Writing Holiday

I’m getting back to basics. The summer has made me lazy. I took a writing holiday and now I’m reaffirming, doubling down on some of the basic things I’ve was doing that got me moving in the first place. I’ve got some great new things that are coming to the site soon. They are going to be better tools for living the “Super Geek Life”. I’m going to hope all the Super Geeks join me in some of my endeavors.

What’s coming up?

I’ve been less active lately on the site. Truth told I’ve been pushing through the evolution of what this site is supposed to be. First and foremost, I do this writing for me. Stating this seems trite but the site does give me an outlet for my human guinea pigging. It also is a place for me to publicly put my money where my mouth is when it comes to my ideas and research.

I’ve got so many great articles and projects yet to come (including a big one which will be a large change to the site). I’ll have more hero skill tutorials coming. There will be more book and app reviews, more productivity and philosophical jaunts, and many other things that excite me.

Why am I saying this?

Consequently I’ve suffered at times from the idea that many, I’m gaining readers so therefore I need to churn the articles out. The idea of gaining the readership is attractive, and so I trapped myself into thinking oh man, I’d better stick to the schedule, no matter what.

I got to this bleak place as a result. I have several balls in the air (sometimes literally, see my spot about juggling). None of the long term articles and projects I’m working through are ready for release and so I force shorter stuff. Not that the stuff is horrible, it’s just bleh.

By releasing that though I’m not doing myself (or the readers any good). Quite frankly, there’s enough bleh out there already and I don’t wish to add to it. I’m truly thankful for every second spent reading this stuff that someone gives me.

On a writing “Holiday”

Suffice it to say that I actually wrote Ryan Holiday (Author of “Ego is the Enemy”, “The Obstacle is the Way”, “Perennial Seller”, to name a few books I’ve mentioned on the site).

I spelled this problem out (This is of course, the short version) . I said to him what do I do? I want to keep the readers coming and staying on a schedule is important to that, but then what about the drop in quality?

And believe me I know, wah wah, poor me, what a ridiculous problem to purport to have, cue the violins.

Ryan answered me back quickly; almost within 5 minutes. For all of my blathering he wrote me back a one sentence response. It’s so simple that I almost wanted to blow it off. I was frustrated because I wanted to hear that there was more to it. But there isn’t.

It’s annoying because I feel silly for even having asked because this answer was already sitting in my head. Part of me just needed to hear it from higher up the mountain.

For all I know Ryan read three words into it and was annoyed and flippantly shot that answer back. I admit, I had a, “Who does this guy thinks he is?” moment when I read it. It subsided quickly though. I was frustrated with me, hoping the answer was harder, not with the answer itself or Ryan. I let it digest.

Regardless of the circumstances, it was what I needed to hear.

The Response

The answer was as follows:

Write when you have something to say.

This simple statement is the truth. In our world of crap news, powder keg opinions, with garbage spewing from everywhere it’s so important. In our shitty Buzz Feed top 10 ways your cat can help you whack off culture, it is truer than ever.

The take away from me was that yes I would like to write something substantial each week outside of my day job and I do write every day. The thing is though that sometimes I’m not going to have it. If I don’t have it I’m not going to force it. Yes I’m going to force myself to write because inspiration is fleeting and dammit you just need to get to work. But if what I have isn’t worth posting, well I’m not going to post it. It’s not a commentary on the topics I choose (this is Super Geek Life after all), but whether I feel like I’m actually saying something worthwhile.

Super Geek Life Tenents

Living a full and happy life through purpose.

Purpose derives from choosing to deliberately do certain actions.

Completing these actions require you be healthy in mind, body, and spirit (take that as you will).

Being healthy in mind, body, and spirit requires deliberate action towards each of those facets as well.

It requires curiosity be kindled while acknowledging that curiosity comes from these actions as well.

It require that we always seek to improve and learn.

Passions will be kindled in ebbs and flows but the purpose will remain so long as the deliberate actions are done.

Let’s not forget the geek part

It just so happens that on this site my curiosity is kindled by very geeky topics; Science fiction and comic books and games to name but a few. These are cliche geek topics though. You can be a geek about writing, or programming, or playing baseball, or truly anything. Geekyness to me just means that the element of curiosity towards a topic starts surging on an above average level. This in turn begins bleeding into your normal life.

Anyone can be a geek and I believe benefit from the Super Geek Life.