So the other day I was in a line at the store when my phone rang.
I pulled it out of my shirt pocket and took a brief call.
The woman behind me said.
W: "What the hell is that?" pointing to my phone.
Me: "It's the new LightPhone 2, it only makes phone calls and text messages."
W: "Are you one of those hackers?"
Me: "Not anymore."
W: "It doesn't do the internet?"
Me: "Nope, I value my time talking to nice people like you."
W: "I wish I could throw this away." pointing to a huge Android phone.
Me: “Well, you could, just turn it off."
W: launches into a long story about wanting to be a writer. Or a journalist. How she felt like she wasn't good enough. And didn't have the time. She wanted me to know she had something to say. Something important. Yet she gave up on this dream.
Me: I nodded along, listening. Thinking to myself, does she want advice? Or is she just venting?
W: Can I ask why you do for a living?
Me: Well, I am a part-time writer, retired, and notice'er of the world.
W: How do you do it?
Me: I start over every day. I reread what I wrote and edit it. Then move on to add or start a new piece. Each day is different. It doesn't have to be big or good. It just has to be finished. It's work like the dishes or the laundry. You never come to the end, there will always be more. But you wash, fold, and put away each load. By getting each load done, you build up a habit. A skill. Can I ask, Do you wash some dishes in the kitchen as you cook a big meal?
W: Why yes. It makes the meal more enjoyable.
Me: So with writing, you’re cooking a complex meal. So you read up on it beforehand. Then prep all the ingredients. Cook some, clean some, cook some more. The good meal only happens if you work at it. The trick is, how do you become a good cook? By cooking a lot of meals.
I pulled it out of my shirt pocket and took a brief call.
The woman behind me said.
W: "What the hell is that?" pointing to my phone.
Me: "It's the new LightPhone 2, it only makes phone calls and text messages."
W: "Are you one of those hackers?"
Me: "Not anymore."
W: "It doesn't do the internet?"
Me: "Nope, I value my time talking to nice people like you."
W: "I wish I could throw this away." pointing to a huge Android phone.
Me: “Well, you could, just turn it off."
W: launches into a long story about wanting to be a writer. Or a journalist. How she felt like she wasn't good enough. And didn't have the time. She wanted me to know she had something to say. Something important. Yet she gave up on this dream.
Me: I nodded along, listening. Thinking to myself, does she want advice? Or is she just venting?
W: Can I ask why you do for a living?
Me: Well, I am a part-time writer, retired, and notice'er of the world.
W: How do you do it?
Me: I start over every day. I reread what I wrote and edit it. Then move on to add or start a new piece. Each day is different. It doesn't have to be big or good. It just has to be finished. It's work like the dishes or the laundry. You never come to the end, there will always be more. But you wash, fold, and put away each load. By getting each load done, you build up a habit. A skill. Can I ask, Do you wash some dishes in the kitchen as you cook a big meal?
W: Why yes. It makes the meal more enjoyable.
Me: So with writing, you’re cooking a complex meal. So you read up on it beforehand. Then prep all the ingredients. Cook some, clean some, cook some more. The good meal only happens if you work at it. The trick is, how do you become a good cook? By cooking a lot of meals.