable. After watching the film, I revisited past Dylan interviews and came across his 60 Minutes episode with Ed Bradley.
 
I was intrigued by a certain question and the answer.

Bradley: Have you ever looked back at the music you have written with surprise?
 
Dylan: I used to. I don’t do that anymore. I don’t know how I got to write those songs. Those early songs were almost magically written. Try to sit down and write something like It's Alright Ma. There’s a magic to that, and it’s not Siegfried and Roy kind of magic, you know? It’s a different kind of penetrating magic. And, you know, I did it. I did it at one time.
 
Bradley: Do you think you can do it again today?
 
Dylan: No. You can’t do something forever. I did it once, and I can do other things now. But, I can’t do that.
 
Inspiration for anything—a song, book, garden, painting, or a beautiful meal—can arrive quickly, surprising even us at times. Sometimes these creations come from a place within that even we don't understand. And sometimes it’s hard to conjure again—at least not in the same exact manner each time. Our craft evolves as we do, just like a rolling stone.
 
The evolution of skills and craft was at the heart of my interview with Mindy Sink. I've been talking with writers from all genres for an upcoming book (if my muse is listening, I swear I will finish this in 2025).
 
Both Mindy and I are trained in journalism, and both of us have parlayed those skills into different forms of writing. Acknowledging this brought to mind a favorite quote we both live by: How you do anything is how you do everything. Curiosity, storytelling, fact-checking, being detail-oriented, and always researching are the skills of a journalist and yet apply to many other fields as we move through our lives and careers. Nothing stays static.
 
Taking the macro view of this powerful mindset, our actions—no matter how small—reveal our overall character, true values, integrity, and standards across the board.
 
To repeat the quote Dylan: "You can’t do something forever. I did it once, and I can do other things now. But I can’t do that."
 
And that's OK! How he does anything is how he does everything. In the New Year, It’s my hope that we all embrace our creative evolution and let curiosity, care, and craft guide us to our next thing.
 
 Photo: Ethan Hoover | Unsplash

Welcome!

I’m Liese Gardner.

I’ve helped hundreds of top brands grow and thrive, and consistently increase exposure and awareness in their marketplaces to build revenue and sales. Let me show you how to stay relevant, connect with new generations and continue to move your legacy forward.