[andosteinmetz]

Hold up. This guy's advice on making art is: "Reduce your message to its simplest, clearest, easiest-to-understand form"?

I guess this is a road map to making great art such as uhhh [checks notes] The Legend of Bagger Vance and Above the Law.

[andosteinmetz]

Snark aside, I really believe this is terrible advice for an artist. I'd argue that most worthwhile art does not have a message, and if it does, the work is not a "reduction of that message into the simplest clearest, easiest to understand form."

What enduring work of art fits this description? I think that most great artworks are great because they are complex; because their "message" is something elusive that unfolds over time with deeper engagement.

This entire tough-love-self-help attitude of "nobody wants to read your shit" also seems completely counterproductive. I much prefer the advice making your work to satisfy yourself, emotionally and intellectually without worrying too much about who wants it, and to find a community where you're interested in what they're doing - so they will probably be interested in what you're doing at least in the general outlines - which can serve a place to test and develop your ideas and craft.

[ndarwincorn]

Pressfield's historical fiction (Gates of Fire, etc.) is top-notch. If you haven't read them, I highly recommend.