I was a child the first time Led Zeppelin was huge, but I had an older brother who had older friends and so the “Gods of Rock Music” were frequently played on our stereos and Stairway To Heaven was always on the radio. Always. It was only very recently though that I stumbled across their quieter songs. I was searching on You Tube for nothing and “discovered” Thank you, That’s the Way and Going To California played live in concert, but only on acoustics.
So I jumped down the rabbit hole of research and learned Led Zeppelin has several quiet songs, beautiful songs. Each member of the band is considered an accomplished musician. Robert Plant was (is) not just a one of a kind banshee preening and wailing, he could also sing sweet, deeply moving ballads.
Then I learned about the group’s founder, Jimmy Page.
I’ll just focus on his professional life and how learning about how he grew and managed his career has provided me with lessons about being a writer.
#1 Childhood Obsessions Are Often Your True Path in Life
Jimmy Page found a guitar left behind in the house where he and his parents moved. It never left his side. He carried it everywhere. So much so, that teachers at school had to take it away from him. His parents though were supportive as long as he “kept his grades.”
I was a child that was given a diary when I was about eight and clutched it like it held the most precious treasures in the world, which it did- my writing. It had the clasp with a lock. It wasn’t big enough to capture all my daily writing and so I also carried a spiral notebook. I spent hours outside, sitting under a tree, writing. I declared at age 11 “I’m going to be a writer when I grow up.” (The fact that my mom threw ice water on that dream and it took me forever to return to it is another story for another day)
#2 Be Willing to Go Public With Your Gift.
Jimmy Page played skiffle guitar with a band on the BBC at age 13.
I published poems in the literary magazine and wrote stories for the newspaper in high school (we won state awards), but went secret with my writing for years. Lost confidence? Sold out to earning a degree so I could make money? Eventually, when asked what I “did for a living,” I would say , “If I could wave a magic wand, I’d be a published author.”
Finally, I started submitting and I started being published.
#3 Learn Your Craft
Jimmy Page was the top session guitarist in the UK by age 17. A session musician is a master at his/her instrument and is usually the artist you actually hear on records. For example, the musicians you actually hear on the Beach Boys records are a group of session musicians known as the Wrecking Crew.”
Page talks about how he learned to show up on time day after day, play what was wanted/needed, learned to read and write music, learned how to compose, engineer and produce. Fun Fact: It was the session violinist father of actor David McCallum (Man From Uncle, NCIS) who suggested to Page he try a bow with his guitar.
Me? I’ve taken writing courses to learn all aspects of the craft of writing itself AND the publishing industry (just as important).
#4 Take Risks
Jimmy Page quit being a well paid, steady working session musician when he was asked to play the equivalent of MUZAK. He joined the Yardbirds for a while and then, when they broke up, created what became Led Zeppelin.
This is where I still struggle. I haven’t completely ditched my comfy “day job,” but I’m writing and submitting more than I’m not. (Great Spirit, spur me on)
#5 Do Three Versions Then Pick the Best
Page is known for extraordinary guitar solos both in recordings and , especially, live. He has said that he would record his solos three times then pick the best one for the albums.
I see the benefit in having multiple drafts of my stories, but I listen to too many (unpublished) writers talk about how many drafts they have of their story. For some, it’s been going on for years with the same story. At some point, we have to pick the best one and go with it.
#6 Find a Partner to Run the Business Side
Jimmy Page had Peter Grant. The deal was that the band focus on the music and Grant would handle everything else. It worked. They became one of the biggest (if not the biggest) rock bands of all time. Still hugely popular.
Writers need a Literary agent. We just do. We need to write and they need to find our publishers and advocate for us.
#7 Stay in Charge of The Creative Side
Jimmy Page produced all Led Zeppelin’s music and still curates the band.
Writers need to make sure the publishing process keeps you with input on book design, ownership of rights, understand distribution, reprints, etc. While you want to focus on the writing and your Literary Agent should handle the heavy side of the business, pay attention– manage your creation.
Time now to listen to music. Perhaps some Led Zeppelin, yes?
