Loading...
June 27, 2024 • 2hr 14min
#750: Neil Gaiman and Debbie Millman
The Tim Ferriss Show
This episode features segments from two previous interviews - one with author Neil Gaiman and one with designer Debbie Millman. Tim Ferriss curated these excerpts to celebrate the podcast's 10th anniversary and passing 1 billion downloads. The conversations cover writing processes, overcoming rejection, envisioning your ideal future, and finding the courage to make big life changes.
#750: Neil Gaiman and Debbie Millman
0:00
-0:00
Key Takeaways
- Neil Gaiman's biggest rule for writing is that you can sit and write, or sit and do nothing, but you can't do anything else. This helps overcome procrastination.
- Gaiman does his first drafts in fountain pen, using different colored inks to track his daily progress. This allows him freedom to experiment without worrying about perfection.
- Gaiman's writing routine has evolved over time. He used to be a late-night writer but now prefers afternoons. He emphasizes the importance of being aware of changes in your creative process.
- Debbie Millman's childhood drawing at age 8 predicted her future career in design and living in Manhattan, showing the power of early creative visions.
- Millman overcame early rejections and setbacks by persevering and turning negative experiences into opportunities, like befriending those who initially criticized her work.
- Millman recommends doing a 10-year plan exercise, envisioning your ideal life in detail without fear of failure. Many of her students report their visions coming true years later.
- Making hard decisions gets easier once you actually make them. Agonizing over decisions is often harder than living with the outcome.
- Courage is more important than confidence when taking on new challenges. Confidence comes from repeated success, but courage allows you to take the first step.
Introduction
This episode features segments from two previous interviews - one with author Neil Gaiman and one with designer Debbie Millman. Tim Ferriss curated these excerpts to celebrate the podcast's 10th anniversary and passing 1 billion downloads. The conversations cover writing processes, overcoming rejection, envisioning your ideal future, and finding the courage to make big life changes.
Topics Discussed
Neil Gaiman's Writing Process (06:44)
Neil Gaiman discusses his approach to writing, including:
- His biggest rule: You can sit and write, or sit and do nothing, but you can't do anything else. This helps overcome procrastination.
- Doing first drafts in fountain pen with different colored inks to track daily progress.
- Allowing freedom to experiment in first drafts without worrying about perfection.
- Editing while typing up handwritten drafts into the computer.
Gaiman explains: "Your first draft can go way off the rails. Your first draft can absolutely go up in flames. You can change the age, gender, number of a character. You can bring somebody dead back to life. Nobody ever needs to know."
Evolution of Gaiman's Writing Routine (22:57)
Gaiman describes how his writing routine has changed over time:
- Used to be a late-night writer in his 20s
- Now prefers writing in the afternoons
- Emphasizes the importance of being aware of changes in your creative process
He notes: "The most important thing for human beings is to be aware of the change. The biggest problem we run into is going, this is who I am, this is what I'm like, this is how I function, while failing to notice that you don't do that anymore."
Debbie Millman's Childhood Drawing (33:38)
Millman shares the story of a drawing she did at age 8 that predicted her future:
- Drew herself walking in Manhattan with her mother
- Included details like cleaners, banks, taxis
- Drew a delivery truck with the Lay's potato chip logo
She reflects: "When I saw this drawing, I realized that I had predicted my whole life. I'm a native New Yorker now living in Manhattan...and at the time I found this drawing, I was drawing logos for a living."
Overcoming Early Rejections (46:06)
Millman discusses her pattern of being easily discouraged by initial rejections:
- Was rejected from writing for college newspaper as a freshman, didn't try again for 3 years
- Applied only to Columbia for grad school, abandoned idea after rejection
- Applied to Whitney art program, gave up on art career after rejection
She advises: "Don't accept the first rejection ever. Give yourself options. The timeliness of those options or the timeliness of those retries do at your own pace. You're not in competition with anybody but yourself."
The "Speak Up" Experience (1:28:37)
Millman shares a pivotal experience that shaped her career:
- Was harshly criticized on design blog "Speak Up" in 2003
- Initially devastated, but engaged in discussion
- Ended up befriending critics and writing for the blog
- Led to opportunities in writing, podcasting, and teaching
She reflects: "What felt like at the time, in May of 2003, to be the lowest point of my professional career, actually became the catalyst upon which everything else has been built."
10-Year Plan Exercise (1:53:31)
Millman describes an exercise she learned from Milton Glaser and now uses with her students:
- Envision your ideal life 10 years in the future in great detail
- Include where you live, work, relationships, daily activities etc.
- Write without fear of failure or editing yourself
- Many students report their visions coming true years later
She explains: "Dream big. Dream without any fear. Write it all down. You don't have to share it with anyone other than yourself. Put your whole heart into it and write like there's no tomorrow. Write like your life depends on it, because it does."
Making Hard Decisions (1:58:12)
Millman shares insights from a recent major life decision to leave her corporate job:
- Agonized for months over whether to take CEO role or pursue other interests
- Realized agonizing over decision was harder than outcome
- Turning down role opened up new unexpected opportunities
She reflects: "Hard decisions are only hard when you're in the process of making them. Once you make them, they're not hard anymore. Then it's just life and freedom."
Courage vs Confidence (2:04:34)
Millman discusses the importance of courage over confidence:
- Waiting for confidence often leads to endless procrastination
- Courage allows you to take the first step despite uncertainty
- Confidence comes from repeated success, but courage comes first
She advises: "Taking that first step, confidence really only comes from repeated attempts at doing something successfully. But in order to take that first step, you need courage, and that's much more important than confidence."
Conclusion
This episode provides valuable insights from two creative professionals on developing productive writing habits, overcoming setbacks, envisioning your ideal future, and finding the courage to pursue your goals. Both Neil Gaiman and Debbie Millman emphasize the importance of persistence, self-awareness, and willingness to take risks in building a fulfilling creative career. Their stories demonstrate how initial rejections and criticisms can often lead to unexpected opportunities for growth and success when approached with an open mind.