This newsletter is one day late. I wrote three versions, but none felt right. So, I pushed the computer aside and caught up with some reading. As I read, I couldn't help but wonder why my writing was stagnant. I haven't posted anything on Medium in weeks and have been inconsistent with LinkedIn after taking February off. I feel empty and need to fill my creative well.
Great reminder! I exploit much more than I explore , and in an effort to tip the scales, I just decided to scale back how much I publish. The saying that living life is the best fuel for creative work is so true !! I have no idea how some creators publish every single day- on multiple platforms. I tried and it leaves me so empty.
I have reading time scheduled each day. Not as much as Stephen King (although I'd love to), but I read every night, most often in my fiction genre (historical mystery). That way I bookend my day with two things I love, the morning for writing and the evening for reading. But I find I also need "imagining" time as well, to really make my fiction work.
Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed this little slice of wisdom Neera. I made a couple of Evernotes from your insights: 'a creative refinery' and slightly more mysteriously: 'whatever fancies her'. It made me wonder if this was deliberate and/or cultural - I'd have said 'whatever she fancies', but your phrase is far more intriguing - the concept that ideas find people they fancy, and not the other way around 🤔🙏
Catching up on my substack reading this lazy Sunday morning (usually I’m an afternoon reader like King) and yours is the third about sketching. I’ll take it as a sign to return to making bad art--a little sketch in the journal to start my morning pages.
Oh how kind of you to mention my sketchbook newsletter!! Thank you!! Yes, almost every morning I play in my sketchbook while I'm still in that half-asleep stage. And as someone else comments look at everything and read as widely as possible. I wish you the best! And thanks again for mentioning me!! ❤
Great reminder! I exploit much more than I explore , and in an effort to tip the scales, I just decided to scale back how much I publish. The saying that living life is the best fuel for creative work is so true !! I have no idea how some creators publish every single day- on multiple platforms. I tried and it leaves me so empty.
I have reading time scheduled each day. Not as much as Stephen King (although I'd love to), but I read every night, most often in my fiction genre (historical mystery). That way I bookend my day with two things I love, the morning for writing and the evening for reading. But I find I also need "imagining" time as well, to really make my fiction work.
Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed this little slice of wisdom Neera. I made a couple of Evernotes from your insights: 'a creative refinery' and slightly more mysteriously: 'whatever fancies her'. It made me wonder if this was deliberate and/or cultural - I'd have said 'whatever she fancies', but your phrase is far more intriguing - the concept that ideas find people they fancy, and not the other way around 🤔🙏
What a fabulous reminder to us all, to get out there and look at things, anything, trees, skies, people, places.
Think about what you've seen, and take photos, write about it!
Thanks again Neera! I put a link to your post in my blog here https://sueclancy.com/flying-pigs-and-being-human/
Catching up on my substack reading this lazy Sunday morning (usually I’m an afternoon reader like King) and yours is the third about sketching. I’ll take it as a sign to return to making bad art--a little sketch in the journal to start my morning pages.
Neera -
Your explore v. exploit idea makes sense.
I should use it separate my goals, so I can read without guilt.
When stuck it’s a good reminder to spend time exploring and collecting ideas. Then we can exploit them. Although I prefer the term express.
Oh how kind of you to mention my sketchbook newsletter!! Thank you!! Yes, almost every morning I play in my sketchbook while I'm still in that half-asleep stage. And as someone else comments look at everything and read as widely as possible. I wish you the best! And thanks again for mentioning me!! ❤