Month: March 2021

Shifting

Fallton Havenstonne

There are times when we shift from one idea to the next. One idea grabs us, then another one seems to be even better. We jump from one idea to next, wondering if a new one will come to mind and be better than all the rest.

And in this time of shifting between ideas, we’re spinning our wheels. We aren’t really planning either, since we haven’t selected an idea to work on. It’s kind of like we’re changing our minds constantly, uncertain of what to do. We’re stuck in the same position, spinning in circles, choosing which way to go.

But once we’ve decided on an idea, it’s like deciding on where to go on a trip (or a road trip). We can pick all the stops and sites we want to go to (the chapters), and plan everything out from start to finish until we return home (the plot).

Window of Time

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There is a window of time when we can function at our best on any given day. Of course, we can function for a long period of time, but then we are working at a less optimal output.

When writing, I can zone out and write really well for so many hours of the day. But at a certain point, the sentences begin to drag on. The writing feels less organic and inspirational, and feels more like I’m wrapping up a chapter. The momentum slows down to a halt, and every bit of effort after that is like climbing up a ladder with a bag of weights.

This window of time can apply to anything. Whether it applies to writing, painting, building, etc., our energy will run low eventually. We need time to rest, eat, or take a step away for a while to reflect on our work. Then we can come back to it again with renewed vigor.

Finding Your Niche

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Finding your niche in writing is kind of like finding the right place for you. It takes a bit of searching and researching until you feel comfortable with it.

There are so many combinations of characters, plots and genres in writing that the possibilities seem endless. It would be nice to write something (or be accomplished) in so many of them, but we can only focus on so many during our lifetime. We tend to write about what we know or what we’re interested in, but at a certain point, we’d like to explore more.

It’s good to write in different genres, characters and plots to expand our knowledge and expertise. It’s the only way we can learn what we’re truly capable of, and what we are most passionate about. Finding our niche will take time, but once we find the one that suits us, we can run with it.

Writing Again

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When there is a long absence from writing, returning to it can be refreshing. It’s as if we’re seeing it from a new lens. There’s so much to say and communicate that we weren’t aware of before.

I often go through phases where I’m primarily focused on one thing, such as reading, writing, or making art. This tunnel vision has helped me to stay focused, be productive, and to complete my goals. But there is a lifespan to whatever that tunnel vision is focused on. It can’t go on forever. At some point, I’ll need to take a break to work on something else.

With writing, after a long hiatus, it’s as if there’s a ton of stuff that’s been on my mind that I need to get out. Ideas that have been gestating, waiting to be manifested in stories or posts. These new ideas make writing fun and exciting again. Writing doesn’t feel like a chore or a routine anymore, but a new adventure.

Choosing a Field

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There was a time when I made a list of all the fields I wanted to pursue. The fields were ranked from greatest to least not in terms of extrinsic value, but intrinsic value.

The great irony of life is that we might work in a field that was far from our original goal. It’s quite easy for us to change our minds while we’re in school or working, or to be drawn toward a field as time goes by. For example, someone might be working as doctor, but then they end up as a writer later on, or vice versa.

The fields we choose are more like approximations rather than absolutes. There’s no telling how long we might stay in a field, or if we’d even like it after a few years. Perhaps we stay in the field as we work on starting a business, or continue our education on the weekends or evenings.

It goes to show how flexible and adaptable we can be in the economy. Our potential isn’t fixed to one specialized skill, but is linked and interconnected to many others. Although we might choose the path that seems the most obvious to us, we’re always learning new skills, learning about the world, and wanting to pursue new goals.

Choosing What to Read

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There are times when it is difficult to choose what to read. It can be mind boggling–even restless to choose what to read.

I used to make a list of all the books I wanted to read, then start at the top of the list and work my way down. But more recently, I’ve been choosing books capriciously, investing my time in what will hold my attention.

What we choose to read depends on what our aim is in reading. Is it just for entertainment–light-reading, or is for information and knowledge? Is our goal to know a topic or a body of work on, say, science fiction, or is it to be taken to a new world–to escape into imagination?

In the past, I was driven to read an author’s body of work, o read a few books that were popular or were considered “great works”. But having gone through these phases, I feel like that reading “great works”, for example, wasn’t as great as I thought it would be. Some of the books were boring, and it took considerable effort and time to finish them.

The qualities that the books were admired for weren’t things I connected with, such as the author’s style, tone, or use of symbolism. As a result, I steered away from what others hailed as great or amazing, and started choosing books that I’d enjoy or that I would connect with.

Off Course

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When we’re off course, it can be hard to get back on track. We might not even know how or why we got off course. It’s as if we lost our train of thought, or something preoccupied us in the midst of our work.

But being off course is a temporary thing. It’s kind of like when we stumble or go in the wrong direction. There comes a point when we realize what’s happening, and we stop and move in the right direction.

Being off course can happen even if we don’t mean to be. It can occur when we’re not prioritizing the right things, or if we think we’re going in the right direction. But there comes a point when we discover the truth, and then we set ourselves on the right course. But the question is, will we stay on the right course?

Mountains

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There’s something captivating about seeing mountains. Whether we’re at a national park, or if we’re driving down the road, seeing mountains brings a sense of awe and grandeur to the environment.

When hiking up a mountain or around it, the adventure comes from not knowing what’s up ahead. The path can be treacherous and windy, but the view can be absolutely stunning.

Mountains have a scale that brings wonder to our imagination. There is so much to explore, so much history there. Being on a mountain gives us an idea of how grand nature is, and how beautiful it is too.

Out of Time

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There are moments when there is no time left. It could be a project, a deadline, or any situation where we have to have something done at a certain time. Sometimes times runs out and we don’t know it until it’s too late.

When we run out of time, we adapt to it, look for other resources and opportunities. It’s one of those things where there is nothing we can do, since we can’t change time. All we can do is to make it on time the next time and learn from the experience.

But time is in itself, unpredictable, paradoxically. Not that we can’t count time, but we don’t know when time might be up, or what will happen at any give time. Being out of time can mean we ran out of time, or that time has ran out on us.

Seeing and Imagining

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When we see something, we register it as visual information–something that is tangible and real. But when we imagine it, it’s no longer visual information, but a thought that’s perceived either visually or auditory.

When we write, we’re using the mind’s eye to see into worlds that have no tangibility or realness. It’s as if seeing is turned off and imagining is turned on. It’s how we’re able to conceive of the impossible–the extraordinary.

The same holds true for any medium, whether it be painting, sculpture, animation, etc. We use the mind’s eye to observe something that isn’t there, but which we can bring to life through the art that we create.

Posted in Art