I needed this hahah because I’ve definitely fell victim to the “I’m getting distracted and I need to focus” mindset. I’m a writer but a creative in general and I have ideas for so many things. I’ve had visions to start a faith-based clothing line so maybe I’ll actually work towards launching it this year 🤔
Couldn't agree with you more Kern: get out of your comfort zone man !
Do not be chained to your desk writing all day. Break up your day man with new sources of inspiration. Did you know as a profession, writers a lowest paid ! So by spending hours writing your earning rate is declining rapidly like slave wages, unless of course you have big hit, big advance LOL.
I did not want to be bored during the COVID lock downs. So I decided do study Mandarin online. I chose a challenging language, why choose something easy? to be engrossed in to avoid all that 24/7 global news about the pandemic.
Three years later with more follow up courses, to my surprise, I have a natural ability with languages. I may travel to China to do some landscape photography; speaking like a native speaker - you have more access that tourists do not have.
So I plan this year to write a short story in Mandarin and some poetry in the Tang Dynasty style tradition. I also want to continue after taking in some introductory cultural courses: 书法 Shūfǎ, calligraphy, and 山水画 Shānshuǐhuà, landscape painting.
I'm currently traveling the world with my wife & youngest daughter while writing A Very Special Book [plus also finishing a Non-Fiction collaboration with another author as translator]. Today I'm on Cyprus.
We do! Looking out the window now at the sun-splashed ocean. Water's chilly but the air and the view are gorgeous-almost as nice as that from the monastery inland, not far away. Hope you're enjoying yourself too, Kern!
Kern! If only I had counted the number of times I said “yes” or “exactly” as I read this piece. I know all to well about thinking of my work through the “traditional” lens. Seeing much of what I’ve done as adjacent to--as you put it well, a distraction from--the writing career I’m meant to aspire to as defined by tradition.
I’m learning to embrace all the work--from editing at all kinds of levels to copy writing to ghost writing and sundry projects in between--as not less than but a brilliant part of my writing life and career! And this post spoke to that so much. Thank you!!
Thanks also for asking about a new idea. I’m putting one into practice next month--just announced in a post today. What timing to find your work!
I’m offering I workshops developed based on applying to my own work the perspective and tools I learned over decades of editing. It’s set my writing free and made my practice joyful. I kept wanting to share with other writers but questioning whether I was qualified. Then I realized I’ve spent a lifetime learning to devalue my own work for so many reasons, tradition being high up there. I’m developed curriculum and worksheets and gathered wisdom from writers I admire. I’m nervous but excited. Thanks for the encouragement. I needed this message it’s OK--even great--to branch out!
Thank you for your enthusiasm!! And yes, of course I’ll be doing it! I’m on fire every time I think about it, and write for it. (Yes, I have already begun!)And thank you for this post that has made me feel less crazy!
I needed this hahah because I’ve definitely fell victim to the “I’m getting distracted and I need to focus” mindset. I’m a writer but a creative in general and I have ideas for so many things. I’ve had visions to start a faith-based clothing line so maybe I’ll actually work towards launching it this year 🤔
No maybe, LaQuin. You're starting it!
Couldn't agree with you more Kern: get out of your comfort zone man !
Do not be chained to your desk writing all day. Break up your day man with new sources of inspiration. Did you know as a profession, writers a lowest paid ! So by spending hours writing your earning rate is declining rapidly like slave wages, unless of course you have big hit, big advance LOL.
I did not want to be bored during the COVID lock downs. So I decided do study Mandarin online. I chose a challenging language, why choose something easy? to be engrossed in to avoid all that 24/7 global news about the pandemic.
Three years later with more follow up courses, to my surprise, I have a natural ability with languages. I may travel to China to do some landscape photography; speaking like a native speaker - you have more access that tourists do not have.
So I plan this year to write a short story in Mandarin and some poetry in the Tang Dynasty style tradition. I also want to continue after taking in some introductory cultural courses: 书法 Shūfǎ, calligraphy, and 山水画 Shānshuǐhuà, landscape painting.
And then to keep working on my novel LOL
You nailed it, Nicholas. We can amd should be doing other things. Challenging things, fun things, creative things.
Thought this would be about traveling writers (like me)…😞
Traveling writer? Tell me more.
I'm currently traveling the world with my wife & youngest daughter while writing A Very Special Book [plus also finishing a Non-Fiction collaboration with another author as translator]. Today I'm on Cyprus.
That sounds like a dream 😍 enjoy it
We do! Looking out the window now at the sun-splashed ocean. Water's chilly but the air and the view are gorgeous-almost as nice as that from the monastery inland, not far away. Hope you're enjoying yourself too, Kern!
Kern! If only I had counted the number of times I said “yes” or “exactly” as I read this piece. I know all to well about thinking of my work through the “traditional” lens. Seeing much of what I’ve done as adjacent to--as you put it well, a distraction from--the writing career I’m meant to aspire to as defined by tradition.
I’m learning to embrace all the work--from editing at all kinds of levels to copy writing to ghost writing and sundry projects in between--as not less than but a brilliant part of my writing life and career! And this post spoke to that so much. Thank you!!
Thanks also for asking about a new idea. I’m putting one into practice next month--just announced in a post today. What timing to find your work!
I’m offering I workshops developed based on applying to my own work the perspective and tools I learned over decades of editing. It’s set my writing free and made my practice joyful. I kept wanting to share with other writers but questioning whether I was qualified. Then I realized I’ve spent a lifetime learning to devalue my own work for so many reasons, tradition being high up there. I’m developed curriculum and worksheets and gathered wisdom from writers I admire. I’m nervous but excited. Thanks for the encouragement. I needed this message it’s OK--even great--to branch out!
"It's set my writing free and made my practice joyful." What a beautiful place to be. Thanks so much for sharing.
Great question about whether are you comfortable not knowing what's next. I think about this sometimes as I navigate my new path.
What is that new path?
Write a play, inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy, in... Italian (my sixth language)! Crazy enough?
OMG I freaking LOVE this idea. Do it!!!
Thank you for your enthusiasm!! And yes, of course I’ll be doing it! I’m on fire every time I think about it, and write for it. (Yes, I have already begun!)And thank you for this post that has made me feel less crazy!