Hi Dan. As we evolve creatively, it's a great idea to set the refresh button, but some things are hard to face.
I've had to shorten the list of people who seem unable to support who I am as a creative person. When I show a friend a new painting that just got accepted in a prestigious gallery and their reaction is, "oh yeah..." or worse, "meh, not my thing", it's WAY worse than a refusal from a gallery; these are people I trusted and felt free to be vulnerable with.
I had to admit that whatever their reasons for their reactions, they weren't emotionally there for me, so although they are still friends, they are not given the honour of me trusting them enough to show them my work before anyone else sees it.
The art/creative world is hard enough to navigate; sometimes a kind word from a stranger can be the force that helps the artist to push through adversity to eventual success.
I have always struggled with routines, defaulting to my “free spirit” nature. But I know that to make progress, I need to make and do with intention, and that means creating and sticking to a routine. There always seems to be one or more reasons why the timing or place “doesn’t work today” - how do others get past that?
Thanks for the honesty Jill! One way I think about this is to consider the value of the tiniest habit. Something where it is easy to fit in, and the expectations are ridiculously low. That can be a great start!
Yes, Dan, "Refresh and Refine" resonates. Deeply. Using your metaphor of "redecorating," the first thing I would address is doing an interior refresh. I've sacrificed balance in my mental interior, to stretch your metaphor, by caring for my family while struggling to write AND market my books. The cost has been severe, prolonged stress and, like you, a pinched nerve. Ouch! I started my interior redecorating by identifying what was "out there" and linked directly to my interior disarray. "Social Media." Years of posts, mistakenly imagining I was "marketing" my books, while glued to my screen and at the same time trying to write and sell books. Insanity. It's all taken a toll. Fortunately, my survival instinct is strong, and I recognized on truth: It's time to "rid up this ranch," as my mom used to say, and Dan, I'm on it. First, after a month in Hawaii (for the physical refresh), I want a book marketing plan that cuts through the terrible confusing and stressful noise "out there," on the Web, one that gets to the business of building the book marketing plan. What is it? What are its components? And . . . how do I use and apply it to running a campaign? It's no secret that authors are now publishers, so I believe having a book marketing plan is equivalent to becoming a Master feng shui artist at redecorating and creating more balanced interiors and, as well, emotionally healthy relationships on social media.
“The idea of a system or routine helps us not constantly be spinning around, newly engrossed in a shiny new idea.”
I really like a good system/routine and was encouraged to read about how important you have found it to be in your own life. I feel like I’m slowly building up the areas of my life to where they can handle my writing the way that I would like. Thank you for such a great post!
Another timely read... My plan for the current WiP (written in Jan) needs a review and refine because the oil-tanker of the story has gotten a degree off course - we're potentially headed to a way different port, it and I! Which is cool... but it's time to refresh my memory of original plans vs real-time travel! (if that makes sense!) :)
Great post. I have a conference coming up in a couple of weeks so I’m rushing to finish my manuscript for peer review. It’s so hard to try to fit everything in, especially if you have an adult child with severe special needs and you never know when you’re going to be interrupted. I’m going to clean up my office area and pull back a little from world events, though it’s hard to. Love the typewriter display. Maybe I’ll pull out my old electric one I bought for college in 1988…
My favorite lines to contemplate: “Refresh: to feel as though I have margin. That there is space between things that provides an opportunity to breathe. That there is potential and room to move.” This sounds like a fantasy, but it’s also something to be curious about!
I literally said to myself the other day that I don't have a creative space in my house. I love your typewriters and there is something so pleasing to the eye of your redo. I really enjoyed reading your Refresh and Refine motto and am so inspired! =)
As someone who is so work focused, this is such a good reminder: "every facet of who you are impacts the other. For instance, if someone says, “I would like to write more,” they likely have to contend with the idea that doing so may impact every other part of their life — work, family, health, habits, hobbies, etc. — and vice versa. It’s all connected."
Hi Dan. As we evolve creatively, it's a great idea to set the refresh button, but some things are hard to face.
