Project Typist
I still haven't gotten around to trying out the exercise and writing experiment. Mostly because I'd prefer to be alone when I did it. I have this crazy image in my head what I would look like; sitting in front of my computer furiously typing for 15 minutes then suddenly I get up and start doing jumping jacks. After after 50 repetitions I stop and go back to my computer. This happens 8 times all the while I'm focused on my own little world not saying a thing to anyone.
Sounds a little like something out of a David Lynch film. Which reminds me I need to work on my backwards speaking.
Meanwhile, like I had ranted about before, I feel as though this project is limiting my ability write. If I can't find the time and situation to run these experiment I don't write. In my head I'm thinking, why waste valuable writing if you're not using for the experiment? On that note I'm on a bit of a kick to just say, screw it. Or to paraphrase (and tagline) myself from a comment I posted on some gal's blog (see operation blog post coming soon), write irresponsibly.
Sometimes I start to take writing too... seriously. That's not what I mean, but the point is that I stress out about it, as if it's a job and I have a boss and a deadline and if it's all not done right then I'm going to get chewed out and fire and then no one will want to hire me again. That's something the plebs do (no offense). I'm good at what I do, damn good and I don't have to try to be good. I'm not sitting in the corner with the other struggling writers making out character sheets and worrying about plot points. I don't spend three years writing a single book (I spend 2 months then don't do anything with it for 3 years). So what I'm I doing wringing my hands hand and creating drama where there is none. I am not a high-school kid writing poetry in their journal and being sad because no one will understand why I'm so sad.
I'm good at what I do and the only reason I'm not just writing with reckless abandon is my boss. And my boss is me. Like every other boss I'm an idiot, giving ridiculous deadlines, asking for top of the line work and demanding it be efficient and economically viable.
It's time to quit working for myself and start screwing around and having fun.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
8 usable blocks
Project Typist
The other day I was having a conversation with my wife about scheduling. More specifically about how I'm always trying to make or get on a schedule and then consequently getting frustrated. Which in retrospect is true, though I can never quite figure out what went wrong. I usually just blame the situation and people for being so unpredictable. Not to say that I'm not right but I could possibly be semi-wrong. My wife suggested that the crux of the issue lays in the fact that I function on a cycle that is just under 2 hours.
The theory is that I can't a lot time for activities in anything but increments of 1 hour and 40 minutes. So when something takes 2+ hours it means that two blocks of my 8 usable blocks are consumed. Meaning that if I have six things to do that I have a narrow margin of time to get them in to my schedule. But if something comes up that slows one of these tasks down or an extra task comes up it can potentially use up the last 2 remaining blocks. Suddenly I have absolutely not time at all and my schedule is fully booked. That's not even the real problem. The problem is that I tend to actually schedule things in 2 hour increments, so my calendar is saying one thing but my mind wants another. In my perception I'm double booking activities and rushing to get things done before my time is up.
It's stressful and a little disheartening. Sitting down and writing has become this delicate balance of time and ideas. No matter how hard I try I can't find the time to sit down and write and it seems to be my fault. I'm not quite through with project typist, it's still a good experiment with some valid ideas. I don't know how I can actually work it into my functional life.
At this point its been about 2 weeks since I've work on any fictional writing. As well, I haven't painted or done any creative work. I put it down to stress, distraction and poor habits. The thing about that is I say screw it, just have to punch the wall and walk on through so I took these pictures of my cats.
The other day I was having a conversation with my wife about scheduling. More specifically about how I'm always trying to make or get on a schedule and then consequently getting frustrated. Which in retrospect is true, though I can never quite figure out what went wrong. I usually just blame the situation and people for being so unpredictable. Not to say that I'm not right but I could possibly be semi-wrong. My wife suggested that the crux of the issue lays in the fact that I function on a cycle that is just under 2 hours.
The theory is that I can't a lot time for activities in anything but increments of 1 hour and 40 minutes. So when something takes 2+ hours it means that two blocks of my 8 usable blocks are consumed. Meaning that if I have six things to do that I have a narrow margin of time to get them in to my schedule. But if something comes up that slows one of these tasks down or an extra task comes up it can potentially use up the last 2 remaining blocks. Suddenly I have absolutely not time at all and my schedule is fully booked. That's not even the real problem. The problem is that I tend to actually schedule things in 2 hour increments, so my calendar is saying one thing but my mind wants another. In my perception I'm double booking activities and rushing to get things done before my time is up.
