Brief Interlude
Where we level set, socialize next steps, and get buy-in from the stakeholders.
Hope everyone had a good week. Mine was busy. It was hard to get to the gym, work was stressful, and I had a lot of non-negotiable commitments. So I’m glad it’s Friday, and I’m glad that we’re back to this conversation. A conversation that I quite enjoy.
I went home (to Kansas) last weekend with my daughter, and I was considering what to say about the trip. As I began writing, I realized that I have a lot to say, as it turns out, and my thoughts are a work in progress. While I sort that out and because we’ve been on this journey for a few weeks now, we’re going to take a little intermission to discuss what’s coming.
(Note to the reader: Before we get into this, two points. First, I should mention that I hate business speak. So much. Also, it’s kind of hilarious and in some cases, has a purpose. Before you roll your eyes, understand it is intended with a healthy dose of irony. Second, if you’re new here, then it may help to read my first post The Next Forty Years and then also read The What and the Why. Those talked a lot about my motivation for creating this space, which has evolved, even in the last few weeks. They motivation isn’t changing, so much as crystalizing, and here I want to discuss my thought process. With that, let’s get to, what I’m affectionately calling, a brief interlude.
I’m writing this from Denver, in my insanely (close the door when company is here so they think I’m normal) messy office.
I have my draft novel sitting on my desk, buried by paper. I have photographs printed and strewn about. I have a Peloton staring at me. An enormous, laughably huge printer on one side of the room and a laughably big television on the other. I have books, lots and lots of books. About anything and everything. Most I have not read. I have miscellaneous photography gear on the floor, along with boxes full of junk and tools and an enviable collection of cords. And behind me I have a tidy background for my Zoom meetings.
I’m not telling you this to convey that I’m losing my mind. Or at least that’s not the intention (suppose the jury is out on whether that’s the effect). No, I’m trying to convey how disorganized I am in my physical spaces. It’s a trait that has followed me my whole life.
Another trait that has also followed me my whole life, though, is that I have an organized mind. In contrast to my spaces, I manage to keep my thoughts neatly catalogued.
Given that dichotomy, I have a choice to make. Am I going to treat this as one of my physical spaces or am I going to treat this as an organized extension of my mind. My goal is the latter.
What that means, at least in this moment, is that I want to level set with my stakeholders, that’s you, socialize where we are headed, and get buy-in on the journey. So, here goes nothing.
The Level Set
I don’t know if I’m a good writer. I like doing it. I think I’m at least decent (I’ve read a lot of bad writing). But good? I don’t know. This isn’t so much an issue with confidence, as an issue with realism. I try, at least, to be self aware. And just as I have read a lot of terrible writing, I have also read a lot of spectacular writing. I’m pretty sure I’m not terrible. I’m also pretty sure I’m not winning any Pulitzer Prizes. And if I want to know where I fall between the terrible and the spectacular, I need an audience. I need readers. Or, stakeholders, if you’ll play along. Only way to get stakeholders is to write for an audience. So here we are. And again, thank you.
I’ve also seen my motivation to write wax and wane considerably through the different seasons of life. Before we had a kid, I had a lot of time and motivation. I also had a really good idea for a novel. Even with time, and motivation, and a good idea, though, it took years just to write the rough draft. I discovered a lot of things along the way. Like, there are a lot of ways to get writer’s block. Also, it’s hard sometimes to write when the question of when and how it will be read is a complete unknown. This, right here, solves at least the latter problem. I can also write as long or as short as I’d like. And I know to whom the email is going (or at least most of you). And that gives me motivation to put something together each week and get it out into the world.
That’s the first big level set, which is that this space is more about my motivation to write, and share that writing, than it is anything else. And as I’ve written the weekly pieces on creativity and motivation, I've found a lot more energy to write, and not just those idea pieces (at least that’s how I think of them). I’ve found myself writing bits and pieces of essays, short stories, and even some experimental fiction.
The second big level set is that I want a place to share my photography beyond social media. I’ve wanted, needed in fact, to develop an e-mail list to distribute my photographs on my own terms. This cleanly solves that problem. My goal is to share my best photographs (and probably some not so good ones too), along with some of the story about where and how I took them. That’s probably not a surprise to anyone, but in case you’re less into the writing, just know those will be coming periodically.
