Patti Smith’s Advice to the Young, by Way of William S. Burroughs

Patti Smith’s advice centers on doing the work you feel called to do, even without broad acceptance. She also stresses keeping a clean name, avoiding compromise, and protecting your work, while accepting that life will include both perfect moments and rough spots.

Reading notes

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• An artist, or any person, should know what they want and pursue it.
• A writer or artist should keep doing the work because it is a calling.
• William S. Burroughs’s advice to Smith was to build a good name, keep it clean, avoid compromises, and focus on good work and right choices.
• If you build a good name, that name can become its own currency.
• Smith links artistry with seeing what others could not.
• She describes life as a roller coaster with perfect moments and rough spots.