“You Can Only Write What You See”

The writer who chooses to write what he or she thinks people want to read is an imposter. The photographer who chooses his subject based off of the possibility of more ‘likes’ is an imitator. The songwriter who writes in the vein of what is popular for more traction is a phony.

On any given week, I am one of those three things. I would imagine, as a person who desires to create more, you’ve also worn these labels.

I was re-watching Sonic Highways this week and this quote from Woody Guthrie came up:

 

“All you can write is what you see.”

 

Guthrie is responsible for the lyrics of ‘This Land is Your Land,’ one of the most iconic songs in the last century. The song is a vivid description of the United States from coast to coast.

 

As I was walking that ribbon of highway,

I saw above me that endless skyway:

I saw below me that golden valley:

This land was made for you and me.

 

That song resonated with a generation and became an anthem. Guthrie saw the country coast to coast first hand and penned what he observed. That’s it.

I think we try to over complicate the creative process. Most of the time we need to be reminded to just capture what we see –in our minds, in the physical world around us, in our interactions with others.

Just write what you see.

Jason Smithers