Had to return to this because I've been reading Letters to a Young Poet today and was struck with a profound ball-knowing from mr. Rilke:
"Your doubt can become a good attribute if you discipline it. It must become a knowing; it must become the critic. Ask it, as often as it wishes to spoil something, why something is ugly. Demand proof of it, test it, and you will find it perhaps perplexed and confused, perhaps also in protest. But don’t give in; demand arguments. Act with alertness and responsibility, each and every time, and the day will come when doubt will change from a destroyer to become one of your best fellow-workers, perhaps the wisest of all that have a part in building your life."
Wow, amazing. What a beautiful book. I might have had this passage somewhere deep in my brain writing the sletter, because I read & loved LTAYP back in high school or freshman year of college -- I wish I'd remembered it any time over the last 20 years, could have saved me some 2 a.m. terror !!
Re: activities rotation, I started using the Pomodoro methionine using a nifty little set up from Minimal Desk Setups. 25 min on task, 5 min off task or smaller task. Usually I use those 5 min to get up and walk rather than reach for the phone to scroll. At least that’s the goal! But it has helped.
Just an idea....but a Spy-Library, (Spybrary?), would be a neat concept. A repository with recommended words on pages and text on screens that are especially interesting, thought provoking, or particularly well crafted. Different sections for entries/suggestions from members (like the travel suggestions), Jonah & Erin, and interviewees.
This kind of intimate, generous reflection as a counterpoint to the newsletter's swagger is what keeps it fresh and real. And it's a creative feat to articulate creativity—one that is making me feel less alone as a creator. These are useful notes.
Re: activities rotation, I find this can even work for the several kinds of tasks that exist within a creative/writing project itself. Just flit on over to whatever feels doable moment to moment—as in your photoshop example. I once heard this approach called—adorably and I now realize spyplane adjacently—“the writercopter.” Just hover here and there as you please and by turns you’ll end up somewhere for sure.
Yeah, I'll be stealing that. "Writercopter". Gem. Also is how I write, flipping from grammar checks, to research, to writing the net-new at the bottom of the page, and so on. Thanks!
Thanks so much for this. As someone who writes for work, lately I've been stuck in a seemingly never ending "now more than ever" catchphrase dependent writing slump. These lil lessons made me feel like I can climb out of the pit.
So much to take from both of these sections, but especially motivation. I'm so prone to entering an almost manic state when the creative juices get flowing (I'm a musician), spending days to weeks obsessing over whatever song I'm working on. Especially having a "non-creative" day job, it can feel urgent to make sure I'm utilizing whatever time I have outside of it to focus on whatever is currently on my mind. Predictably, this leads to burnout.
While I've created shit I'm extremely proud of doing this, maintaining that output level is impossible and usually leads to inconsistency in output and eventually, some level of stagnation for a period time that usually lasts until I don't feel exhausted by the idea of returning to the work.
Have you ever personally experienced an almost compulsive drive to plow through whatever is at hand? I love the idea of taking breaks and switching to something adjacent, but when I'm hyper focused, it can feel impossible to "switch off" and point some of that energy elsewhere.
One of my favorite posts! What's your creative space look/feel like? Are there any rituals you jump into before "clocking in" like lighting a candle or throwing something smooth on? Or can you lock in from anywhere? Curious to how everyone works!
I like to rotate around different places within the cribbo as much as possible, even if it's as simple as sitting in a different chair at the kitchen table than I'm used to, for a little "horizon shift," but no real rituals to speak of... Music without words can be great too
Good stuff! A mentor told me years ago, “when things aren’t working in the studio, get out of the studio.” Go for a walk. Change your environment and your inputs, and return to work with a new nugget of inspiration or fresh perspective.
:)
Had to return to this because I've been reading Letters to a Young Poet today and was struck with a profound ball-knowing from mr. Rilke:
"Your doubt can become a good attribute if you discipline it. It must become a knowing; it must become the critic. Ask it, as often as it wishes to spoil something, why something is ugly. Demand proof of it, test it, and you will find it perhaps perplexed and confused, perhaps also in protest. But don’t give in; demand arguments. Act with alertness and responsibility, each and every time, and the day will come when doubt will change from a destroyer to become one of your best fellow-workers, perhaps the wisest of all that have a part in building your life."