It's stressful and a little disheartening. Sitting down and writing has become this delicate balance of time and ideas. No matter how hard I try I can't find the time to sit down and write and it seems to be my fault. I'm not quite through with project typist, it's still a good experiment with some valid ideas. I don't know how I can actually work it into my functional life.
At this point its been about 2 weeks since I've work on any fictional writing. As well, I haven't painted or done any creative work. I put it down to stress, distraction and poor habits. The thing about that is I say screw it, just have to punch the wall and walk on through so I took these pictures of my cats.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Stage 2
Operation Blog
Seeing as how I'm riddled with writer's block I though it was about time to move on to stage 2 of this operation.
What is stage 2 you ask? Stage 2 is what I call, "the first approach". One can't expect people to come to you for no reason. And while those with money might used advertisement I don't have money. That leaves me with doing some foot work because (and this is going to sound a little too religious for my taste) give what you want to get.
So, for each blog account I will look for five other bloggers on that account and follow them actively. This may be a little difficult since some of the accounts don't have any "follow" functionality. The blogs I find should be interesting, with original content and contain something I'm interested in (also, I'm not going to take the easy out and pick a celebrity blog).
Seeing as how I'm riddled with writer's block I though it was about time to move on to stage 2 of this operation.
What is stage 2 you ask? Stage 2 is what I call, "the first approach". One can't expect people to come to you for no reason. And while those with money might used advertisement I don't have money. That leaves me with doing some foot work because (and this is going to sound a little too religious for my taste) give what you want to get.
So, for each blog account I will look for five other bloggers on that account and follow them actively. This may be a little difficult since some of the accounts don't have any "follow" functionality. The blogs I find should be interesting, with original content and contain something I'm interested in (also, I'm not going to take the easy out and pick a celebrity blog).
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Ain't got the time
Project Typist
I've begun to believe that my current lifestyle is not cohesive with a regular schedule. This makes it nearly impossible to set a consistent work time thus making it this section of the experiment impractical. With that said, For me, schedule writing is a bad system to counter act writers block.
Even if I pretended that I had a normal day, coming home from work, having dinner then sitting at a desk to write, I still don't think its a good system. The time that life interrupts this schedule I'd become angry and resentful of the who or why. The time that I might be distract I'd feel like I wasted my time. And just because you sit at a desk at the same time everyday doesn't mean you'll know what to type or have any ideas. At the very best it's a good psychological way to trick your brain into thinking. The thing for me is that I never have a problem thinking about new things, theorizing and coming up with project. I have ideas that I'll never see done because I have too many ideas.
But fear not, this project goes on. I'm skipping to the next one on the list: Exercise. This system is based on the theory that increased blood flow to the brain will get you thinking. Hopefully you've caught the fault (see above). I was just saying that I have no shortage of thought. Despite that I think this one might have some credibility. It doesn't, however, have anything to do with blood flow. I think that a brief exercise will help shut off the brain allowing you subconscious to go to work. A large problem with writing and writer's block is over thinking. Worrying about and focusing too much on something that is not a big deal and can be fixed later.
For this experiment I will do 50 jumping jacks ever 15 minutes. I should note now that I have to reduce the experiment time to 2 hours due to lack of time in the day. Since in the control I hadn't exceeded that 2 hour mark the numbers should be okay. Though, you might argue that psychologically 3 hours might have made a difference. So I'll repeat the control at the end.
P.s. If you're wondering why theirs a delays between these project post it's because I have writer's block!
P.P.S In case you didn't do the math that's 400 jumping jacks.
I've begun to believe that my current lifestyle is not cohesive with a regular schedule. This makes it nearly impossible to set a consistent work time thus making it this section of the experiment impractical. With that said, For me, schedule writing is a bad system to counter act writers block.
Even if I pretended that I had a normal day, coming home from work, having dinner then sitting at a desk to write, I still don't think its a good system. The time that life interrupts this schedule I'd become angry and resentful of the who or why. The time that I might be distract I'd feel like I wasted my time. And just because you sit at a desk at the same time everyday doesn't mean you'll know what to type or have any ideas. At the very best it's a good psychological way to trick your brain into thinking. The thing for me is that I never have a problem thinking about new things, theorizing and coming up with project. I have ideas that I'll never see done because I have too many ideas.
