(If you prefer to listen to this section click the play button above!) I was texting back and forth with a writer friend the other day about our diminished capacity for concentration. From my early 20’s until probably my late 30’s I could write for hours and hours and never get tired or lose focus. It wasn’t uncommon for Julie to go to sleep at 10:30 or 11:00pm just as I was getting warmed up, then she’d wake up at 5:00 to get ready for auditions just as I was going to bed. When we moved out here in 2011 I would drop her off at grad school in the morning and spend the whole day bouncing around from coffee shop to library to lunch place to coffee shop, filling notebooks along the way.
And tell you what... I'll CONSIDER shaking off the algorithm and slowing down the pace. But only for you. And because my diminishing attention span is its own little hell.
Really beautiful. I'm actually preparing to get off of social media, so this post was particularly resonant in its timing. Encouraging, and a welcomed reminder of the value of mindful presence for living a happy life in general, but also for writing. Thank you.
I’m glad you and J are happy in the foothills and enjoying getting back to nature.
Reminds me of Richard Feynman’s recommendation:
“• Read everyday. • Spend time with nature. • Ask questions. • Never stop learning. • Don't pay attention to what others think of you. • Do what interests you the most. • Study hard. • Teach others what you know. • Make mistakes and learn. • It's Okay to not know things!”
While I also practice outside dog meditation with no devices, I've found the Headspace App to be pretty great. It worked me up to a 1x/day 20 minute session. My wife can tell when I haven't been doing it. When I'm regular with Headspace, I spend less time on the internet.
I know a lot of folks swear by the Morning Pages thing from the Artist's Way, but all that did was send me into a "what is all about" tailspin that lasted the rest of the day after writing down all the depressing thoughts rattling around in my head first thing in the morning. I've found the silence to be more helpful creatively the rest of the day.
I think you're spot-on with the concentration theory. I was taking the time to sit outdoors unconnected to electronics a couple of times a week back in the summer but sort of fell off it and I can tell a difference. The sad thing is I just thought to myself "I should try the meditation app on the VR headset" instead of "I should try sitting without anything distracting". It's tough for me to break free sometimes, especially when most of my friends (real or at least hopefully real) are living in my tiny handheld gateway to the world.
Good stuff, thanks Mickey. Curious, do you usually use bolding in your scripts? First appearances of characters...key visuals...slug lines? Do you have rules for it or just go on instinct?
Great first page, Mickey. :-)
And tell you what... I'll CONSIDER shaking off the algorithm and slowing down the pace. But only for you. And because my diminishing attention span is its own little hell.
Really beautiful. I'm actually preparing to get off of social media, so this post was particularly resonant in its timing. Encouraging, and a welcomed reminder of the value of mindful presence for living a happy life in general, but also for writing. Thank you.
Marvelous musings, my friend.
LOVE that page/introduction!
I’m glad you and J are happy in the foothills and enjoying getting back to nature.
Reminds me of Richard Feynman’s recommendation:
“• Read everyday. • Spend time with nature. • Ask questions. • Never stop learning. • Don't pay attention to what others think of you. • Do what interests you the most. • Study hard. • Teach others what you know. • Make mistakes and learn. • It's Okay to not know things!”
While I also practice outside dog meditation with no devices, I've found the Headspace App to be pretty great. It worked me up to a 1x/day 20 minute session. My wife can tell when I haven't been doing it. When I'm regular with Headspace, I spend less time on the internet.
I know a lot of folks swear by the Morning Pages thing from the Artist's Way, but all that did was send me into a "what is all about" tailspin that lasted the rest of the day after writing down all the depressing thoughts rattling around in my head first thing in the morning. I've found the silence to be more helpful creatively the rest of the day.
Love that first page.
I think you're spot-on with the concentration theory. I was taking the time to sit outdoors unconnected to electronics a couple of times a week back in the summer but sort of fell off it and I can tell a difference. The sad thing is I just thought to myself "I should try the meditation app on the VR headset" instead of "I should try sitting without anything distracting". It's tough for me to break free sometimes, especially when most of my friends (real or at least hopefully real) are living in my tiny handheld gateway to the world.
Good stuff, thanks Mickey. Curious, do you usually use bolding in your scripts? First appearances of characters...key visuals...slug lines? Do you have rules for it or just go on instinct?