Why I write. (My reply to Jeff Goins)

A reply to Jeff Goins, here:

I write…

Because I only know what I think when I write, and I only know what I feel after I’ve written, mused, and write more. I’m closer to what makes me, me. And what I want to say, to assert that.

To clarify, for peace of mind, to muse. So that when I express, my private thoughts have been given the right attention on paper, to both validate and let them free. I write to let go – I can only let go when I have written it down. That goes for to do lists, emotions and poetically annoying wisps that blind my sight when I have to focus.

For joy. When I write, with a greater control and freedom over what might happen to those words, I really feel joy. And if there is something I need to express – anger, sadness, desperation, happiness – it is all enhanced with joy when I write. Not necessarily directly about those things either – sometimes when I write something completely different, it seeps in and I recognise my intuition churning in mysterious ways.

Because… I just like it. And when I don’t like it, I don’t.

Because I’ve learnt to say no to writing.

I can only drive the supercar at a top speed when I know the brakes are working. To be a writer, I believe it is important to write, often, and deliberately and consciously not write. Both are important. You can’t be a writer without both. Or maybe I just can’t be me, without both.

Because I have a purpose, even if that purpose is simply art for art’s sake. Because morning pages and streams of consciousness refresh me like a shower that pours over the top of my thoughts and in the process, cleans them.

Because I flourish when I appreciate the words I use. And I flourish when I listen to a mastery of language. It is the highest beauty… that I appreciate. Maybe it’s different for others. But I know myself better when I absorb, and become inspired by, the best writing and performing of writing.

And I write…

To thank you, Jeff Goins. You’ve been an inspiration, although you haven’t known it.

Why do you write, create, or otherwise do what you do?

Please share with us, either in the comments, or on your blog and link to it below. <3

Creativity, Writers Jeff Goins, why, writers, writing

On being lonely.

From the Coin Phrases archive. First here: 7/July/2013.

I want to write but I don’t want to be lonely. I get lonely.

When I have poured myself out onto the page or work in isolation, I look up in a haze for interaction to fill up.

Some writers like that. And I feel worse about it then. Like, I’m meant to like it.

Writers write to connect with people but the actual process of writing involves aloneness.

It might be my situation that is lonely and writing doesn’t help (although it does, once I do it – but afterwards, not so much).

Yes, real art and real writing is about real life and real pain and it’s brave and embarrassing and that is how I resonate and connect with you. And sometimes it’s braver to point out what’s good in a cynical world.

But on the other hand…

A book written badly can be enjoyed by millions of readers. That’s connection, with the book, and with the other readers between themselves. Nice words don’t matter if you don’t have a story, a journey for the reader to experience, and you need to think about that before you write. You have to reveal it slowly if at all and seduce the reader to think and feel. Good writing is not even words. It’s thinking. Alone.

Losing a very social and great job at the same time as moving house are the two most stressful things in the world by objective standards. They were the most overwhelming and isolating things when I experienced them. And at that time, my partner preferred alone time while alone time for me was painful.

I looked up loneliness and I learned something. With self-awareness, it is a closeness to yourself and a distance from others.

I wonder if that’s true for work.

I love it at times and hate it at others. I’m a bipolar writer?

At the end of the day, when I haven’t made ends meet, I conclude I have nothing to show for my work and achievements pale in comparison to others. I forget why people read and why people write and then I don’t understand what I do.

That’s probably a sign. Often, people feel lonely when they put others first and they come second. Maybe that goes for my work too. When it feels bad, I need to put myself first and my work second.

I’m going for a walk.

And that… is why I have a resistance to writing freely these days. I know there’s a lot to work on in my life, and writing… just doesn’t help with that, any more.

Creativity creative, lonely, writing

Occupy Facebook with art. Did you?

“The idea is to occupy facebook with art, breaking the monotony of lunch, selfies and sport. Whoever likes this post will receive an artist and has to publish a piece by that artist.”

I got Georgia O’Keefe… who did you get?

Georgia O’Keefe
New York Moon (sic)

Artistry, Social Media art, Facebook, occupy

The space art creates

Art is for the audience. For the audience to enjoy, appreciate and have opinions – freely. In a society where enjoyment, appreciation and opinions are usually for some agenda, art is the only space where it doesn’t matter and for that exact reason, it matters. So much.

Exhibit A: This letter. Oscar Wilde.

My dear Sir

Art is useless because its aim is simply to create a mood. It is not meant to instruct, or to influence action in any way. It is superbly sterile, and the note of its pleasure is sterility. If the contemplation of a work of art is followed by activity of any kind, the work is either of a very second-rate order, or the spectator has failed to realise the complete artistic impression.

A work of art is useless as a flower is useless. A flower blossoms for its own joy. We gain a moment of joy by looking at it. That is all that is to be said about our relations to flowers. Of course man may sell the flower, and so make it useful to him, but this has nothing to do with the flower. It is not part of its essence. It is accidental. It is a misuse. All this is I fear very obscure. But the subject is a long one.

Truly yours,
Oscar Wilde

Artistry

The Thick Of It – Malcolm Tucker’s thoughts on bloggers

I’m not above some meta-self-deprecation.
Particularly from such a fantastic show.

Blogging bloggers, malcolm tucker, the thick of it

Who are you?

Three questions: Write your answers in the comments below, or email me at aleekwrites@gmail.com – and I will reward you*.

1. How long/much have you been reading this blog? Do you want to subscribe? (Why?)

2. Who are you? What do you do?

3. The classic: What do you think is the point of art?

Thank you, so much!

* Extension question: How would you like to be rewarded?

Creativity audience, blogging, you

Content and Communications: My case

My case, answering a few questions about my abilities for a content and communications role at a charity…

- Specialist and/or technical subject: At B2B magazines Pensions Age/European Pensions I developed passion for well-researched, specialist, sharp writing on complex subjects and was self-motivated in my learning of investments and finance from scratch via workshops and seminars, independent reading and informational interviews with contacts. I adapt to different audiences and have written for local, national, arts and culture and affluent audiences, with all work being online-first.

- Variety of platforms, including digital: I’ve produced pieces (features, news, internal) for print for local newspapers, magazines (B2B and B2C), and internal newsletter copy via an agency. Almost all work has been digital-first, or digital only, and with social media. I’ve found Twitter and LinkedIn (groups) can garner the most engaged, specific audience at publications, in marketing, and when I have attracted traffic and comments at my own blog. I’ve written for blogs, social media, website copy, press releases and breaking news online first, and longer pieces/series split up for online at all publications and roles. We used Facebook as the basis for production team communication at The West Londoner. I also helped develop a new web forum for risk and tech professionals at Chartis Research.

- Digital marketing: Journalism needs to market itself! I’ve used SEO and Google Adwords to drive traffic for key words and produce/analyse results, measured success with different audiences with Google Analytics and used social media to test different engagement (each site has different advantages for different audiences; I suggest Facebook and Twitter are the best for charities, but I’d love to test that theory). Produced some mass emails and email newsletter copy. I constantly keep up to date with techniques and test the success of some through my blog for practical experience.

- Photography: See my Flickr. My photos have accompanied articles: Help is at Paw, Daughter running marathon for her mother. Also on my blog.

- Writing for the web: My arts-focused blog researched after personally blogging for 3 years. I use Quora and social media to learn, add to copy. I improved pensions magazine web writing with ideas for features (split them up), social media (Twitter, from non-existent), and new ideas to improve traffic and advertising revenue. The West Londoner (local) and Beatwolf (music) are entirely web-based publications, I ranked high in SEO and most-read often in all publications I have worked at.

- Marketing on agency side: Ferrier Pearce freelance – interviews, press releases and employee newsletter copy. I’m also learning affiliate marketing and building trust from customers, for blog.

- Brand guidelines: Adhere to style guides at varied publications for different industries and audiences.

- Reviewing and measuring success: Analysed success with Google Analytics, Adwords, SEO and tested appearances and layout in terms of conversion rates for subscribers and/or sales. I’ve researched traffic and times of day for different audiences, mobile, social media and online, and can increase engagement via social media.

- Create, develop and present creative concepts: I am a creative thinker and writer. I have developed my blog, poetry and performance of poetry, online video, and I’m currently writing a play. A strength of mine is creativity, presenting complex and interesting concepts, and creating engagement. Test me!

- Here’s a little comment on copywriting from me: http://coinphrases.com/?p=107

Creativity career, communications, content, CV

Aim

If you’re scared to aim too high & work for no guarantee,why don’t you stay in bed and see if that works instead? #notetoself

The trajectory, the progress and the bigger picture matter more. I’d rather be where I am because I’m there. I’d rather go where I’m going because it makes *me* happy. If you don’t receive and gain what others have, ask why – and ask if you want to do what it costs to get there. I’ve had to swim through tough times but the shore isn’t safe. Luck doesn’t build character, it’s just nice – but you don’t grow from it. That’s what I treasure about my own suffering. :)

All the dots just connected in my head. Like popping corn in a pan, all at once, explosively. How awesome life can be. :-)

Creativity

WHAT IS A CAREER?

You’re doing what Shakespeare and Picasso did, right?

No, your work is nothing like theirs. And, it shouldn’t be.

But you are doing what they do in that they believe in their worthiness enough, at least enough, to pursue an art form and create something an inherent message that art itself – beyond just my own – is important and valuable and not solely defined by others and brilliant by itself. Who is society to judge your own individual struggle? (Not your business, as you are not, personally, their business, either). Are the critics always right? (No).

You can’t have a career in ‘making money’ or ‘being successful’. However much you try. Your career is your pursuit of becoming better at something. A process, a service, creating products. The only thing under your control is the work itself, your intelligence and your energy and time management – and how you promote and project yourself to others who want to see your work. You put things out there? Wow. Celebrate your bravery. Don’t get even, get better, anyway.

The rest? It’s out of our control.

Careers career, critic