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 am a pretty devoted morning pages person but I find it works more as a way to connect what I’m thinking to my pen. I need to check out Headsoace! After you posted this another writer mentioned it to me as well.
I'm glad to hear Morning Pages work for some people. I really gave it a shot. My experience was basically Charlie Kaufman berating himself in his V.O. at the beginning of Adaptation. I filled 3 handwritten notebooks with rantings about why I don't deserve Peanut Butter Cap'N Crunch anymore.
Headspace is great. I remember it stepped me up from 5 to 10 to 20 minutes pretty easily. Plus that guy's voice is just butter in your ears.
I also played around with Tripp on a VR headset which claims to be a meditation app, but you're basically playing a soothing video game while wearing a VR helmet and using hand controllers -- you don't really quiet the noise and detach like you do with meditation a la Headspace.
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.
Haha! It is tough. I have plenty of genuine, healthy connections online and plenty of community. I’ll never be able to give it up entirely but I’m working on the balance. Thanks for reading!
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?
I usually do it for my main characters then anything I really want to stand out. I generally don’t bold my slug lines. I have no problem with them when I’m reading someone else’s script, I’m just in the habit of doing them without and tend to save the bold for emphasis. How about you?
I never used to use bold at all as when I was working as a Reader it wasn't really a thing, but then I saw it used more frequently in recent years and also a friend told me that Scott Frank bolded AND underlined his slug lines, so I figured if it was good enough for Scott Frank, I can't poo poo it any longer. :-) But from a reader's perspective, you really have to make sure it's clear and we're not thinking "Why are they bolding THAT word? That makes no sense and pulls me out." It has to really be a CRUCIAL use of emphasis. Verbs don't look right bolded, for example, in most cases.
Yeah, I feel like as long as the intention is clear and not muddying the waters, it’s helpful. And also if you’re using it sparingly, because if everything is important then nothing is.
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.
Hah, it’s not an easy thing to shake. And thank you!
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.
Good luck! And let me know if you notice some big changes!
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!”
I love all that!
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 am a pretty devoted morning pages person but I find it works more as a way to connect what I’m thinking to my pen. I need to check out Headsoace! After you posted this another writer mentioned it to me as well.
I'm glad to hear Morning Pages work for some people. I really gave it a shot. My experience was basically Charlie Kaufman berating himself in his V.O. at the beginning of Adaptation. I filled 3 handwritten notebooks with rantings about why I don't deserve Peanut Butter Cap'N Crunch anymore.
Headspace is great. I remember it stepped me up from 5 to 10 to 20 minutes pretty easily. Plus that guy's voice is just butter in your ears.
I also played around with Tripp on a VR headset which claims to be a meditation app, but you're basically playing a soothing video game while wearing a VR helmet and using hand controllers -- you don't really quiet the noise and detach like you do with meditation a la Headspace.
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.
Haha! It is tough. I have plenty of genuine, healthy connections online and plenty of community. I’ll never be able to give it up entirely but I’m working on the balance. Thanks for reading!
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?
And thank you!
I usually do it for my main characters then anything I really want to stand out. I generally don’t bold my slug lines. I have no problem with them when I’m reading someone else’s script, I’m just in the habit of doing them without and tend to save the bold for emphasis. How about you?
I never used to use bold at all as when I was working as a Reader it wasn't really a thing, but then I saw it used more frequently in recent years and also a friend told me that Scott Frank bolded AND underlined his slug lines, so I figured if it was good enough for Scott Frank, I can't poo poo it any longer. :-) But from a reader's perspective, you really have to make sure it's clear and we're not thinking "Why are they bolding THAT word? That makes no sense and pulls me out." It has to really be a CRUCIAL use of emphasis. Verbs don't look right bolded, for example, in most cases.
Yeah, I feel like as long as the intention is clear and not muddying the waters, it’s helpful. And also if you’re using it sparingly, because if everything is important then nothing is.