Month: January 2021

Reading Phases

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Many years ago, I read over 40 or 50 books in a year. It wasn’t something I planned, but something that just happened out of the natural curiosity to read and learn as much as I can. I was reading every week–hours each day. I read voraciously as if I my imagination had an unlimited appetite, as if I needed to learn everything about the world.

Out of all those books, only a handful were great. Most of them were good, and a select few were boring. I ventured out to read books that were considered classics (The Great Gatsby, A Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man, etc.), and some for my own interest (Kurt Vonnegut books, War of the Worlds, etc.).

The number of books I’ve read has diminished each year as I got busier with work and with life (traveling, writing, etc.). Though my reading habits have shifted to online articles and short stories, my thirst for knowledge still remains.

I go through phases where I read intensely, and go through phases where I devote my time to writing or planning the next story. I often switch between these phases because staying in one phase for too long runs the risk of burning me out or losing enthusiasm for it. Variety is key to find balance. One half of me wants to learn from other writers–how they tell stories, how they create characters–and the other half of me wants to exercise and develop my creativity.

I can’t say I remember much in great detail about all the books I’ve read. Even my favorite books are just fragments and bits and pieces of awesome scenes in the recesses of my mind. Each book I finished has left an impression on me, though some are more vivid than others.

Reading a book is like peering through a window into a new world. It’s a world of ideas, conflicts, intrigue, and characters. Some books may not resonate with us, but for the ones that do, they stay with us as if we lived through the experience.

Turning Around

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Have you driven to a store, only to turn back around before parking and going inside? Or have you ever driven somewhere, almost reached your destination, and then changed your mind at the last second?

I don’t mean to say that you left because the store was closed. I mean to say that a thought passed through your mind that convinced you that you were making the wrong decision. It’s as if you had a sixth sense that something wasn’t right, that you were about to make the wrong decision if you had followed through.

I believe these things happen for a reason. It’s as if something had intervened–the universe, the supernatural, what have you. Like one of those strange coincidences where you have deja vu and it reminds you of a dream, a nightmare, or a memory. You turn around, go the other way, and don’t look back.

Fading

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When we put off great ideas for long enough, they begin to fade. But for how long? Will they be permanently forgotten?

Ideas have a way of floating back to our mind–of reminding us of something that we are seeking. It’s as if they’re giving us a second chance–shouting at us to look in their direction. The wisest thing we can do is to accept the calling and see where it takes us.

But when we’re in the throes of life, ideas get set aside so that we can focus on our priorities. As a consequence, those ideas fade more and more until they become forgotten.

Weeks or months go by, and they might resurface. Or they might sneak their way into another project–pretending that they belong there. Sometimes the ideas are just too good to let go of and leave behind. But sometimes they are so fragile that they can be lost forever.

One thing I do is that I write my ideas down the moment I become aware of them. Even if I write a sentence or a bullet point on a post-it note, that can make all the difference. When I come back to them later (which can be weeks or months), I find that I can either use the ideas or repurpose them for something else.

It’s kind of like an old short story or novel that never saw the light of day. Years later, they could speak to us in a different light–resonant with us now. We just didn’t know it then, but they needed time to grow.

Spontaneity

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Spontaneity can lead to disaster or genius when it comes to working on a great idea. For example, we should start working on it while it is fresh in our minds. When we do so, we can utilize the momentum and energy we have for it to bring it into fruition. If we hesitate, then we will lose the initiative to start working on the project.

Being spontaneous can lead to disaster if it’s an idea that goes nowhere or needs more time to grow. And if this is the case, it might be one of those ideas where we look back and say: “I had no idea what I was doing.”

When an idea requires a lot of planning, we must evaluate what the logistics are, as well as how much time is needed to complete it. But if an idea is something that’s short and simple, being spontaneous gives us the kickstart to begin working on it.

Some ideas need a kickstart or they wouldn’t have existed. In this case, spontaneity can mean sketching the idea on a napkin or typing it in the computer. But as with writing, we should always have drafts of our work. Thus, most projects begin spontaneously, but they are completed after a lot of planning and work.

Brain Games

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I enjoy puzzles and games since they make us think and analyze problems. I play games like chess, sudoku, as well as word puzzles. Beyond that, games like Clue and Monopoly can be considered brain games. Why? Because you have to make decisions, plan things out in advance, and draw conclusions based on what you know (or what your goal is).

Brain games are fun, but the most important thing we do with our intelligence is apply them in the real world (or in the things we create). Although it might not seem like a brain exercise, writing can be a brain game in itself. The act of writing is creative, almost spontaneous, but when you get to the editing, so many crucial decisions have to be made. You have to decide what to cut, keep, modify, and add. I find myself thinking for hours sometimes on how to resolve a plot conflict or how to develop a story.

Brain games are definitely cool and fun, but when we manifest our intelligence in reality through the things we create and solve, that is the most rewarding thing.

Losing Enthusiasm

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Losing enthusiasm for things is such a natural part of life. Whether it be a trend, a TV series, a book, or a topic we’ve studied, it happens as we go through life.

But with creative projects, it can happen during the creative process, or even before finishing it. Each project I’ve worked on has, let’s say, a battery life. That battery life can be a month, two months, three months, etc., depending on the scope of the story. During this time, I’m able to focus on it and put all my energy into it. But after a while, the battery life decreases, and my enthusiasm wanes with it.

