Alan Moore’s philosophy on writing

Hear from legendary storyteller Alan Moore about his unique approach to writing and his take on what every writer should consider at the start of their journey.
Timestamps:
00:10 - Develop your moral platform
4:11 - Writing and magic
Useful links:
See Alan Moore’s BBC Maestro course on Storytelling here - bbcm.co/3U9iErs
Find out more:
From fiction writing and poetry to screenwriting and songwriting, see our collection of writing courses - bbcm.co/3U9EtY3

[@gagsermon]

I once saw Alan Moore having a coffee at Milton Keynes train station and it was like witnessing the second coming of Christ in a room of nonbelievers.

[@te9591]

Did he drink it black? And did those around him try and recrucify him?

[@taglor]

I was lucky enough to meet Alan and his lovely wife Melinda about 12 years ago. It still seems like a dream, my favourite author ever and a genuinely lovely bloke.

[@PeaceIsWork]

So well put

[@OnlyNexus0911]

I could listen to Alan Moore discuss the evolution of grass for hours on end and still be absolutely captivated. Kudos to you for a job well done!

[@BBCMaestro]

We might be biased but... his entire course is absolutely captivating!

[@8ballstreet]

​@@BBCMaestroI can vouch for that 👌🏻

[@KwaidanShamanic]

I can see why he began to do some acting lately. He is a very charismatic person. Want to watch him in The Show!

[@8ballstreet]

@KwaidanGhostStory he's great in that one! Utterly captivating and magnetic. He effortlessly gives an enigmatically errie performance full of power and magic and wisdom that's ever veiled behind a smirking charm that both lures you in and makes you want to flee into another county, nay, dimension to get away from him. You never know if he is evil or good or beyond (or beneath!) such dichotomous imposition. Also, he sings a song and plays the banjo.

[@KwaidanShamanic]

@@8ballstreet Cool! I will definitely check it out then!

Writing changes the reader's consciousness. A simple and profound idea.

[@Cloven137]

I don't get it though... So does speaking. Or doing a cartwheel 🤸

@@Cloven137 It's true, many other experiences can be significant for a person and change their consciousness in important ways. However, it is written language that has proven throughout history to articulate and preserve ideas over time. It is precisely this language that distinguishes us from other species and allows for the generation of elaborate culture, from which your consciousness is structured. And while oral language also possesses some of this capacity, it is evident that the written word endures and maintains the rigor of what has been said.

[@Lenny.262]

​@@Cloven137You must be young. The things you mentioned are super limited. With writing, there is no limit, everything is possible. "To know is nothing at all; imagination is everything."

[@Cloven137]

@@Lenny.262 Lol. Well, I'm not old anyway. I just don't know what makes writing special or different than let's say music. I don't know how to address the other part of your comment because it just sounds like you had a stroke or something.

[@Lenny.262]

@@Cloven137 What? I wrote it in plain English, what about it do you misunderstand? Do you have comprehension skill issues? Lol I knew you were just a young punk 🤣

[@hazardousjazzgasm129]

"To cast a spell is simply to spell." - Alan Moore

[@colossusrevolt3543]

Even if someone don't want to become a "professional" writter, or philosopher, or simply thinker, you must have an intellectual part, you must write down your thoughts and feelings, or take note of things that interest you and fuel your thoughts and emotions. Writting is indeed magic. Mr. Alan Moore - agree or disagree with him - spoke a global truth: writting can change you and by writting you can change others. It *magically* gives flesh to your thoughts, gives them existence.

[@NYD666]

*writing* *Writer*

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

"Discipline. Consistency. Deadlines. Creativity. Reflection. Repeat." --an award-winning author 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨

[@nicholaskirk6187]

Writing is magic.

[@greenvelvet]

As someone who gestures and grunts, I feel called out

[@Tiago88Alves]

Imagine arriving at Hogwarts and he is the headmaster. “It doesn’t matter if Voldemort is gone, Harry. We are still living in a faux-democracy. Authority is the true dark Lord we must defeat.”

[@sublimeister9630]

Ha-ha! Gods exist because unconscious people continues to bow to them. Don’t get caught on the double-bind of Dualism, hence you need to develop a Persona (MasK) or Character (Pseudo-Self) -“a way of seeing which is unique to you.”

[@christianotholm9330]

Funny choice of comparison, considering he made Harry Potter the literal Antichrist (and a school shooter) in League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. We can call it satire, but I have a hard time reading it as anything but him hating that book series/franchise.

[@Tiago88Alves]

@@christianotholm9330 I forgot about that! Never stop being a madman, Alan.

[@sawtooth808]

@@christianotholm9330 Oh…did he now ? My respect for Alan Moore went up by 10 points

[@kozanton]

Shudup dork

[@SamElliottsStache]

I guess I will start reading everything by Alan Moore because he's so on point.

