Giving Your Life to an Idea
by Obi Okorougo, excerpt by Robert Mckee
Robert McKee has been teaching creators of all kinds for most of his adult life. In a recent interview about storytelling, he offered a statement that literally paused me. (I’ve replaced his words “write” with “create” because his answer can be used for artists of all mediums.)
“Beyond imagination and insight, the most important component of talent is perseverance - the will to [create] and [recreate] in pursuit of perfection. Therefore, when inspiration sparks the desire to [create], the artist immediately asks: Is this idea so fascinating, so rich in possibility, that I want to spend months, perhaps years, of my life in pursuit of its fulfillment? Is this concept so exciting that I will get up each morning with the hunger to [create]? Will this inspiration compel me to sacrifice all of life’s other pleasures in my quest to perfect its telling? If the answer is no, find another idea. Talent and time are a [creator]’s only assets. Why give your life to an idea that’s not worth your life?”
Why give your life to an idea that’s not worth your life?
Love it.
Here’s to the creators.
Tagged: story, Tagged: obi okorougo, Tagged: idea, Tagged: life, Tagged: robert mckee, Tagged: create, Tagged: time