The third big level set is that I have a lot of interests. I just like doing stuff, especially active stuff. Some things I’m good at, some I’m not, but I just like getting out and trying new things. And I find similar people fascinating. So, I thought, if that is part of my uniqueness, that I have a ton of interests, then perhaps that’s worthy of exploration. What I find interesting. What motivates me. What I discover while trying different things. Which of them I seek to become good at (verse just experience as a perpetual novice), and what that process looks like. Also, because I find other people that are passionate about their hobbies interesting, I thought exploring this topic might foster a strong community.
Now that we’ve had the level set, we should get into the heart of this brief interlude.
Socializing the Concept
We’re going to talk about the creative writing now, that’s what we’re here to socialize today. I’m going to assume you already understand the underpinnings of the idea pieces. And the photography is self-explanatory. At least at the moment, when I post photographs they should be easy to follow. What I’m worried about, is that I might lose some of my stakeholders once I start posting my creative writing. I’ve had this experience already. I let my wife read a draft piece, and she was just confused. Then I explained, which made it worse. She sort of understood, but I could tell she didn’t get it or just thought it was bad. I can solve for the former, though unfortunately for you, maybe not the latter (though we’ll see, right).
So, here’s what we’re going to do, I’m going to walk you through some guideposts.
First, I am not going to post creative writing on a Friday morning. Friday will be reserved for a weekly post about whatever is top of mind that week. It’s meant to relay where I’m sitting with my motivation and the creative process. Some of those posts will be long, more will be short, and if motivation is hard to find in a particular week, then the post might be brief, even just a collection of what I’m reading and listening to at the moment. That will be Friday.
I will post creative writing (and photography) either earlier in the week or on the weekend. If it’s a long piece, I’m likely to save it and post it on the weekend (Sunday morning seems nice). If it’s short, then I may post it on a Tuesday. Just know, the creative pieces are coming at different times and not on Fridays.
Second, when I do post creative writing, I’m going to label it in the title or subtitle: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Humor, Essay, and so forth, you get the point. I may post other things as well (poetry, or a drawing, or who knows what), and if I do, then I’ll give some context. I want to avoid having to explain what I’m doing in great detail, but fair is fair, I want your buy-in and in exchange it’s reasonable to give some semblance of what to expect.
In terms of what’s coming, I’m working on a fiction piece that is pretty far along. I’m aiming for short story length. I also have a travel essay that I am working on when the mood strikes me. And I have an experimental piece of fiction that could turn into a serial. These are just a few of the many ideas I have in my drafts folder. Some of these will become fully fledged things and some will flounder and die. But remember, if you are confused, look for the label to better understand context.
Third, and this might seem obvious, but I’m trying things out. This is an experiment for me and for you. I have no real idea what I will publish in the next month, much less the next year. I’d say it’s equally likely I end up publishing a full novel here at some point as it is that this turns into a faux relationship advice column (just kidding on the last part, sort of). Seriously, though, I want everyone to come along for this ride, and I want the freedom, in my own mind, to publish anything and everything that I find suitable to distribute. And I want to avoid confusion.
So, don’t be surprised if you see a lot of different types of creative writing. And that brings me to the last piece, the one that you have the most control over, the buy-in.
Getting Buy-In
My goal here is not to write into a vacuum. If that’s what happens, then that’s fine. As I said earlier, this is more about my own creativity and motivation than anything else. However, I would like to know what resonates, what hits with my readers.
Some of that will come naturally. If someone enjoys a piece of writing, then they might be inclined to like, or comment, or share. That’s great, and incredibly helpful to grow this thing. I’m asking for more, though. Specifically, I want to know what you think works, what you like, and what you want to read more of in the future. If I write an essay, and you dig it, let me know. Same with the rest. If you have constructive suggestions, then don’t be shy about sharing (I’ve heard a few already). And if you hate something, then you can still let me know — I’m just encouraging that less.
When you have feedback, you can let me know by commenting here, or in an email, or if we cross paths in real life. The more I hear about what you like, the more I’ll try to write complementary pieces. Because while the motivation here is intrinsic, everything I write and post is something I might like to read. And hopefully that you want to read as well.
So that’s the buy-in piece, don’t be shy about your feedback, especially with the creative writing. I want to know what you think.
And with that, stay tuned, I hope to finish a short story soon and get it out into the world.
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As always, thank you for reading. Please send me a note or leave a comment with any reactions, and I hope everyone has a good weekend.