But fear not, this project goes on. I'm skipping to the next one on the list: Exercise. This system is based on the theory that increased blood flow to the brain will get you thinking. Hopefully you've caught the fault (see above). I was just saying that I have no shortage of thought. Despite that I think this one might have some credibility. It doesn't, however, have anything to do with blood flow. I think that a brief exercise will help shut off the brain allowing you subconscious to go to work. A large problem with writing and writer's block is over thinking. Worrying about and focusing too much on something that is not a big deal and can be fixed later.
For this experiment I will do 50 jumping jacks ever 15 minutes. I should note now that I have to reduce the experiment time to 2 hours due to lack of time in the day. Since in the control I hadn't exceeded that 2 hour mark the numbers should be okay. Though, you might argue that psychologically 3 hours might have made a difference. So I'll repeat the control at the end.
P.s. If you're wondering why theirs a delays between these project post it's because I have writer's block!
P.P.S In case you didn't do the math that's 400 jumping jacks.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Sometimes
Project Typist
Sometimes nothing works out.
After a long time, a few interruptions and a lot of thought the system of scheduled writing needs to be more complex. At least for this experiment. The reality of life is that I can't say that every day I will be free from this time to this time. Perhaps it's just my life but I think that isn't very likely. I think that there is no guarantee for any artist that they can control the world.
Well... Other than ignoring it. And that works mighty fine. I've written 2 books and created a dozen paintings by ignoring the world. The trouble is that when you come back you find you've only pissed off your friends and family.
So the question is, how do you balance, control, flexibility, reality and disassociation?
Until then I'll be skipping the scheduled writing.
Sometimes nothing works out.
After a long time, a few interruptions and a lot of thought the system of scheduled writing needs to be more complex. At least for this experiment. The reality of life is that I can't say that every day I will be free from this time to this time. Perhaps it's just my life but I think that isn't very likely. I think that there is no guarantee for any artist that they can control the world.
Well... Other than ignoring it. And that works mighty fine. I've written 2 books and created a dozen paintings by ignoring the world. The trouble is that when you come back you find you've only pissed off your friends and family.
So the question is, how do you balance, control, flexibility, reality and disassociation?
Until then I'll be skipping the scheduled writing.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Redo
Project Typist
Day 2.0 – Scheduling - The best laid plans... This is one of the major reasons I don' believe creating a schedule for writing is a functional system. Things come up; little things, important things and things that need to get done. While writing is important, and to a certain extent I consider it my job, there are tasks that must be completed in order to live. So today I didn't write. It isn't the first time and it won't be the last time I planned to work and something came up. In fact quite often something changes and things happen. It could be worse, there were previous situation when I had a writing schedule and people ignored it. Or at the very least didn't understand how disruptive it was to have a conversation as I'm trying to work.
But beyond every day life and circumstance interfering with mice and men, there is practicality. Yes, a regular writing time will help train my brain to start up on queue. It does in a sense impose an unwritten rule that you aren't allowed to write at any other time. Will writing off schedule ruin the mental training? Will all the good words and ideas get used before the designated time? Will writing too often burn me out? Will forcing myself to write when I have nothing to say degrade the quality of my work?
0 words typed.
Day 2.0 – Scheduling - The best laid plans... This is one of the major reasons I don' believe creating a schedule for writing is a functional system. Things come up; little things, important things and things that need to get done. While writing is important, and to a certain extent I consider it my job, there are tasks that must be completed in order to live. So today I didn't write. It isn't the first time and it won't be the last time I planned to work and something came up. In fact quite often something changes and things happen. It could be worse, there were previous situation when I had a writing schedule and people ignored it. Or at the very least didn't understand how disruptive it was to have a conversation as I'm trying to work.
But beyond every day life and circumstance interfering with mice and men, there is practicality. Yes, a regular writing time will help train my brain to start up on queue. It does in a sense impose an unwritten rule that you aren't allowed to write at any other time. Will writing off schedule ruin the mental training? Will all the good words and ideas get used before the designated time? Will writing too often burn me out? Will forcing myself to write when I have nothing to say degrade the quality of my work?
0 words typed.
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