Alan Moore's motivational wisdom | BBC Maestro

Listen to Alan Moore, author of Watchmen and V for Vendetta, share his wisdom for aspiring writers. Here, he covers the importance of versatile reading, how to tackle writer's block, and how to keep your work exciting over time.
Timestamps:
2:31 - reading to become a better writer
6:35 - developing your writing over time
9:39 - confronting writer’s block
12:05 - write responsibly
Useful links:
See Alan Moore’s BBC Maestro course on Storytelling here - bbcm.co/3PWktWo
Find out more:
From poetry and fiction writing to screenwriting and songwriting, see our collection of writing courses - bbcm.co/3U9EtY3

[@theendarkenedilluminatus4342]

The world needs so much more of Alan Moore talking about absolutely anything.

[@hammerheadcorvette4]

Well, In actuality Alan Moore is telling us what the world needs. It's us. A Better Us ! and he's telling us what tools to use.

[@theendarkenedilluminatus4342]

@@hammerheadcorvette4 agreed. 100%

[@hammerheadcorvette4]

@@theendarkenedilluminatus4342 So let's read more and write more ! I'm sure some of us would solve many of our own problems, if we could read and write more.

[@costelinha1867]

@@hammerheadcorvette4 As individuals? absolutely not, but the knowledge we get from reading and writing can help us figure out how to organize ourselves as a collective force that can help solve said problems. I mean, humans are great alone, but we are at our peak together, we're social creatures after all!

[@hammerheadcorvette4]

@@costelinha1867 Agreed ! I like the fact he encourages people to write as well. We all need to read more and write more. Honestly, writing can be a form of personal ownership/employment as well.

[@lisprn-tt1tu]

"Read terrible books as well because they can be more inspiring than the good books." Absolutely.

[@franminanicollier9431]

The thing I love about "bad" media is that it's so outside of the tradition that it can offer new and surreal experiences, new takes on the world. Bad movies and books are a gift and can be just as entertaining as excellent art.

[@keithparker1346]

That's why everyone should read Moores Neonomicom...utter crap

[@lisprn-tt1tu]

@@keithparker1346 H. P. Lovecraft was the kind of writer who found his own style through writing terribly...but yeah, he did it better when dealing with Jack the Ripper's more horrible works.

[@te9591]

Bad ideas can sometimes boost your imagination and ego because it then gets you dreaming about what you could have done with the material. Whereas if you see a really great film it can sort of both inspire you but also psyche you out wondering how you could ever top it.

[@franminanicollier9431]

@@te9591 I often watch movies on MST3K and think "they really had something here with this film, it could have been so good"

[@VikingVertigo]

I feel like his advice extends to any art form, not just writing.

[@OnlyNexus0911]

What I've been learning from Alan Moore: Becoming a writer is a journey of self - discovery and creativity. It requires courage to share your thoughts and emotions with the world through words. Remember, every great writer started as a beginner, facing challenges and doubts along the way. Embrace the process, trust your unique voice, and allow your passion for storytelling to guide you. Write with authenticity, pour your heart into every word, and never underestimate the power of your story to inspire, connect, and make a difference. Believe in yourself, persevere through the inevitable rejections and setbacks, and keep honing your craft. The world is waiting for your story - so pick up that pen, unleash your imagination, and let your words soar.

[@hammerheadcorvette4]

Thanks for the first sentence. "What I've been learning from Alan Moore: Becoming a writer is a journey of self - discovery and creativity." I wrote that in my Zettlekasten today !

[@unmappedinsights4787]

Uplifting and inspirational words! Thanks & Cheers! 🦘

[@ahobimo732]

Alan Moore is one of the few writers whom I can honestly say has fundamentally changed how I see the world. He's one of the greatest storytellers that's ever lived. I challenge anyone to try to argue with that.

[@l4zrh4wk]

I remember seeing Alan Moore when I was at Northampton uni back the mid-late 2000s. Dude was walking through Northampton town centre wearing a long black jacket and the most metal rings/claws I’ve ever seen. Great talk Alan!

[@TomsManCave]

Going to play this for my year 10 class tomorrow. What a legend.

[@batitony]

"It's not just for me and people with my AMAZING haricut" LOL Can he get any more loveable than that? This guy is truly a prophet of prose.