Ask your doubt what's up!
Wow, amazing. What a beautiful book. I might have had this passage somewhere deep in my brain writing the sletter, because I read & loved LTAYP back in high school or freshman year of college -- I wish I'd remembered it any time over the last 20 years, could have saved me some 2 a.m. terror !!
Re: activities rotation, I started using the Pomodoro methionine using a nifty little set up from Minimal Desk Setups. 25 min on task, 5 min off task or smaller task. Usually I use those 5 min to get up and walk rather than reach for the phone to scroll. At least that’s the goal! But it has helped.
Just an idea....but a Spy-Library, (Spybrary?), would be a neat concept. A repository with recommended words on pages and text on screens that are especially interesting, thought provoking, or particularly well crafted. Different sections for entries/suggestions from members (like the travel suggestions), Jonah & Erin, and interviewees.
We have a bookshop.org page but this is a cool idea for sure ! https://bookshop.org/shop/blackbirdspyplane
This kind of intimate, generous reflection as a counterpoint to the newsletter's swagger is what keeps it fresh and real. And it's a creative feat to articulate creativity—one that is making me feel less alone as a creator. These are useful notes.
Sooooo what you're saying is you gotta hold on to your angst. preserve it. because it keeps you sharp. on the edge. where you gotta be.
The Vincent Hanna of Recon
So on time. Thank you for that. Worth printing and taping on the wall to see every day. Seriously, I needed that.
Re: activities rotation, I find this can even work for the several kinds of tasks that exist within a creative/writing project itself. Just flit on over to whatever feels doable moment to moment—as in your photoshop example. I once heard this approach called—adorably and I now realize spyplane adjacently—“the writercopter.” Just hover here and there as you please and by turns you’ll end up somewhere for sure.
Yeah, I'll be stealing that. "Writercopter". Gem. Also is how I write, flipping from grammar checks, to research, to writing the net-new at the bottom of the page, and so on. Thanks!
Thanks so much for this. As someone who writes for work, lately I've been stuck in a seemingly never ending "now more than ever" catchphrase dependent writing slump. These lil lessons made me feel like I can climb out of the pit.
Profile gotta be Bong Joon Ho — I can sense it.
So much to take from both of these sections, but especially motivation. I'm so prone to entering an almost manic state when the creative juices get flowing (I'm a musician), spending days to weeks obsessing over whatever song I'm working on. Especially having a "non-creative" day job, it can feel urgent to make sure I'm utilizing whatever time I have outside of it to focus on whatever is currently on my mind. Predictably, this leads to burnout.
While I've created shit I'm extremely proud of doing this, maintaining that output level is impossible and usually leads to inconsistency in output and eventually, some level of stagnation for a period time that usually lasts until I don't feel exhausted by the idea of returning to the work.
Have you ever personally experienced an almost compulsive drive to plow through whatever is at hand? I love the idea of taking breaks and switching to something adjacent, but when I'm hyper focused, it can feel impossible to "switch off" and point some of that energy elsewhere.
As always, thanks for sharing.
totally!
"It’s also because language is a living thing, and you never want yours to devolve into pure undead shtick."
Loved this! And love how Plane Voice continue to evolve.
All good points l try embrace my doubts and use them to clarify things.
One of my favorite posts! What's your creative space look/feel like? Are there any rituals you jump into before "clocking in" like lighting a candle or throwing something smooth on? Or can you lock in from anywhere? Curious to how everyone works!
I like to rotate around different places within the cribbo as much as possible, even if it's as simple as sitting in a different chair at the kitchen table than I'm used to, for a little "horizon shift," but no real rituals to speak of... Music without words can be great too
Good stuff! A mentor told me years ago, “when things aren’t working in the studio, get out of the studio.” Go for a walk. Change your environment and your inputs, and return to work with a new nugget of inspiration or fresh perspective.
I love your meditation on discovery and surprise. I am in the early stages of a big writing project and am psyching myself out. This helps.