At that point, I just want to be finished with the story. I’m not interested in expanding the universe or adding more chapters to it. I’m ready to wrap it up and call it a day. Even though I know there are a lot of things to work on (or edit), it’s more of a chore than something I’m happy to work on.

But what keeps me going are new ideas. If I can introduce new ideas into the story ,it keeps the story alive and fresh. I feel more invigorated, where each day of writing is a discovery–an opportunity to explore and uncover secrets and mysteries. But if the ideas feel stale or static, the process is more like painting-by-numbers. I’m simply filling in the blanks rather than actively creating anew each day.

To be enthusiastic about a story, I need to feel challenged by it, to have problems to solve that advance the ideas, the characters, and the plot. It must resonate with me, and be a worthwhile story that I can continuously improve and refine.

Reading on the Weekend Vs. the Weekday

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Reading on the weekend is a wholly different experience compared to reading on the weekday. During the week, we’re tired when we come home from work, and the energy we have to read is limited. When we read after a long day of work, it drains us, and the quality of our reading experience is pale compared to those sessions when we’re focused and engaged.

Reading on the weekend, however, is more casual and relaxed. We have so much more time to read without the worries of a busy schedule. We can progress further in the book, even finish the book in a two or three hour session.

That’s not to say that reading during the week shouldn’t be done. On the contrary. Reading during the week keeps the story fresh in our mind. It keeps the storyline active, and the characters, locations, and events in our short term memory.

If we only read on the weekend, there’d be a break in the narrative where we might forget the storyline and the subtleties in the story. Reading consistently helps to bridge the events and chapters together. If we read on the weekend in addition to the weekday, we can experience the book in a continuous flow in which everything falls into place.

Waiting

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When we’re waiting, we might glance at our phones, try to appear occupied, or be engaged in an epic adventure in our imagination.

What we do with the time while we’re waiting matters. If we get frustrated while we’re waiting (such as in traffic), then we’re not accomplishing anything at all. But if we use that time to reflect on creative or productive ideas we have, we might discover things about them we hadn’t known before.

What we do while we’re waiting is up to us. If we’re waiting in line to pay for something in a store, we might play a game on our phones, or check our emails. Or we might look around and observe our surroundings–think about how things are setup, the aesthetics, etc.

I look at waiting as an opportunity to solve problems that I’m wrestling with. I look at them from different angles, think of all the alternatives, and find the best solution for them. Usually it’s either a practical or a creative problem–both of which are challenging to solve.

Solving practical problems is like having a debate in my mind in which I’m considering every logistical possibility. Creative ideas require me to think about the needs of the story, the needs of the characters, and how to make them interesting and engaging.

In essence, what we do while we’re waiting depends on how we look at waiting. Is waiting just a dull activity, or is it an opportunity to think of something new–find a solution to a problem?

Not Sure

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Sometimes you’re not sure about what you want to eat on a Friday night. It’s not that you don’t have options, but that there is nothing definitive in your mind. It’s kind of up in the air since there is no urgent need to make a decision.

This can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on the situation and context. It’s fine to not be sure with big decisions, since you’ll need to consider them carefully. But it’s not good to be unsure when the moment requires a decision, such as when you’re driving and you have to decide whether to go somewhere or not.

The only way around this is to know what you like or don’t like in many situations. Not in terms of specifics, but in general terms.

When you’re thinking about what to eat for dinner, it’s good to have a general idea of what kinds of food you like, and whether you want to dine out or dine in. When deciding on what movie or TV show to watch, it’s good to know what types of movies or shows you like, and which ones you don’t. This will save a lot of time.

Of course, not all decisions need to be made in a blink of an eye. Some shouldn’t be made in a split second, especially if it’s a major decision. But if you spend too much time making a decision, you might end up not making a decision at all–which is a decision.

Productivity

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I’m happy when I’m working on something such as writing or editing a book (although to be honest, I’d prefer to write than edit). The work I’m referring to isn’t restricted to a career, but it can be a hobby, a goal, a pursuit, etc.

When I’m idle or just relaxing, I can feel restless after a while. After a certain point, I feel like I want to get up and create something. I do not want to sit around and waste time. I want to make something of myself–express myself, my ideas, through art.

Of course, that is not to say that resting or leisure activities is bad. Not at all. Everyone needs time to rest and relax, as well as a vacation.

But what I’m referring to is the pursuit of a goal, such as finishing a book. When I finish a book, it brings a sense of fulfillment–a wave of happiness where I feel complete–that things are as they should be. This even extends to creating content for my website, not to mention other hobbies such as drawing or solving puzzles, etc.

It must be said that the process of creating something comes with its own uphill battles. Writing a book isn’t easy, and even writing this blog post will require edits where I’m questioning my word use, grammar, etc.

But when I complete a goal, it feels like the battle has been surmounted. And when I finish the book, it’s as if the war is over. The feeling of relief and satisfaction is its own reward.

We need to find moderation in the work we do, as well as the time we spend relaxing and in our leisure activities. But in the end, having goals give our lives purpose, and when we fulfill them, it fills us with great happiness.