Good vs. Great

Think about your favorite song, book, or movie. What sets it apart from all the others? What makes it better than just good? What makes it great? As a musician and writer, I continually strive to push beyond just good. Like any serious artist, I want my work to be great. So again I ask, what makes something really great?

I’ve heard songs performed flawlessly, but they failed to move me. I’ve read well-written books that failed to captivate me. I’ve seen movies with talented actors and exquisite cinematography that were hardly memorable. Apparently, there is more to art than talent and technique.

I think the difference is found somewhere in the heart of the artist. Before an idea can be formulated into words, before the fingers touch the instrument, the heart of the artist must be affected in order to connect with the hearts of the audience. For those artists who consistently create great art, engaging the heart no less a part of their craft than tuning their instrument or getting the lighting just right. If we think of the heart as a destination, some artists get there a lot easier than others. I know musicians who appear to breath out great music. It seems they were born with an extra musical gene. I’m not like that. I struggle to get my guitar playing even close to where I want it. My writing is the same way. Sometimes it seems like the right words are buried deep, and I have to scrape and dig and pull them from the ground. But I’ve learned some things along the way that help me get to that heart place. I’d like to share them with you.

Time is necessary. Whether it’s working out a guitar riff or writing a character or scene, it takes time. Seldom do I create anything of value when I rush. It takes time for hands to form chords naturally. It takes time to really get to know a character.

Honesty really is the best policy. As art is an expression of oneself, we must resist the temptation to cast ourselves in any light other than the one that shines upon us when we are alone. This leads to #3.

Vulnerability is unavoidable. Every artist fails, but the great ones are not defeated by failure. If we are too afraid to put ourselves out there or unwilling to receive criticism, we may as well give up. Face it, some people will hate what you do. Some will love it.

Conviction is key. If we don’t believe in our art, chances are no one else will either. Now I know some of you are reluctant to promote your own art for fear of coming across as conceited or arrogant. I get that because I have those same thoughts. What helps me is to remember that art is a gift that brings great joy to people. If I truly believe that about my books then I can enthusiastically share them without being shy about it. Something else that helps keep the balance is to get behind other artists and help promote their work.

I’m sure there are lots of other ideas that can help us in this matter. If you are an artist, please feel free to share what helps you engage your heart in your craft. We’d all love to hear and learn from you.