[@deputyindigoPrime]

Strongly recommended! You might want to start reading in publication order, because his later works reflect his own development as a person, and may be somewhat challenging to grasp. But by all means, start reading him!

[@danielsweet858]

You won't regret it! Great stuff.🙂👍

[@sawtooth808]

The challenge with reading everything by Alan Moore is “Where to begin” (personally, {if you can find it} I recommend Miracle Man as a good place to start)

[@mambo8684]

Over the years I have collected and read much of what he has written and can say it has been a truly rewarding experience. I envy you because you are about to embark on a wonderful journey..there is so much to discover and enjoy.

[@costelinha1867]

I've only read V for Vendetta so far, but it's so worth it.

[@Duffyfactory]

This mans voice makes me want to levitate

[@Lenny.262]

Alan Moore inspired me to write this comment. Thanks, Alan.

[@larswillsen]

As my dad told me when I was very young ".. You'll eventually find the answer - don't rush it" :)

[@kevinmilne3487]

Man is a literal warlock and im here for it

[@Annie-xh2dt]

Ironically, I have to develop as a person and figure out who I am and what I believe by watching videos, reading books, listening to podcasts because my world is so small and I do not have the means to expand it through travel and meeting people from different backgrounds and prospectives. I often wonder if any of what I believe is real and if I traveled I will find that the greater world is a very different place then the one I am creating in my mind through the media I consume.

[@moonbot7613]

Check out “ The book of Disquiet “ by Fernando Pessoa. Interesting person who loved being in his own home traveling within his mind with little care for the great big world.

[@krumpls]

I can perfectly relate, especially some years back (19-21) In my experience it then gets to a point where you develop an opinion about the world and how you may like to contribute to it (which the opinion itself continues to develop, and you learn more about your motivations, and likely the perversions in them), and then you start relating everything you've acquired from that media to the world around you (which also, everything that you've responded to in that media has been in relation to your experience; as answers, escapism, alternatives, fantasy, gratification, etc). at the end your work can only be pin response to desires you've acquired in response to your personal experience, for good or bad (the caviate for me is to be wary of perversions and attempts to teardown others or con them or force something onto them-the audience is usually very wary to this, even if they're not always able to articulate exactly how it's being done to them). cheers and I wish you lots of luck and long health ❤

[@DrGBhas]

Brilliant. 🎉 Alan Moore's insights . Writing is thinking Writing is transformation Writing is a way of Life It is a philosophy

[@robertlloyd122]

I think he discounts the power of COLLECTIVE memory and the pre-literate oral tradition, but there's still much of value here.

[@MrRizeAG]

I think he's using "writing" pretty broadly here to mean "language". Moore is certainly educated enough to understand that there have been plenty of complex, sprawling civilizations without writing systems. But for Moore, to compose an epic poem, even without literally writing it down, is still "writing". It's the process of coming up with the words and putting them in order that matters, not so much the physical inscription. That's how I took it anyway. I do wish he had been a little clearer with his language here, which is funny given the subject of the video...

[@deejaybundst1671]

he also mentions painting. I'm going to be charitable and assume he's talking about storytelling tradition more broadly. I would say that collective memory is a slow, non deliberate process different from "writing" in that it would go unnoticed despite the society changing through generations.

[@markmckeowntheehyperstation]

I first properly discovered Mr Moore’s writing in the pages of Warrior magazine & Swamp Thing which I used to purchase as an alienated teenager in a local newsagent in provincial Northern Ireland in the 1980s. They were life altering, horizon expanding experiences. He has been a creative inspiration across multiple mediums in my life since. Greatly enjoyed this & just want to say thanks. ✨

[@bodhimind108]

I used to see Swam Thing on the shelf as a child,but I would get Power Pack or X-Men instead. I wish I had bought an issue or two back then. But, then again, maybe I wasn't ready.

[@ziggy3043]

i dont know how much more character development i can take Alan...

[@lancefullmer9384]

God I love that man probably one of the most underrated great thinkers of all time

[@yongjinnkim9207]

His voice is so good and convincible.

[@ishtarg8]

Once, alighting at Northampton station, I espied what I initially took to be a perambulatory hedge or bush of some kind. As I drew nearer, however, it resolved into the form of Mr.Moore.

[@djozzdraper]

What an intelligent unique human being

[@MegaOCER]

just in time when Im trying to learn more, Im just starting to write my second book

[@pedjanedeljkovic7021]

A big fan of Mr Moore.

[@Berliozboy]

I'm really looking forward to "The Great When: Long London Book 1". I absolutely love Moore's comics work, but I love his prose works even more. Great segment!

