Latest / The Daily Writer / What Writers Can Learn from Citizen Kane

Transcript

What Writers Can Learn from Citizen Kane · The Daily Writer

• 0:06
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the Daily Rider Podcast, where we bring you tips and inspiration each day to help you build habits for writing success.
• 0:14
  SPEAKER_00: For more resources, including your free Daily Rider starter kit, visit DailyRiderLife.com.
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_00: Citizen Kane is universally recognized as one of the greatest films of all time.
• 0:28
  SPEAKER_00: Orson Wells and his collaborators created a masterpiece that was well ahead of its time in storytelling, cinematography, special effects, and much more.
• 0:37
  SPEAKER_00: It also happens to be my favorite movie of all time.
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_00: Yet, for all these cool achievements, Citizen Kane is also one of the saddest movies ever made.
• 0:46
  SPEAKER_00: The film tells the story of Charles Foster Kane, a wealthy businessman who began his career with good intentions.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_00: But over time he tries to control everybody around him, and in the end, he dies alone with a mansion full of treasures and a heart full of bitterness and regret.
• 1:03
  SPEAKER_00: In a powerful scene late in the movie, Cain's former friend and employee, Jud Leland, tells a reporter this.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_00: That's all he ever wanted out of life was love.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_00: That's the tragedy of Charles Foster Kane.
• 1:16
  SPEAKER_00: You see, he just didn't have any to give.
• 1:20
  SPEAKER_00: So, my friend, let me ask you a simple but profound question.
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_00: Do you love to write?
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_00: I'm not talking about whether you love having written.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_00: I'm talking about the actual work, the actual process of writing.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_00: Do you love the creative process?
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_00: Do you love the opportunity to set down words on a page or a screen, knowing they can make a difference for somebody?
• 1:42
  SPEAKER_00: Do you love telling a story, teaching something new, or knowing that you helped somebody with your words?
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_00: If the answer is yes, that is awesome, that's fantastic.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_00: But if the answer is no or not so much, I want you to take a moment and consider the reason why.
• 1:58
  SPEAKER_00: Is it because writing is hard or unpleasant?
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_00: Is it because somebody long ago said that you weren't a writer?
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_00: Could it be that inner critic trying to convince you that you're not worthy of being called a writer or an author?
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_00: Perhaps one of the greatest ironies of the movie Citizen Cain was that Charles Foster Cain was a newspaper publisher.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_00: He started his journey with a love of words and he used those words to serve people.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_00: But by the end of the movie, he was an empty shell of a man with no love to give.
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_00: And the single word that he spoke right before he died, the famous rosebud, it pointed to a time in his life when he felt more secure and loved.
• 2:36
  SPEAKER_00: So today, as you sit down to write, my wish for you is that your heart and your pen may be filled with love.
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_00: And not just love for the process of writing, but love for yourself and for the people who will read your work.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_00: Here's today's challenge.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_00: Write down three reasons you love writing and how it can improve your life.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_00: And bonus points if you've never seen the movie Citizen Cain and you sit down to watch it.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_00: If you do, I'd love to hear what you think of it.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_00: You can shoot me an email at Kent at DailyWriterLife.com.
• 3:07
  SPEAKER_00: Seriously, it's my favorite movie of all time.
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_00: I've got a big poster of it hanging in my office.
• 3:12
  SPEAKER_00: I love the movie, and I would love to hear what you think of it if you actually sit down to watch it.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_00: So let me know.
• 3:17
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks for listening, and I'll see you next time.