I’ve missed you, even though I’m not entirely sure what I am doing in your inbox. To be frank, I’ve been thinking of you a lot, but every time I feel like reaching out, I get shy. What if you don’t think my newsletter is flashy enough? Have you been reading other, smarter, funnier newsletters while I’ve been away? The jealous goblin in my head says yes.
hi Alex! It's honestly lovely to see your name in my inbox, and to see that you're writing again here! I haven't read The Artist's Way (but now feel the need to add it to my TBR!), but the quotes you've shared remind me a bit of The Icarus Deception by Seth Godin, which I love and would absolutely recommend for anyone who wants to build a (more) creative life.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! It makes me so happy to hear that. I can’t wait to update you all on everything I’ve been reading/writing these past few months! Also, I cannot stress enough how much the Artist’s Way has completely changed the game for me. If you like Seth Godin, then you will love Julia Cameron. I actually think he was my first exposure to the idea of writing morning pages (3 long hand, stream of consciousness pages of writing first thing in the morning). I will definitely have to check out The Icarus Deception. My favorite book of his that I’ve read is The Practice. I definitely recommend it as well!
We missed you too, Alex! Great to hear from you :)
You're not alone in being impacted by perfectionism. In many areas of my life, it affects me not at all, but in the past when it's come to writing, I'll work a piece over and over and over again. And maybe sometimes it improves the piece. But other times, maybe not, and I'm just trying to buy some time before committing. I'm not entirely sure.
It is something I'm actively working against, though, to the point that I've recently tried to implement what I'm calling a five-draft rule. Pretty straightforward, in that for any given story, novel, screenplay, etc. I have five drafts and after that fifth draft it either has to be ready, or it goes into the recycle bin. The goal is to just not waste anymore time on something that either is good enough as is, or something that just won't work. There are just too many things I want to write to get hung up on one piece.
Thank you, Garrett! Good to be back! 🥰 It’s a total dual edged sword. Revision & editing are valuable tools until they aren’t! It’s the artist’s job to know where the line is and yet when it comes to actually releasing a piece into the world, we tend to lean on coltish fear rather than authorial…authority. As most things in life, it is easy to understand and difficult to actually do— to let go.
I *love* this idea of the five-draft rule! I think giving yourself an allowance or boundaries of any kind offers a sort of freedom to prioritize the things that are actually important to you in your writing. Like a kid with arcade tickets choosing which penny prize they want— true art & desires come to the surface. Very good!
I love everything you right. We are all a work in progress just like your writing. Love you.
💕💕💕
hi Alex! It's honestly lovely to see your name in my inbox, and to see that you're writing again here! I haven't read The Artist's Way (but now feel the need to add it to my TBR!), but the quotes you've shared remind me a bit of The Icarus Deception by Seth Godin, which I love and would absolutely recommend for anyone who wants to build a (more) creative life.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! It makes me so happy to hear that. I can’t wait to update you all on everything I’ve been reading/writing these past few months! Also, I cannot stress enough how much the Artist’s Way has completely changed the game for me. If you like Seth Godin, then you will love Julia Cameron. I actually think he was my first exposure to the idea of writing morning pages (3 long hand, stream of consciousness pages of writing first thing in the morning). I will definitely have to check out The Icarus Deception. My favorite book of his that I’ve read is The Practice. I definitely recommend it as well!
We missed you too, Alex! Great to hear from you :)
You're not alone in being impacted by perfectionism. In many areas of my life, it affects me not at all, but in the past when it's come to writing, I'll work a piece over and over and over again. And maybe sometimes it improves the piece. But other times, maybe not, and I'm just trying to buy some time before committing. I'm not entirely sure.
It is something I'm actively working against, though, to the point that I've recently tried to implement what I'm calling a five-draft rule. Pretty straightforward, in that for any given story, novel, screenplay, etc. I have five drafts and after that fifth draft it either has to be ready, or it goes into the recycle bin. The goal is to just not waste anymore time on something that either is good enough as is, or something that just won't work. There are just too many things I want to write to get hung up on one piece.
Thank you, Garrett! Good to be back! 🥰 It’s a total dual edged sword. Revision & editing are valuable tools until they aren’t! It’s the artist’s job to know where the line is and yet when it comes to actually releasing a piece into the world, we tend to lean on coltish fear rather than authorial…authority. As most things in life, it is easy to understand and difficult to actually do— to let go.
I *love* this idea of the five-draft rule! I think giving yourself an allowance or boundaries of any kind offers a sort of freedom to prioritize the things that are actually important to you in your writing. Like a kid with arcade tickets choosing which penny prize they want— true art & desires come to the surface. Very good!