I do my best thinking when I’m flying or traveling. To represent that in today’s Daily, I went looking for a photo of a big view. This vista is from a three day drive from Kelowna, BC to Lake Tahoe, Nevada in 2009. I’ll hold and develop the story of how I managed to be surprised by a National Park on Sunday.
A pause to take stock…
The last Friday in January feels like a good time to take stock of how this public writing initiative is going.
It took a year to prepare for creating in public. In that time I learned from a credible source. Establishing the daily practice required me to build a few systems to make it work, and like all systems, they need a regular review.
First, the numbers:
I’ve released 15 blogs since January 5th – not quite daily, but more than I’ve ever published before. I missed the 10th, a Sunday; the 14th, a Thursday; and 18-20th, a Monday to Wednesday gap.
I’m on track for 17, including today and Sunday.
Why am I doing it?
There’s at least one piece of writing about each of these reasons, but for today, this partial list will do:
For me:
- Creative self expression
- Build and exercise a skill
- Accumulate a body of work
- Fulfill my life long dream of becoming an author
- Stay independent in how I generate money
- Build a living that feels true to who I am in every way
- Unearth the buried parts of myself
This is a journey of creative expression: photography, thoughts, opinion and story kept to the sidelines for too long.
For others:
- There is so much prescriptive writing telling you what to do on the internets. This writing is a different style – more story with “I” and “me.”
- Maybe you can tell me what’s in it for you! Whether it’s inspiration, education, entertainment, or observing the unfolding journey. The email responses have helped keep me going this month, and I am grateful.
What have I learned (so far)?
- Writing this much is hard.
- A big piece each day is unsustainable.
- I love writing as much as I did as a child.
- I was always photographing for now.
- The photo is the feeling, and it almost always comes first.
- Sometimes the writing slips into evening. (Not sure if that’s good or bad. Just an observation at this point.)
- If I miss one day, I’m more likely to let myself off the next.
- I need to design a day off – Saturdays – as a day to catch my breath and be completely away from technology if I choose.
- Sundays have a great vibe for stories.
What am I percolating?
A new name for the blog – Laura’s Daily Letter feels onerous and temporary. Plus, if I design a rest day on Saturdays, it’s not really “daily.”
What’s next?
The future is open. I’m paying attention to what resonates through your responses, and taking the leap into the life of a Creative one step at a time.
Today’s step is sharing some end of January reflection.
Until Sunday’s story,
PS. Remember if you want to see a bigger version of the photo, click through to the blog, and then click on the image.