[@pjoazure]

Great author

[@ShiroKuro13]

Long time ago that I don't see too much hair in a same head. Like the ancients wises. Love this man

[@5oulcrusher]

Very inspiring. This puts together several ideas I've had in a cogent way.

[@donspeight7921]

This is brilliant, however... - writing could have been first used to record grain storage for the winter, etc. to enable folk to survive, thanks to bureaucrats. Also there seems to be evidence of certain cultures, in early times, being averse to the written word and preferring knowledge being passed on by reliable / trusted teachers. Regardless of how important these two points are, it is a joy to listen to a real maestro - and someone who seems to be a genuinely decent bloke

[@emmaphilo4049]

Very esoteric. Fascinating!!!

[@Themasterbrain2]

Excelent advice. I was a creative writing major, and a lot of college children definitely needed it.

[@mr.porfi.bs.as.argentina]

Siendo escritor, agradezco mucho este video ❤

[@michaelstephenwright]

interesting take on writing , im a big fan x

[@PeaceIsWork]

Love this channel.

[@tonywords6713]

Love hearing people talk about the occult powers of language and taking it seriously

[@voodoofilms6407]

amazing

[@chadjones1266]

Thanks for this

[@BorisKid]

He is great.

[@lossietesamurai]

Very educational.

[@lumoc.]

It's high time for the British royalty to confer upon this man the title of sir.

[@wtylermcgee]

He would never accept it! But he should have the honour of refusing!

[@emmanuelboakye1124]

Powerful

[@ShinbrigTV]

Thank you Alan Moore for giving us Swamp Thing, V for Vendetta & Watchmen!!

[@nl3064]

And From Hell.

[@ghengissmith8948]

@@nl3064 from hell imo is his best !

[@aresaurelian]

I can confirm that this philosophy is interesting. It is poetic, and inspirational.

[@AlanDavidDoane]

Thank Glycon for the Magus!

[@cgb5235]

excellent video. i never comment, but this is excellent.

[@vincentwilliamcarmichael4257]

Agree!

[@mosesgarcia9443]

One of the GREATS.............

[@ChernobylKid]

very tru

[@StreetsOfVancouverChannel]

Interesting mudras, MagicMan

[@blackbird5634]

One of the features of shamanism is change or transition and if you can effect change, if you can turn one thing into another ie. tragedy into comedy, then by this metric, comedians are shamans. 😂 They are right out there showing the world how to make such a shift in thinking, in feeling and so one.🥰😂

[@alansmith4655]

Hell yeah.

[@samlazar1053]

Philosophy is not something that u can learn.U can only Imitate. It's one of the hardest fields.And that's why there so few philosophers

[@iampsykoi]

Bro just cracked the enigma code of the universe

[@adamgrimsley2900]

He's cool

[@Leonidask9999]

The funny thing is that when we hear Alan Moore talk about any subject, we're certain we're not listening to an expert but a prophet. Eternal life to the wizard.

[@te9591]

Yes, he is a wizard.

[@jmgresham93]

He most definitely is an expert in creative writing.

[@danielvaega]

Maestro .

[@timmysmith9991]

Epic

[@JeremyHelm]

6:11 all of the artistic effects

[@claudiamanta1943]

Maestro, you are right. Alas, I know what books can do. Flute or pen I shall not use to charm anyone. Not even for their own good.

[@diegoornelas-tapia7676]

3:56

[@Fabian-vn2im]

Alan Moore is the truth

[@diegoornelas-tapia7676]

3:32

[@diegoornelas-tapia7676]

2:24

[@pacho6821]

I love when people talk slowly, beacuse I can understand them well

[@jemajoy8839]

❤

[@ChrisdoperMichigan]

The master

[@timflatus]

Much as I hate to correct the great Alan Moore, the early Bards memorised everything - we believe there was a Druidic taboo against writing. However, if you replace "writing" with "creating stories" everything makes perfect sense. Writing is relatively modern compared to the magical origins of storytelling.

[@seyadeodin]

I"ve been learning recently about memorization techniques and I'm amazed by how crafty the ancients were in devising these toolboxes that pretty much allowed them to memorize anything. Extensive bodies of knowledge that sometimes comprises the traditions of an entire culture.

[@jichaelmorgan3796]

That came to my mind also. The paleolithic was prehistoric because we required writing to record history. At least, that's how I understood it.

[@HWSNISNW]

@@seyadeodin Any good resources for this? It sounds interesting.

[@deputyindigoPrime]

​@@HWSNISNWStart with searching for "memory castle". Lots of YT videos, of course, but please don't stop there.

[@jonathanmcfadden9939]

Major Harry Potter vibes here and I love it.