I've had to shorten the list of people who seem unable to support who I am as a creative person. When I show a friend a new painting that just got accepted in a prestigious gallery and their reaction is, "oh yeah..." or worse, "meh, not my thing", it's WAY worse than a refusal from a gallery; these are people I trusted and felt free to be vulnerable with.
I had to admit that whatever their reasons for their reactions, they weren't emotionally there for me, so although they are still friends, they are not given the honour of me trusting them enough to show them my work before anyone else sees it.
The art/creative world is hard enough to navigate; sometimes a kind word from a stranger can be the force that helps the artist to push through adversity to eventual success.
Thank you for the honesty Lori!!!
I have always struggled with routines, defaulting to my “free spirit” nature. But I know that to make progress, I need to make and do with intention, and that means creating and sticking to a routine. There always seems to be one or more reasons why the timing or place “doesn’t work today” - how do others get past that?
Thanks for the honesty Jill! One way I think about this is to consider the value of the tiniest habit. Something where it is easy to fit in, and the expectations are ridiculously low. That can be a great start!
Thanks, Dan! That is a good tip - I do tend to jump at things with both feet!
Yes, Dan, "Refresh and Refine" resonates. Deeply. Using your metaphor of "redecorating," the first thing I would address is doing an interior refresh. I've sacrificed balance in my mental interior, to stretch your metaphor, by caring for my family while struggling to write AND market my books. The cost has been severe, prolonged stress and, like you, a pinched nerve. Ouch! I started my interior redecorating by identifying what was "out there" and linked directly to my interior disarray. "Social Media." Years of posts, mistakenly imagining I was "marketing" my books, while glued to my screen and at the same time trying to write and sell books. Insanity. It's all taken a toll. Fortunately, my survival instinct is strong, and I recognized on truth: It's time to "rid up this ranch," as my mom used to say, and Dan, I'm on it. First, after a month in Hawaii (for the physical refresh), I want a book marketing plan that cuts through the terrible confusing and stressful noise "out there," on the Web, one that gets to the business of building the book marketing plan. What is it? What are its components? And . . . how do I use and apply it to running a campaign? It's no secret that authors are now publishers, so I believe having a book marketing plan is equivalent to becoming a Master feng shui artist at redecorating and creating more balanced interiors and, as well, emotionally healthy relationships on social media.
Thank you for the kind words and sharing your process Mary! Sooooooo appreciated!
“The idea of a system or routine helps us not constantly be spinning around, newly engrossed in a shiny new idea.”
I really like a good system/routine and was encouraged to read about how important you have found it to be in your own life. I feel like I’m slowly building up the areas of my life to where they can handle my writing the way that I would like. Thank you for such a great post!
Yay! Thank you Benjamin!
Another timely read... My plan for the current WiP (written in Jan) needs a review and refine because the oil-tanker of the story has gotten a degree off course - we're potentially headed to a way different port, it and I! Which is cool... but it's time to refresh my memory of original plans vs real-time travel! (if that makes sense!) :)
Thanks Rachel!
Look at all those typewriters and how to books. Wonder what the guy there does for a living : )
Great post. I have a conference coming up in a couple of weeks so I’m rushing to finish my manuscript for peer review. It’s so hard to try to fit everything in, especially if you have an adult child with severe special needs and you never know when you’re going to be interrupted. I’m going to clean up my office area and pull back a little from world events, though it’s hard to. Love the typewriter display. Maybe I’ll pull out my old electric one I bought for college in 1988…
Thank you Cat! Good luck!
My favorite lines to contemplate: “Refresh: to feel as though I have margin. That there is space between things that provides an opportunity to breathe. That there is potential and room to move.” This sounds like a fantasy, but it’s also something to be curious about!
Indeed. Thanks so much Jamie Lynn!
I literally said to myself the other day that I don't have a creative space in my house. I love your typewriters and there is something so pleasing to the eye of your redo. I really enjoyed reading your Refresh and Refine motto and am so inspired! =)
Thank you Melanie!
As someone who is so work focused, this is such a good reminder: "every facet of who you are impacts the other. For instance, if someone says, “I would like to write more,” they likely have to contend with the idea that doing so may impact every other part of their life — work, family, health, habits, hobbies, etc. — and vice versa. It’s all connected."
Thank you K.!