David Lynch on being true to your ideas

Plus his devotion to daily routines, meditation, Bob’s Big Boy, and sugar!!!

Welcome to the latest issue of Subtle Maneuvers. Previously: bell hooks on the privilege and joy (maybe) of writing.

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David Lynch (b. 1946)

Lynch doing his daily weather report yesterday

Last week, in honor of Lynch’s 76th birthday, I spent some time browsing the book David Lynch: Interviews in search of insights into the filmmaker’s creative process. There were plenty to be found. Though Lynch strenuously avoids journalists’ attempts to unpack the meaning of his films, he is an open book when it comes to describing his methods and habits. My favorite nugget of Lynchian creative wisdom came from an interview published by Film Comment in 1986, shortly after Blue Velvet was released, in which Lynch argued for the importance of “being true to your ideas.” He said: