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I'm writing a book at the moment (https://learndevops.com.au/ https://learndevops.com.au/) and for me I've found I go days, sometimes a whole week, without writ

by movedx 5y ago

I'm writing a book at the moment (https://learndevops.com.au/ https://learndevops.com.au/) and for me I've found I go days, sometimes a whole week, without writing. When I do eventually write I push out upwards of 5,000 words. This system has worked well for me. If I try and change this I fall into a sort of resentment that I have to do something when a calendar is telling me to. The thing is though: if I were to write everyday for an hour, and produce 300-500 words, I'd output... 2,500 words per week. That's not bad. In fact it's good, actually. So I don't know. I agree with the article, but I also find letting creatively and desire to a grip on me and then running with it has resulted in big output.

hirvi74 5y ago
I just wish this was somehow sustainable in a job. I can totally see this working for me, and in some fact, I guess I probably do this in some way or another -- especially for hobbies.
- movedx 5y ago
  > I just wish this was somehow sustainable in a job I think I see what you mean. Ultimately when you're working for money you're solving problem's for other people. Those people, the ones paying you, are expecting delivery of the solution in a particular time frame. So that doesn't work with this kind mindset, sadly. Same with a business you work for: they have expectations you have to meet versus, "You'll get X when I feel like producing it." It's why I want to be a content creator: I have more freedom with my time.
0--__-_-__--0 5y ago
There's a really interesting article by the historian EP Thompson that talks a bit about pre-industrial work patterns called 'Time, Work Discipline and Industrial Capitalism'. He makes the point that before clocks and factories, work was usually seasonal and came in spurts of very hard work interspersed with idleness, and that this is also how a lot of artists work. Your description sounds similar!
- movedx 5y ago
  That's an interest point! I'm going to find and read that. It reminded me of the guy from Thailand (TED Talk - linked below) who didn't understand why we make our lives so complicated when he can work for 2-3 months of the year and spend the rest of it wondering which of his six houses, which he built, he's going to live in - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21j_OCNLuYg&list=PLf_dOHZ768sRb6FEHNT0xVB36o-poEdXQ&index=2&t=10s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21j_OCNLuYg&list=PLf_dOHZ768...

by movedx 5y ago

hirvi74 5y ago

I just wish this was somehow sustainable in a job. I can totally see this working for me, and in some fact, I guess I probably do this in some way or another -- especially for hobbies.

movedx 5y ago
> I just wish this was somehow sustainable in a job I think I see what you mean. Ultimately when you're working for money you're solving problem's for other people. Those people, the ones paying you, are expecting delivery of the solution in a particular time frame. So that doesn't work with this kind mindset, sadly. Same with a business you work for: they have expectations you have to meet versus, "You'll get X when I feel like producing it." It's why I want to be a content creator: I have more freedom with my time.

0--__-_-__--0 5y ago

There's a really interesting article by the historian EP Thompson that talks a bit about pre-industrial work patterns called 'Time, Work Discipline and Industrial Capitalism'. He makes the point that before clocks and factories, work was usually seasonal and came in spurts of very hard work interspersed with idleness, and that this is also how a lot of artists work. Your description sounds similar!

movedx 5y ago
That's an interest point! I'm going to find and read that. It reminded me of the guy from Thailand (TED Talk - linked below) who didn't understand why we make our lives so complicated when he can work for 2-3 months of the year and spend the rest of it wondering which of his six houses, which he built, he's going to live in - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21j_OCNLuYg&list=PLf_dOHZ768sRb6FEHNT0xVB36o-poEdXQ&index=2&t=10s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21j_OCNLuYg&list=PLf_dOHZ768...