[@K_E_Robin]

I had become a bit fatiqued by my own prose writing, but I found tabletop roleplaying games and game design to be an endlessly enjoyable medium to create fantastical fiction. I'm working on my own Dungeons & Dragons Heartbreaker, and my game is the real f***ing deal! 🐲🛡⚔

[@swedishclix7248]

Wow. I have heard so much of Alan Moore and loves his work, but never actually seen him talk. I thought that he was a weird, brooding, and in some ways eletistic old man. Really could not have imagined such a straight forward, easy going and likeable Guy he turned out to be.

[@dewulfe9913]

First time seeing any interview/video with him - given his body of work, I probably shouldn't be surprised he's as awesome as this short convo shows him to be!!

[@stocktonjoans]

you need to take a deep dive in to videos of Mr Moore on this site, that man is always an absolute pleasure to listen to

[@pnptcn]

Read Moore Comics

[@hammerheadcorvette4]

Even the bad ones. . . Like the ones coming out of DC & Marvel right now. The Indie scene seems more hopeful right now.

[@j.manuelmendivilm.5039]

​@hammerheadcorvette4 the indie scene has always been more hopeful

[@ThaKid14]

truthfully parts of League were actually really bad - but I loved all of it! haha

[@markkuykendall5475]

Potentially the English-speaking world's greatest living magus!

[@costelinha1867]

Honestly, with a powerful voice like that, part of me wish we could get a glimpse of an alternate universe where he became a voice actor. Imagine an antagonist with Moore's voice, instant massive intimidation factor right there. He's so lovely.

[@TheAlkhemiaStudio]

I am a fulltime artist who tends to procastinate and i cannot validate enough mr. moore's commentary on procastination. Sitting down and starting to work is the hardest thing to do, but once you start, the rest is a breeze. Long live the procastinators.

[@ThaKid14]

It's hard to put into words how much this single man means to me. He's had a huge impact on my life, through his ideas and stories.

[@GoreVidalComicbooks]

It's unlikely I will ever meet him, but it would be a great honor to one day shake his hand and tell him how important his work has been to me.

[@GlazeonthewickeR]

I really wish this had millions of views because it’s by far of the most life-affirming things I’ve seen in a long time.

[@JasonSum1979]

Alan Moore is such a true genius in every possible way! He’s the last of a dying bread! The world was lucky enough to be given us Mr. Moore

[@p.d.stanhope7088]

The world needs Great Readers especially in a Post-literate World.

[@spoongootjoo]

i am studying a field in college that is heavily reliant on writing but it isn’t fiction. i want to be a story teller and my current trajectory will turn me into a bureaucrat. i hope to use what i learn about society and become a better writer and create a better world or worlds. everyone’s life is a story and i am tired of letting mine become a cheap knockoff of great stories. i hope to feel truly fulfilled by the end of it and that i expressed myself to the absolute best of my abilities.

[@criss3619]

You might face lots of backlash but im sure you already know, be sure to have a support group, because you will step on someones toes.

[@supernatural7690]

Hero, and so true. During covid lock down I decided to re read the classics from my childhood. Began with collective works of HG Wells and Jules Verne. Loved them and decided to research who's writing this form of classical SC FI today. Got directed to a "steampunk" novel and it was dreadful. Threw the book down and said to anyone who was within earshot that I could do better myself. First novel due to be published soon. Go for it people it can be achieved

[@oguzhankocalioglu3180]

A true prophet. What a refreshing style of talking.

[@FlippingFumetti]

His intellectual honesty is as high as his talent.

[@andenacar]

The BEST writing advice I've ever heard. Thank you Sir

[@demetriustelenoid7975]

This technics apply to other art disciplines such as illustration and music. Thankyou very much, Sir Allan...

[@lorivaldorocha7520]

Alan Moore é o nosso Sábio da Montanha, sua voz barítona é um conforto para meus ouvidos. Quando eu "sair" deste mundo, farei um agradecimento à Existência por ter vivido na mesma época que Carlos Castañeda, Caetano Veloso, Paulo Leminski e Alan Moore. Agradeço à todos por dignificar o que seria uma existência medíocre, mas eles elevaram a minha alma.

[@warlockofwordschannel7901]

There's so many great insights & observations in this course, as a long-term AM reader I can see that even if he tends to abandon certain techniques, the gritty deconstruction of superheroes, the frequent use of captions after Swamp Thing, etc, there are still timeless thematic elements that remain throughout his works.

