There’s a physical feeling to writing that has nothing to do with my fingers on the keyboard or my hand around a pen. Writing is a series of decisions. And in my mind, I can feel each of those decision points.
Read morePulling Out of a Tailspin
Momentum is a powerful force. One of the most powerful, at least when it comes to behavior. The saying goes that one good decision leads to another. Unfortunately, the same holds true for bad decisions. And what’s more, I’d argue that bad momentum is a hell of a lot stronger than good momentum. It’s why one erstwhile click when you’re trying to get work done leads to one thousand. Somehow, putting one sentence down on the page doesn’t have the same bountiful effect.
Read moreHow do you be your own boss?
Let’s take a minute to read the title of tonight’s blog post. Most importantly, let’s notice that it does not say “How to Be Your Own Boss.” While I’ve taken to writing about my theories and half formed ideas regarding writing, in this case, well…I got nothin’.
Read moreThrough Heavy-Lidded Eyes
There is a certain romanticism surrounding fatigue. Long hours. Hateful alarm clocks. Cup after cup of burnt, black coffee. There is glory in being sleep-deprived, and still trudging through.
Read moreThe Ever-Present Weight of Failure
For me, writing is a constant game of catch-up. I think of all of the times I didn’t write, and where I would be now if I had. Then I try to get to where I should be. Preferably before the weekend.
Read moreAs Potent as Your Favorite Song
Last week, I was having a tough time sitting down to write. (“You Nick? Really? I never would’ve guessed! You’ve only centered every post on that topic.”) But it wasn’t for my usual reasons. I wasn’t especially tired. I wasn’t hungry. No, my problem was that I couldn’t stop dancing.
Read moreSomething
This blog post is something. It’s something to fill this space, on this screen, at this time. It is my way of taking my own advice: something is better than nothing. I’ve been sitting in front of my computer trying to write this week’s blog, which needs to go live tonight. I’ve started and stopped three different posts, and stared at just about every wall and ceiling in the apartment.
Read moreMy Homemade Monster
When I was a kid, I was always looking for a monster to fight. Some arch foe that would test my mettle, and that I would eventually defeat in a blaze of glory with everything on the line. As I got older, that desire for a monster to fight never really faded. So eventually, I created one in my own head.
Read moreStories With Character
If you ask the internet, it will tell you that there are seven types of plots—that’s it, seven! So how is it that so many tens of millions of stories manage to exist? The key is variation—of style, of setting, of tone and temperament, of structure. But even more than that, I think it’s the characters who inhabit those stories that make them so different. Pick any situation, any stock “plot,” and put different people in it—suddenly you have a different story.
Read moreThe Hunt for the Magic Something
Jack had it pretty good. He traded one dried up cow for a handful of magic beans, and from the beans sprouted a giant beanstalk that lead to riches and a life of leisure. I didn’t ever think of Jack as a “role model” when I was a kid, but in retrospect, I’ve been trying to grow a giant beanstalk of my own for quite some time.
Read moreNew Mistakes, Nebulous Goals, and the Importance of Upping the Bare Minimum
xkcd - "Resolution" | by Randall Munroe | xkcd.com
One of the most frustrating feelings in the world is to find yourself repeating past mistakes. My goal with this renewed venture into writing is to make brand NEW mistakes. One of my biggest mistakes in the past has been setting nebulous goals. Case in point: “I want to write.”
Read moreThe Curse of Overthinking
The curse of overthinking is to be aware of in the moment what everyone else is after the fact—that what you’re doing isn’t good enough. That you’re afraid.
Read more"Poser"
Back in middle school, being called a poser was one of the worst insults there was. I still dread being thought of as a poser—way more than I did in middle school actually. Except it’s not a pack of roving skaters that I’m worried about.
Read moreWeek One – The Tenth Circle
If the Ninth Circle of Hell is for betrayers, then the tenth is for lazy S.O.B.s. The most famous denizen of the Ninth Circle is one of the Twelve Apostles, Judas. The Tenth Circle is home to the almost-thirteenth apostle, Brian. He kept meaning to join up with those guys; he just never got around to it.
Read moreThe World’s Best Writer
I am the world’s best writer. Did I not mention that in my first post? Probably should’ve led with that.
Read moreWelcome
Whatever alchemical, metaphysical, magic mumbo jumbo that needs to happen in order for me to sit down and write, I’ve managed to crack it today.
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