Subtle Maneuvers

Subtle Maneuvers focuses on the intricacies of creative life, highlighting routines, rituals, and the struggles of artists and writers. It explores perspectives on productivity, inspiration, and the artistic process, offering insights from historical and contemporary figures in the arts.

Creative Process Productivity Techniques Artistic Inspiration Creative Blocks Writer's Life Art and Money Historical Artists' Insights Routine and Ritual in Art Creative Motivation

The hottest Substack posts of Subtle Maneuvers

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Mike Leigh’s gloriously inefficient filmmaking process

2220 implied HN points • 13 Nov 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Film Creative Process Character development Improvisation Storytelling
  1. Mike Leigh's filmmaking process starts with no script or story idea, just actors talking to create characters.
  2. Leigh's method involves months of rehearsals where actors improvise to bring characters to life before scripting.
  3. Leigh's unique and time-consuming approach to filmmaking results in fully realized, human characters and unforgettable movies.

Why it’s so hard for writers to ask for money for their work

4206 implied HN points • 17 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Writing Creativity
  1. Asking for money for writing can be challenging for writers due to internal conflicts and complexities.
  2. Writers may struggle to ask readers for payment because of feelings of guilt and the fear of burdening others.
  3. One possible explanation for the difficulty in asking for money is the internal conflict arising from seeking compensation for creative work.

Phil Stutz on his string-of-pearls theory of work (and life)

2555 implied HN points • 09 Jan 23
  1. Phil Stutz shares his string-of-pearls theory of work and life.
  2. Motivational advice is provided by Jonah Hill's therapist.
  3. The String of Pearls concept by Stutz aims to help cope with adversity and uncertainty.

A master class in creative doubt

2063 implied HN points • 23 Jan 23
  1. Creativity involves dealing with frustration and uncertainty.
  2. Jafar Panahi demonstrated persistence in creativity despite challenges.
  3. The key to creativity is working through doubt and uncertainty.

Robert Walser’s day jobs

1690 implied HN points • 06 Feb 23
  1. Robert Walser had various day jobs like journalist, bank clerk, butler, and inventor's assistant.
  2. Walser struggled with mental health issues and spent 22 years in a mental asylum.
  3. Walser's illness may have been triggered by his difficulties in earning a living as a writer.

How to solve a creative block

2201 implied HN points • 31 Oct 22
  1. Try doing your worst work when facing a creative block to generate new energy and ideas.
  2. Don't stress about being blocked - follow Carole King's advice to avoid creative blocks.
  3. Experiment with creating bad work to break through creative blocks and discover new possibilities.

Insecurity is a gift!

1611 implied HN points • 12 Dec 22
  1. Insecurity can be a gift for artists, allowing hope and optimism to emerge.
  2. Self-doubt can lead to a valuable sense of possibility and growth.
  3. Facing insecurity can ultimately be comforting and empowering for creative individuals.

The perfect conditions for a creative block

1690 implied HN points • 17 Oct 22
  1. Creative blocks can be resolved with deadlines and external pressure
  2. Changing your approach and being open to improvisation can help overcome creative blocks
  3. Avoid getting stuck by being aware of patterns of behavior that can lead to creative blocks

#Blocktober begins here

1572 implied HN points • 03 Oct 22
  1. The author is starting a three-part series on creative blocks called #Blocktober.
  2. Creative blocks can manifest as brain fog, impotence, and powerlessness, making it frustrating and challenging to work on projects.
  3. The series will delve into understanding how creative blocks occur, diagnosing their causes, and exploring potential solutions.

Viv Albertine’s brilliant memoir of creative frustration

1316 implied HN points • 14 Nov 22
  1. Viv Albertine's memoir highlights the struggles of creative frustration and feeling like giving up.
  2. Creative blocks are not just a writing problem, but something all artists can face.
  3. Albertine's memoir provides insightful writing on the challenge of making one's artistic vision a reality.

Tove Jansson’s summer days

1493 implied HN points • 08 Aug 22
  1. Tove Jansson was the creator of the Moomins, a beloved family of friendly trolls.
  2. Jansson also wrote fiction for adults, including novels and short stories.
  3. Her daily routine with her partner, captured in a letter, gives insight into their life together.

“Think today, done tomorrow”

1159 implied HN points • 19 Sep 22
  1. Martin Kippenberger was a prolific German artist who lived an extravagant life.
  2. Kippenberger's motto was 'Think today, done tomorrow' - he executed new project ideas quickly.
  3. The artist's approach was to charm and exhaust people with his energy and constant creativity.

Advice on starting projects (and sticking with them)

1395 implied HN points • 11 Jul 22
  1. Commit to starting and sticking with a project instead of waiting for the perfect idea.
  2. Accept that first drafts may not meet your ambitions, but that's okay.
  3. Overcome perfectionism by understanding that the idea itself is not as important as the process of working on it.

Do artists take vacations?

1041 implied HN points • 05 Sep 22
  1. Artists may take vacations, but even during their time off, they are often thinking about their work.
  2. For some artists, vacations are a way to serve their creative practice and find inspiration.
  3. Vacations can bring unexpected connections between relaxation and creativity for artists.

Checking in with “Heather in Brooklyn”

746 implied HN points • 28 Nov 22
  1. Heather Radke, a writer from Brooklyn, shares her experience of dealing with post-project depression after finishing her first book.
  2. Heather found productive outlets like writing for Radiolab to balance creativity during the editing process of her book.
  3. Heather's book _Butts: A Backstory_ explores the evolution of societal views on women's butts and the concept of taking seemingly unserious topics seriously.

Relationship goals with Bernd and Hilla Becher

1022 implied HN points • 22 Aug 22
  1. Bernd and Hilla Becher captured industrial architecture in precise black-and-white images.
  2. The Bechers went to great lengths to capture their photographs, facing challenges for the perfect shot.
  3. Their working partnership involved shared responsibilities and made their travels more comfortable.

Claes Oldenburg was always starting from scratch

1022 implied HN points • 25 Jul 22
  1. Claes Oldenburg found joy in starting from scratch in his art career.
  2. He acknowledged the challenge of always beginning again in his work.
  3. Oldenburg's positive outlook on restarting his projects is inspiring.