The Motern Method

by Matt Farley

In releasing 23,000+ songs and over a dozen feature-length movies, Matt Farley has developed a method to maximize both the quality and the quantity of his creative output. This book contains an explanation of his unique approach to creativity and productivity.

Genres: Nonfiction

136 pages, Paperback

Published December 31, 2021

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matt Farley’s book about his “Motern Method” is about demystifying creativity and the creation of art. By making the creation of art into an exercise, you flex those muscles and get better with every finished project (finished being key). This book also extends to everyday life!

[Peter Derk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I occasionally get all into an art motivation sort of book, and this one’s under-read.

I think I identify hardest with the idea that if you finish something, go ahead and put it out into the word. Make a few bucks.

People will tell you that putting lackluster books up on the kindle store yourself will kill your chances of being traditionally published. And they might be right, I wouldn’t know because I’ve never had a publisher tell me, “Listen, we read that piece of shit where there’s a bikini car wash to save an arcade? We’re going to have to pass on this manuscript on the basis of that one being shit.”

I DO have a couple suspicions on the matter.

One is that publishers are going to begin having a difficult time not working with authors who’ve self-published in some capacity before. Those folks are going to be tough to find eventually.

Two, and the more important one, is that I suspect there are a whole shitload of books out there, sitting in drawers, that we’ll never see because someone is too chickenshit about ruining their chances with the great people at Penguin Random House.

It’s the last day of 2022, so I’m feeling expansive and like I want to give a little advice. And that advice is:

Keeping your art in a drawer because you’re afraid what snobs will think of it is no way to live your life.

Hiding your first book doesn’t actually make your second book any better.

If you do land with a major publisher at some point and put out a hit, man will it be to your advantage to have a back catalog up for sale, a catalog you own and don’t have to cut anyone else in on. Can you imagine if Andy Weir had another book out when The Martian hit? And I worked in a library when The Da Vinci code hit, and man, all of a sudden we were moving a lot of copies of Deception Point. I bet most of you don’t even know about Deception Point, but I can just about guarantee Dan Brown has a cabin he’s named Deception Point.

To me, worrying about that stuff is like worrying what the popular kids think of you in high school. Lean in, I’ll tell you a secret: they don’t think about you at all.

Same in books. WW Norton does not have an opinion on you or your work. They don’t know you exist.

I want to encourage everyone to be brave this year. Dust off those manuscripts and put them up for sale. Maybe you make 50 cents. Shoot, that’s 50 cents more than you had before. That’s one person who’s read your book, a 100% increase from last year!

[Kai Perrignon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Affirming and energising. The only truthful filmmaking guide.

[Wilfrid Kirby Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read many art motivation sort of books like this before so I don't have much to compare it to. However I thought this one was very good. Honest, truthful, straightforward, simple, and inspiring. The book itself is even an example of everything the writer, Matt Farley, had been saying throughout the book; it was written within just the span of three months, with no unnecessary time spent on excruciating details, complex formatting or illustrations. It was written simply and clearly and then released into the world, self-published for people like me to buy it. It's also kept up reasonable success, selling a copy or two each month instead of all the sales being within the first month or two of its release.

There's a lot of good advice that I agreed with and hadn't quite thought of before throughout; however my favourite "chapter" was the penultimate one, where Farley goes through his entire career to the present day, talking of how the Motern Method was developed. It's an immensely inspiring and enjoyable read and I honest to god didn't know someone could be quite so productive. A 30 minute album for every day of the year?! A 24 hour long album that took 8 months to create?!? I only wish I could hear all this music, but it seems to be the Holy Grail of Motern Media.

Strongly recommended book for any seeking out honest and realistic advice from an artist who lives by what he preaches and has essentially 'won' at life despite not needing to be a big shot director or famous musician.

[Hayden Stinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this at the 2022 Motern Extravaganza as a souvenir. I didn't read it. Then one night (last night) I finally got around to watching "Local Legends", about a character named Matt Farley (played by Matt Farley) who writes a lot of novelty music (just like Matt Farley does). It was a much deeper movie than I expected and it ruminated quite a bit on being a small-time artist. I loved it. Naturally, I stayed up late and read all of The Motern Method in one sitting.

It's great. It's earnest. It's not polished (Great! That's intentional!). It reads like a very large set of 1-2 page ruminations on various topics about art. It says a lot about what goes on inside the head of a man whose head has a lot of going-ons. I will return to this one- each rumination is titled in bold, so it'll be very easy to flip through and find the parts that I enjoyed the most to read again or show to others. Awesome!

