Those of us who stand out as exceptional artists tend to be those who work the hardest on improving our craft. If you’re paying attention at all right now, you’ve heard of Amanda Gorman. Watching her recitation on Inauguration Day and her subsequent interviews, it’s easy to see the amount of hard work she putContinue reading “Dedication to Craft”
Tag Archives: daily digression
Dipping Down to Pettiness
My gosh, is it ever tempting. I’ve got a lot of critical thoughts about a lot of things. And when I’m ticked off I tend to quickly make it obvious. My first instinct is always to speak out against any harm with which I’m met. But I’m learning to focus that anger into more productiveContinue reading “Dipping Down to Pettiness”
Werk Authentically
I’m thinking about the amount of work that has to go into creative success, no matter how you define “success” for yourself. And across the board, in my opinion, quality work means extended deep focus. Such dedication requires a removal of feigned personalities. Pretending to be someone you’re not is utterly exhausting. If you’re metContinue reading “Werk Authentically”
Naïve Discoveries
I can only hope I’m always this naïve. Isn’t life so much better for those of us who lean in to our ignorance? No one can know everything. To pretend otherwise is to dig yourself an inescapable hole and miss out on all the fun. Projecting an image of unwavering confidence means turning a blindContinue reading “Naïve Discoveries”
Delight in Just the Thought
I’m noticing a trend in my circles that makes me feel icky. Artists do not need to be “productive” to be good artists. We don’t need to be churning out viral videos, TV pilots, or reams of great poetry to be deemed worthy. I’m seeing a number of people (including myself) feeling uninspired or overwhelmedContinue reading “Delight in Just the Thought”
Open with Questions
Well, this was a failure. Not in its entirety, I suppose… While I didn’t write every day this year, I did write some, and the pressure I applied to myself to form better writing habits did prove to be somewhat useful. But the project continues, and I thank you all for coming along for theContinue reading “Open with Questions”
This Too is True
A common theme in my creative efforts these days is granting myself permission. For example, I grant myself permission to hold two opposing concepts as true. Yes, I’ve been easily distracted lately. But I’ve also been writing interesting material. I may not be dedicating a lot of time to perfecting what I make, but IContinue reading “This Too is True”
Dumpster
I couldn’t begin to tell you how much junk I’ve accumulated. I don’t mean physical stuff, though maybe I should examine that as well. I mean the overflow of words that didn’t make it to their intended projects. Many notes are piled on top of each other, virtual and otherwise, each containing thoughts and ideasContinue reading “Dumpster”