[@CarlosBe]

Thank you very much, Maestro!

[@SexyMEFFER]

Guy is a genius!

[@rosysulla]

Thank you, Alan.

[@WayneTully1]

Love to hear Alan talk about writing and the creative arts! He’s that voice to help! that you need to get you working!

[@carlosnicolini1719]

Great talk. Thanks, Alan!

[@midianpoet]

Thank You ,Mr.Moore. Thanks to You, I am living an incredible story, You know it, personally. Good luck with everything, Maestro, greetings from Czech

[@VisualPanther17]

This is so what I needed right now. Thank you sir.

[@george7333]

One of the greatest videos of our time

[@HunterKiller-]

Thank you so much master!

[@user-vh5dj2op4q]

Genius Man A real Gent and truthful to the end !! Salutations and a tip of a hat to you Mr Alan Moore !!

[@blackbird5634]

🥰LOVE Alan Moore!🥰

[@johnransom1146]

Love this guy. Reminds me of a great English teacher I had.

[@Tbonetiger21]

Thankyou Allan Moore ❤

[@thealexprime]

Que legal ! Vou guardar essas palavras de sabedoria!

[@daviecrocket9160]

Well articulated end message

[@llauram3650]

great to see him looking so well!! 8)

[@ruperterskin2117]

Appreciate ya. Thanks for sharing.

[@holycrapIambehind]

This is the greatest advice I have ever received. I’ve never been inclined to write but I have read some books that have pulled me in. I really find it inspiring to think I could be a writer even if I am a totally shit writer. I think it would be fun to be a totally shot writer.

[@vilhelmlarsen9565]

amazing video

[@juanmarcogiambenedetti7574]

Im watching this while procrastinating

[@profjeff9]

Beautiful outro

[@bervync]

Thank you Story Santa

[@BenjamminClark]

hes a genius

[@buzzawuzza3743]

The Magus knows best.

[@nunyanunya4147]

thank you for all the great stories. I'm sorry the world tried to improve upon them with CGI.

[@McCrapweasel]

More. I want more. Is there an extended version of this?

[@Len0Grady]

This is a part of a full streaming course from BBC Maestro, their equivalent of Masterclass

[@neilthornely9713]

Alan Moore is a beacon of common sense in a world gone tits up.

[@SlickDissident]

Inner Rioters everywhere are hearbuy deeply moved.

[@SeniorAdrian]

Hey BBC, please make the course on your website available in Romania. It says "Sorry, BBC Maestro is not yet available in your location". I want to see more of Alan's videos or just upload them here.

[@pocketacessuited]

Damn, this is good.

[@geinikan1kan]

Oi suggest . . . What a postmodern freak (the 1960s definition) we love you.

[@stoatystoat174]

Viz ❤

[@Wingedmagician]

I’m here for the stuff on writing and story but.. his procrastination advice! “know that you’re procrastinating. and then get over it” 11:09 😂

[@BBCMaestro]

we love that too!

[@peteraaronbaron1702]

The Bible is a great book to read particularly Revelation is organized as a chiasm. Brilliant Chiastic Literary Structure.

[@jorgeluismartinez9871]

LA PALABRA DEL SEÑOR

[@RichardMcSweeney]

Very enjoyable! Thank you. :) "道可道非常道" {道德經 一}

[@charlessmyth]

Yesterday, by coincidence, I read Soldier by Harlan Ellison from The Outer Limits Vol. 01 and was dismayed over his lack of rigour with with regard to viewpoint Spoiled it no end. This man called himself a writer ??? :-) Again, by coincidence, I revisited Our Lady Of Darkness by Fritz Leiber. That guy could write !!! "We're not worthy" :-)

[@godofspacetime333]

I feel good knowing that one of the all-time great roiters says that I can roit too 😊

[@lucasmattos5727]

🖤

[@scoon2117]

Thanks Santa

[@finnhaverkamp]

He wrote some of my favorite comics, including From Hell and Swamp Things. But i actually haven't looked into his more recent work. How's that going?

[@unrealnews]

I gotta say I think he's right about everything except the bit about devices. You shouldn't abandon a device merely because you used it before and you recognize that you're using it. You should see it as a tool and that as a tool, it has certain kinds of effects that are can be modulated to change meaning. A device is effective when it does what it's supposed to do, but it is doubly effective when it supports what is being said. The word "said" there is tricky. I mean said from above, as in what the writer is telling you outside of what is happening in the story. It's probably best not to get too wrapped up in these things until the story is complete, then you can fool around with which device does what where and what makes a piece cohesive/coherent and so on. I haven't achieved the status of Alan Moore, but that shouldn't stop you from evaluating his advice to determine if it really works for you. I think it's great that he's used his platform to help people make good art.

