--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'd worked on music docs for years. It…" description: "\"I'd worked on music docs for years. It felt like writing a novel. By the time I got to Keith Richards, it felt like making a sketch.\" — Morgan Neville" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab4/morgan-neville-8930_books_i-d-worked-on-music-docs-for-years-it-fe_1726327.jpg" --- # I'd worked on music docs for years. It felt like writing a… ![“I'd worked on music docs for years. It felt like writing a novel. By the time I got to Keith Richards, it felt like making a sketch.” quote by Morgan Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab4/morgan-neville-8930_books_i-d-worked-on-music-docs-for-years-it-fe_1726327.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab4/morgan-neville-8930_books_i-d-worked-on-music-docs-for-years-it-fe_1726327.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab4/morgan-neville-8930_books_i-d-worked-on-music-docs-for-years-it-fe_1726327.jpg) > “I'd worked on music docs for years. It felt like writing a novel. By the time I got to Keith Richards, it felt like making a sketch.” [Morgan Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-neville/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing music biographies felt like novel writing, but later became sketch‑like with Keith Richards. **In simple terms:** Early work felt novel‑like; later work felt sketch‑like. Key Takeaway Adapt style to subject depth. Themes creativity process evolution Mood reflective analytical Type documentary inspirational When to use this quote - journalism - biography - music criticism - interviews Key Concepts Narrative form Artistic adaptation Subject matter Questions to Reflect On - How does subject influence your creative process? - When should you deepen detail? A Different Perspective Shallow sketches may miss nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) [Felt Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt-like/) [Keith richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keith-richards/) [Like Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-writing/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music Docs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-docs-1387166/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Richards Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/richards-felt-1387167/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [There are a handful of music docs I'd love to do, including David Bowie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-neville/there-are-a-handful-of-music-docs-i-d-love-to-do-including-david-bowie/) [Morgan Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-neville/) > [I think music docs could turn off some people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malik-bendjelloul/i-think-music-docs-could-turn-off-some-people/) [Malik Bendjelloul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malik-bendjelloul/) > [I don't like music docs, usually. There's nothing to really say. What can you say about music? Normally, you can't say too much. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malik-bendjelloul/i-don-t-like-music-docs-usually-there-s-nothing-to-really-say-what/) [Malik Bendjelloul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malik-bendjelloul/) > [I wish I didn't care about what people thought as much as Keith Richards doesn't care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-neville/i-wish-i-didn-t-care-about-what-people-thought-as-much-as-keith/) [Morgan Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-neville/) > [If I told my 14-year-old self that I'd be hanging out with Keith Richards talking about records, my head would've exploded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-neville/if-i-told-my-14-year-old-self-that-i-d-be-hanging-out-with-keith/) [Morgan Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-neville/) > [Captain Jack Sparrow is like a cross between Keith Richards and Pepe Le Pew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/captain-jack-sparrow-is-like-a-cross-between-keith-richards-and-pepe/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [It's like in the Bible.You can't always get what you want, but if you really need something, you usually find it." "What part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hill/it-s-like-in-the-bible-you-can-t-always-get-what-you-want-but-if-you/) [Joe Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hill/) > [We've never been, really, singers or performers. We are a little bit but we are not like Mick Jagger or Keith Richards or anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-manuel-de-homem-christo/we-ve-never-been-really-singers-or-performers-we-are-a-little-bit-but/) [Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-manuel-de-homem-christo/) > [“Another surprising fan mention came from Keith Richards, the guitarist for the Rolling Stones, who defended his dissipated lifestyle by correctly citing Churchill’s comment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-ricks/another-surprising-fan-mention-came-from-keith-richards-the-guitarist/) [Thomas E Ricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-ricks/) > [We had a giant framed picture of Keith Richards in our house growing up, so that was fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-sherman/we-had-a-giant-framed-picture-of-keith-richards-in-our-house-growing/) [Sarah Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-sherman/) > [I'm definitely a lot more reserved without the mask on. And with the mask on, all those inhibitions kinda go out the window. