Defeat Resistance

Two years, five countries, and one baby later, my sci-fi/adventure novel Reaction is now available.

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Cover to Reaction

This post is a shameless plug for my novel (and a picture of me with the best thing I’ve ever created).

Why I Quit Freelancing and Got a ~gasp!~ Job (plus the Week 50 roundup)

Scythe on a wall

I’m not the sharpest scythe in the shed, but sometimes my coal-dust addled brain learns a lesson or two from its mistakes experience. To wit: in 2011, I did all kinds of enterprising work to support myself outside the old 9-to-5: freelance writing, micro-affiliate sites, web design, junk peddling on ebay and craigslist, English teaching, and a couple other [...]

Why I’m Scared Sh!tless…and It’s Okay (plus Week 49 Roundup)

Yes, those are real crocodiles

I’m scared shitless because in less than three weeks, I’m going to be a first-time father. I’m not too worried, though, because I’ve learned a simple yet valuable lesson. Read on for more…

Week 45 Roundup: Building Momentum, Creativity Models, and Incubation

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a mug sitting upon a planet floating in yellow space

I’m dug in and fighting my way through this year’s NaNoWriMo, bleeding out my 1,667 words a day as I make my way through a draft of the final volume of a ridiculously large project. Here are a couple observations on starting a new project and building positive creative inertia. 1. Now that you’ve finished all [...]

Week 44 Roundup: Gaps, Ruts, and Word Births

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 Mind the gap. Sometimes you find that the work you’re creating is okay, but it’s not where you want it to be. You’ve been at it for awhile, but you’re not quite ready to get it out there. This dissatisfaction might be an aspect of Resistance, but other times you’re somewhere in what Ira Glass [...]

14 Ways to Maintain Your Creative Output (During a 50 Hour Work Week)

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a person on a beach getting some serious rest

Even though creative work is fun and rewarding, it’s still work that requires a significant amount of time, energy, and focus. Here I share 14 strategies I use to maintain my creative output while maintaining full-time employment.

8 Lessons in Creative Work I Learned From My Garden

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A modest harvest

This year I planted my first garden. The results are mixed, but I managed to harvest eight lessons in creative work from my experience. Read on….

You Are Your Own Worst Enemy, But That’s a Good Thing

She

In 95% of cases, the only person stopping you from creating something amazing is you. That’s cool, though, because the Resistance is a sign you’re on the right track. This post is a roundup of three vital articles on how to manage your fear of failure, inner critic, and stage fright. Read more…