[@juicedgoose]

The idea is to keep exploring new territory so you don't end up getting creatively stuck. For the time being you may as well take his advice. You'll always have your old ideas to fall back on if you find your imagination has reached its limit.

[@elrapido5150]

I forgot this guy was still alive.

[@PankajSingh-xc1tz]

Jai bhole baba!

[@leonardomattarmonteiro2824]

SENSEI Supreme ALAN MOORE oozes TRUTH & WISDOM

[@CastleHassall]

you sound like you are from where my dad is from.. did you know any of the Hassalls?

[@AClassOldie]

Has anyone seen Deborah Meaden and Alan Moore in the same room?

[@stocktonjoans]

wait, you think the working class hero, who still lives in the same ex-council house in his home town he always has, is secretly leading a double life as an ultra-capitalist elitist? You take that back! then wash your mouth out with soap, then apologise to Mr Moore

[@TeddScheckler]

Is he talking about Reuters, the news agency?

[@CastleHassall]

Viz!!!.. class! :)

[@justinoconnor9516]

@5:51 😂

[@FisherKing9633]

5:28 Terrible books are more inspiring than good books. Basically the only reason to read Ayn Rand.

[@matthewtopping2061]

Huh. Didn't know that I needed more wroiting in my loife.

[@azraeljc]

I think tom king and Geoff jhons should see this vídeo

[@thedeadd.c.207]

Nice burn

[@arkmist3270]

I think Alan Moore waited his whole life to look the way he looks nowadays

[@stocktonjoans]

TBF he's looked like for for a while now

[@stocktonjoans]

Now, am _I_ waiting until I look that way? well, that's another matter entirely

[@big.word.energy8569]

Somebody please turn Alan Moore onto the idea of writing and narrating a podcast... PLEASE.

[@colossusrevolt3543]

The last bit was historical all the way.

[@xavierpaquin]

If Gandalf was in Motörhead

[@costelinha1867]

"Now I want you to write ME a better world, because this one is COMPLETELY FUCKED" Yeah, I want someone to write me a better world too, preferably one where there's capybaras and velociraptors living together...... I'll probably have to write that one myself tho... I guess.

[@cohenlabe1]

So if I become a writer will be a meditation technique for me but I will be published so just thinking of the story without putting pants of paper but simply the act of creating in my own mind is it not the same thing for the unpublished author

[@arghyadas6331]

Is that Rick Rubin with an accent?

[@stocktonjoans]

Nope, It's Rasputin without one

[@HenryCasillas]

❄️

[@isaacthewebcomiccreator9750]

Does it count if I’m analyzing the difference between good movies and bad movies?

[@G.S.Goldenberg]

Absolutely. This kind of advice is universal, can be translated to basically any other art medium.

[@isaacthewebcomiccreator9750]

@@G.S.Goldenberg Thank you

[@stocktonjoans]

art is art

[@agucci]

Oh, he's still alive! ❤

[@Erdnase23]

This is what the license fee should be paying for.

[@costelinha1867]

"It's not just for me, or people with my amazing haircut" When a god is aware of his divine power, the world trembles.

[@jmgmarcus808]

Rioting will be your best friend. Ok, got it.

[@TheBeetleOwl]

Rasputin Santa has spoken

[@thetriumphofthethrill2457]

The Bob Dylan of comics. He brought a depth and intelligence to the Graphic Novel that elevated it to one of the great art forms.

[@mrplatink]

I pray everyday, "Jesus Christ, I could write this s---. Amen."

[@myownprivateglasgow280]

'Upcycled masturbation', that's what writing is, truly ;) Real men walk.

[@user-wm2sz8eg7h]

Alan Moore said go read manga, western comics are dead, its so over

[@monoyamono]

I love Alan Moore but that's nonsense. There's good and bad stuff in both. When did he say that? It was maybe true before Alan started having an influence.

[@theakkiqueen4655]

Wait I've been growing my hair out like this for nothing?

[@stocktonjoans]

it's cool, it still looks bad-ass, whether or not it buff's your creativity stat