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-root/i-m-definitely-a-lot-more-reserved-without-the-mask-on-and-with-the/) [Jim Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-root/) > [Keith Richards outlived Jim Fixx, the runner and health-nut dude. The plot thickens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/keith-richards-outlived-jim-fixx-the-runner-and-health-nut-dude-the/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [In 1965, when great young white artists in the English-speaking world were successfully re-channeling hillbilly and black music - you know Bob Dylan, Ray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-pop/in-1965-when-great-young-white-artists-in-the-english-speaking-world/) [Iggy Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-pop/) > [It was way out in the woods in a beautiful, huge log studio. Keith Richards came in and did the vocals with Levon. Again,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scotty-moore/it-was-way-out-in-the-woods-in-a-beautiful-huge-log-studio-keith/) [Scotty Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scotty-moore/) > [Keith Richards outlived Jim Fixx, the runner and health nut. The plot thickens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/keith-richards-outlived-jim-fixx-the-runner-and-health-nut-the-plot/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) ## More by Morgan Neville > [If I told my 14-year-old self that I'd be hanging out with Keith Richards talking about records, my head would've exploded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-neville/if-i-told-my-14-year-old-self-that-i-d-be-hanging-out-with-keith/) [Morgan Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-neville/) > [The problem with a lot of narrative films is that they're not real enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-neville/the-problem-with-a-lot-of-narrative-films-is-that-they-re-not-real/) [Morgan Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-neville/) > [In a weird way, our satirists probably have the most complicated, nuanced views of our politics now - Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, John Oliver.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-neville/in-a-weird-way-our-satirists-probably-have-the-most-complicated/) [Morgan Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-neville/) > [I've produced two docs for Cameron Crowe, and I've always loved him as a filmmaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-neville/i-ve-produced-two-docs-for-cameron-crowe-and-i-ve-always-loved-him-as/) [Morgan Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-neville/) > [Non-fiction or documentaries can tell any kind of a story because they don't have to adhere to the rules of what's possible. When you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-neville/non-fiction-or-documentaries-can-tell-any-kind-of-a-story-because/) [Morgan Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-neville/) > [In the late 1960s, English artists like the Rolling Stones and Joe Cocker began recording in the States, and at that point, they realised,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-neville/in-the-late-1960s-english-artists-like-the-rolling-stones-and-joe/) [Morgan Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-neville/) > [One of the challenges was to make a cinematic movie about literally talking heads and to try to make it feel like something you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-neville/one-of-the-challenges-was-to-make-a-cinematic-movie-about-literally/) [Morgan Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-neville/) > [If you're not doing it for the right reasons, then you'd be dumb to be making documentaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-neville/if-you-re-not-doing-it-for-the-right-reasons-then-you-d-be-dumb-to-be/) [Morgan Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-neville/) > [Politicians pretend not to be smart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-neville/politicians-pretend-not-to-be-smart/) [Morgan Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-neville/) > [Success and singing is not synonymous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-neville/success-and-singing-is-not-synonymous/) [Morgan Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-neville/) > [Church singing is a great training ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-neville/church-singing-is-a-great-training-ground/) [Morgan Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-neville/) > [If the Olympic Spirit is about overcoming every hurdle and accepting no limits, then I think Samsung is a great ambassador for these values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-neville/if-the-olympic-spirit-is-about-overcoming-every-hurdle-and-accepting/) [Morgan Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-neville/) > [Like the ancient Silk Road itself, 'The Sound of Silk' will make the foreign familiar while challenging long-held notions of identity and our place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-neville/like-the-ancient-silk-road-itself-the-sound-of-silk-will-make-the/) [Morgan Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-neville/) > [They don't make people like Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-neville/they-don-t-make-people-like-gore-vidal-and-william-f-buckley-anymore/) [Morgan Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-neville/) > [When you come from a place and an identity, you can feel constricted and have to get away. But then you realise how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-neville/when-you-come-from-a-place-and-an-identity-you-can-feel-constricted/) [Morgan Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-neville/) [Explore all 76 Morgan Neville quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-neville/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) [Christopher K. Krebs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-k-krebs/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) [Markus Herz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-herz/) > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'd worked on music docs for years. It felt like writing a novel. 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