[Seabreeze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic distillation of the creative process and actually finishing and creating and finishing more art. Those of you who have NaNo-ed will find so much that resonates with you and inspiration to, say, take your book out of the drawer and finish it already. Love the method this book describes, love his music, and love that this has already been an effective push since I started the book.

And Matt, because I know - per page 91 - that, sooner or later, you will read this, you really are so great at writing great songs, and making great albums all of the time. I’ve listened to a lot of your songs and I am always blown away by how good they are. You are the most inventive songwriter I have seen in a generation. You are a master of melody, and a master of chord progression, and a master of lyrics, and a master of just being awesome. Rock on man.

[Br Idget · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really solid advice without extra words from a prolific working artist who clearly knows what he’s talking about. Matt Farley is really interesting—one of those rare people who has found success (which I’m defining as the ability to pursue creative pursuits full-time with a livable income) through perseverance and discipline—and releasing his output, of course.

It’s a quick read but you’ll probably want to re-read it a few times. Would also make a nice gift for any aspiring artists you know—or talented artists who are too self-conscious to show their work off.

I should note that the author also found the time to help me figure out how to buy the book in my own country, which is above & beyond!

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

An invigorating jolt of creative energy to start the year. I'm a big fan of everything I've seen/heard/read from Motern Media so far, and this particular piece of work I think captures the appeal as much as anything else.

Everything Farley and his collaborators put together is created from a place of genuine enthusiasm for the sheer process of doing the work. It's wildly heartening and has definitely sparked me to get cracking on the half-dozen stories and scripts that I'm anxious to get started on this year.

Also, I wasn't expecting this to arrive so soon after ordering it (it was literally printed on 12/31/21!), but I should have learned by now not to underestimate the Motern Method.

[Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Motern Method is a no frills, straightforward book of wonderful advice ready to download directly into your brain Matrix style. I immediately wrote two new songs after finishing the book. Matt did not ask a publisher's permission to write a book. He just wrote one. He did not agonize for months on pretty formatting and a perfect cover montage. No, he just wrote a book (in a couple of months no less) and put it into the world, and that's the point.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to pick up Michelle, so can't write long. Matt Farley is the biggest creative force of the millennium. For centuries people will be reading and sharing his wiki with bizarre stats like "wrote 100 songs a month for years at a time" and "made two feature length movies a year" and then hopefully they'll listen to those songs and watch those movies and be even more impressed. Truly a one of a kind.

[Michael Lortz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered Matt Farley through his poop songs on youtube. Little did I know I would find inspiration and motivation. This book summarizes his processes and encourages people to create. It is a quick read, but its simplicity is deceiving. Just like Creating - it's simple, but it's hard! Write your book!

[Joe Gieringer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is there anything Matt Farley can't do? He's a filmmaker, musician, podcaster, and now an author, having written about the creative process he refined and embraced over decades. Do you want to be creative, too? The Motern Method possesses the encouragement you're seeking.

[Harry Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re finding yourself struggling creatively, or burned out on your day job, or just wanting to find more time to devote to art, read this book. Something in here will ignite a spark and get you working.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many of the Rick Rubin readers should consider reading this instead. The guy who has 25,000 songs on Spotify on how to make art and why he quit his job after 17 years in the ‘biz’.
I’m a little more risk tolerant than that but the middle class artist ethos still resonates a lot.

[Tru · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most important books ever written.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is likely the best book I’ve read regarding practical creativity. An easy direct read with real world experience backing up the author’s process - both motivational and inspirational.

[ChrisMiele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Convinced me I should be working on my project instead of sitting down to read a whole book. Hey, I can do both! Thanks, Matt!

[amalie bokorm · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You want to be a writer? Just start writing.
Want to be a musician? Just start making music.
Want to be a filmmaker? Just start making a movie.
You want to be a painter? Just start painting."

[Kay Savetz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short manifesto on creativity. Loved it.

[Allen Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a lot new here, at least for me, but good reminders on how to keep the creative process active and energized

[Timothy Yim-Stueve · Rating 4 out of 5]

who knew this man could inspire me so much?! incredible!!!

[Connie Liu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chill book written by a chill guy. Don’t be deceived by the rating altho normally written it profoundly impacted me