tool kits

April 2024: Growing Up

I believe the mature artist is willing to admit they are the eternal student— they consistently wonder how they can (or must) improve.

In that process is maturing, or growing up, what I think is crucial to know (and keep close to you) is to remember the critical who critique YOU rather than your WORK, are disingenuous readers. Those who engage the work, and their criticisms show that, their critique has merit, and should be considered.

A key I have learned is not everything is for everyone — but everything I write is for me first.

With that first thought, I must realize the work I want to create must be dependent on my own talent and strong enough to withstand what people may think of it— ie because art is subjective, I must be able to understand an observation and ignore when need be.

Do I get it right all the time? No. And I assure you neither will you. The goal is to create the work you want, endure the criticism you must, while striving to be better.

You are your own competition. Not the faceless internet.

April 2023: Growing Up

What helped me grow up in and along my writing journey was to understand not everything I write may not be for everyone.

I had I understand that while I write the things I like, which may intrigue, scare, or inspire me — this may not be true for everyone.

I am aware what I do and will write has a waiting public — even if I have to build it.

Yet, as a writer you cannot be afraid of that building. It is the building which allows you to create, shift, change and go forward. The Audience is looking and listening — waiting to be seen.

Sometimes, the first place someone who looks like you is seen maybe in your own imagination or interpretation of the world they are often not seen in.

Do not rob them of their visibility.

Quarterly Check-In:

Happy End of Q1!

Take a break, and get a snack.

This will take about 10-minutes.

——-

For the past 90 days, have you written?

Did you write what you want or what people wanted you to write?

How do you feel about what you wrote? Be honest. (It’s okay be unsure.)

For your current WIP, how is it going? Be honest.

Is your current work emotionally demanding?Do you need to pause?

Are you writing in community?

What do you want to do better for Q2?

Are you proud of yourself? Be honest (You should be).

See you in 90 days.

With Love & Ink,

JBHarris

March 2024: LIGHT YOUR WAY

Audre Lorde said that you have to be believe you have a little fire — in believing it, you can use it.

As this month ends within a week’s time, let his be your reminder of your own fire. Let this be your reminder the goal of fire is use.

You just acknowledge you have it, and also be willing to use it. In the harsh dark we are in, it is essential your fire be added to rooms, to conversations, discourses, and even — for yourself.

Fire hoarded consumes.

Fire used is warmth and light.

Choose wisely.

Save Your Work – Part 4

Writing is amazing, losing work that you wrote, is a different type of Hell.

I will never fail to recommend the same thing a professor I had for my 3000 level English class said: ”Start saving your work in two places.”

With the advent of the Cloud and DropBox, this is a little easier. But, it bears repeating! Get used to saving your work in two places. The thing that is so devastating about losing work, is the fact that this it is LOST! There is no way to recover it if you have not put in other preventative measure in place to keep that from happening.

I save in three places:

1.) The iCloud (because iPhone) — but this is two-fold. While the iCloud is great–it saves EVERYTHING to that’s on the phone, and I love that. But, I do like having something SPECIFIC for the writing that I want to do.

2.) I am dedicated to my Notes App! Everything gets a folder! I mean there are chunks of my imagination on a device! And I need that!

3.) I am also old school! I have things on my Desktop, but I also make sure that sometimes those drafts are emailed to myself–so I don’t lose them again! When my computer updated (the very one I am working on now!), I lost a lot of work. And I sat in the floor and cried.

What I have learned is write once, save twice.