[@currentphonograph7487]

I tried writing my OWN philosophy of language

[@HenryCasillas]

🌻

[@howardhavardramberg7160]

💯💯💯

[@arturodiaz8018]

❤️❤️

[@erikpaterson1404]

Didn't he write the Watchmen

[@angellover02171]

Yup.

[@MalcolmCookInk]

Yes he did. Who watches the watchmen? 🙂

[@costelinha1867]

Yup, and The Killing Joke, And V for Vendetta, among many others.

[@cyarain]

Thats a wizard!

[@jimiabseits7536]

For me, personally, it's the socks.

[@ensignocean6286]

bros literally a wizard

[@gutsbadguy50]

Anyone else think of drake vs Kendrick when he mentioned the power of a bard's satire?

[@JogaLuce]

“…you should never think of yourself as purely an entertainer for hire who is lucky to have the work. You should try to remember the tradition that you are becoming part of. You should try to remember that a writer can change the world with their writing.”

[@juan.zabala]

I love you Alan. Thank you for demistifying the materialistic bulsh*t and sanctifying the pagan in all of us.

[@MumofJambo]

He'd make a great Dumbledore

[@JonathanCrossland]

Gandalf wakes up in the modern era and finds a job.

[@hithere_1967]

What is a “wroita”? 😉😄

[@thebookdetective8745]

Dumbledore, Gandalf, Three-Eyed Raven.. all in a nut'shell. 😂

[@warlockofwordschannel7901]

Dr. John Dee, Nemesis The Warlock, Rincewind.

[@christoph7395]

It comes out of nowhere though. That being the case it's difficult to cultivate.

[@MalcolmCookInk]

🙃

[@ahobimo732]

"Content" has entered the chat. 😮😮😮

[@Hugo_SA2]

I really like the beginning of this video. His later points about writing being the seperator between cavemen and civilization feels very ignorant though given the plethora of cultures which were able to store information across generations orally with remarkable accuracy without written language.

[@deputyindigoPrime]

His point is that writing is a way of leaving records not dependent on the life of the person who knows it.

[@agucci]

I will always write phosphate. I mean, philosophy! 😂

[@alexathegr8]

God is that you?

[@NUCLEARDASH]

Yes, its him

[@henrys428]

My name's Del Winterbottom. I've been a fiction writer for 15 years. And, well, here's one of my effects on the entirety of the human future. It's a scene from my 11th book (so far, I've written one chapter). Let me know what you think 😊 Last I was here, it did not end well... For you: Marcellus Garcia. The cold dismal day. Damp streets. Grey sky. The Condensated shop-windows. I followed you through the market. When you stopped, I stalked. Quiet as Death before the swing of the scythe. Could it have been the breeze? The way that puddle rippled? Or how the crows scattered… I’ll never be sure… But like lightning, you fled. I chased like the wind. You knocked a woman over and her groceries flew. Barking dogs. The school bells rang. Discordant children. At last, your gasp. I knew you’d give. Breathless, you saw Mitas’ crowned king, Rauze Aruld, on the balcony of his palace, waving at his fools. Then he waved at you… I wonder… Did he wave goodbye? You thought the alley was a good move… That in shadow, I wouldn’t see you. Shivering, you thought you were watching me… But he was my decoy, whom I conned to don my cloak. You had no clue I was breathing down your nape. No inkling my knife was pointing at your heart. ‘Til your eyes followed that first drop of rain. First the splash. Then the plunge. In my arms, you slept...never to wake again.

[@rangeboy7210]

Reads like something Matt Holness would write. Or a crap Alan Moore for that matter

[@satya4234]

I feel like I was just lectured by a grand wizard

[@flushfries5633]

OH

[@YetMoreCupsOfTea]

I generally have a lot of time for Moore's views on these things, but he's not quite right about the necessity of writing for building a corpus of knowledge and a history of events, and so on. Many cultures that had no writing have detailed verbally transmitted histories. My grandmother's culture had verbal stories that accurately described changes to the landscape as the ice age retreated, that describe the first visits by early European sailors, and many other things.

[@kokomanation]

I know Alan Moore from Watchmen and V for Vendetta I really liked the concept of Doctor Manhattan and I wonder what if dr Manhattan had the background of Rorschach what he would have become in relation to the human species that are in some special cases despicable

[@mxglke70]

Santa clause bringing presents to us all even when it's not Christmas.

[@TR-mc2pu]

Alan's grandchildren are my cousins

[@konstantinosntelirabakas7340]

Lol, man's like irl, anarchist Dumbledore. 😂😂😂 so cool.

[@dolores111]

'rooitin

[@BumpySoup]

writing out this comment to have an effect on human history and the entirety of the human future.

[@CF-op8er]

profound

[@arturodiaz8018]

Genio ❤️❤️