Great post Jared, so true and such powerful, grounding advice for those of us who feel at the mercy of distractions and interruptions and the constant chase of the ever-better hack.
Hey now, those spy novels have a purpose. I find that I need something low-key and unchallenging at night to wind down before I go to sleep - otherwise I'm up half the night thinking about stuff that I picked up from the heavier texts.
Great post! I was just thinking today about how easy it is to get lost in the weeds of the tools or process of thinking rather than in the ideas themselves. My favorite version of this is thinking more about the notebook than about the ideas I actually want to work out inside of it.
“We sat a coffee shop on campus for two, perhaps three, hours and went over every detail. He’d underline a word and simply ask you what it meant.”
I’d advise this level of discipline and diligence when it comes to editing your articles, too. I noticed a few sloppy errors, as in the above sentence, where you left out an “in”. Deep line-editing is especially important for philosophical writing, with readers themselves usually reading more deeply, perhaps, than they normally do. So when they come upon a slip of the pen, grammatically or by way of a careless omission, it’s more noticeable.
I struggle sometimes with starting too many things. I had to cut out learning guitar and a language from current goals since I just could give enough time to them to see progress. I settled on two creative projects: my substack and fiction writing. Those both naturally require a lot of reading to reach the level of quality I seek, so it's a nice synergy right now.
You're right, though, having a family really does not allow for a consistent workflow. It's a painful to realize you can't do everything, but it's worth it in the end. I also know that my podcast will be my main thing for over a decade, so I will surely be able to pick music back up when I finish my book or need a break
i’ve found it challenging to balance my very heady but largely meaningless professional life with more creative pursuits in my off time. this ideology of the seasons of life emphasizes the sacrifices i make by trying to do both at once. the two parts of my life clash and i’ve been weighing which set of sacrifices is more worth it.
thanks for sharing. this one found me at the right time.
Very interesting analysis. I’m currently in a similar situation, albeit as a former computer Science teacher and trainer. Having left international education after 8 years in summer 2024, I ventured into freelancing as an independent trainer / consultant. My ultimate goal is to eventually write a book on the implications of technology (especially now with AI causing a paradigm shift) on society or a related topics. Having “projects” to deepen my knowledge and understanding is an important strategy. The concept of Deep Work (Carl Newport) is fascinating, but in a distraction driven world not always easy to implement. And I do not even have kids! Learning a lot from your videos and write-ups, Jared. Keep ‘m coming. Ferry.
You’re absolutely right about the idea of “individual attention.” I’ve found that a balanced day that incorporates writing is a lot more fulfilling than one devoted to only one activity; experiential context fuels writing and does not detract from it.
I've come to realize the importance of creating a safe space for us whenever we feel like our passion projects or, let's say, the projects we work on from time to time, feel like a lot. Taking breaks is part of my definition of safe space. As well as cutting back on some reading I intended to do. There's power in the art of taking it slow, perhaps you'll find more meaning letting go some things (for now) as you work towards your book goal. Sending positive thoughts your way!
There is absolutely no reason you can’t sip a whiskey with your research materials and a notepad in hand.
I agree with others that the more relaxed reading may be needed at times to break your mind free from the book work. When I’m working on a large painting there is usually a smaller side work that I will go to and get out the built up tension and creative blocks that inevitably happen. Then I return ti the main piece refreshed and ready to proceed.
Lionel sounds like an incredible mentor. This post speaks to me in a lot of ways, most particularly with regard to slow, detailed exploration and consideration for how even a single word or phrase could be perceived. I've been meaning to take my projects more seriously, so this post provided much needed perspective.
But, even more touching, is the remark on attention. I've been managing better, more quality time with friends as of late, while producing what I'd argue to my highest quality of literary work. Of course, the output doesn't reflect that the best, but all the journals certainly do. This post is a good reminder to remember what you cherish, and understanding that those many things don't have to conflict with your goals or purpose.
Outstanding! Thank you for writing this - I enjoyed it a lot as I’m in a similar family situation while trying to tackle new ambitious projects. Congratulations on the second child coming soon, and I look forward to picking up the new book.
Great post Jared, so true and such powerful, grounding advice for those of us who feel at the mercy of distractions and interruptions and the constant chase of the ever-better hack.
Hey now, those spy novels have a purpose. I find that I need something low-key and unchallenging at night to wind down before I go to sleep - otherwise I'm up half the night thinking about stuff that I picked up from the heavier texts.
Very timely, especially in a world where our attention is pulled in so many directions often leading to nothing. Thank you!🙏🏻
Great post! I was just thinking today about how easy it is to get lost in the weeds of the tools or process of thinking rather than in the ideas themselves. My favorite version of this is thinking more about the notebook than about the ideas I actually want to work out inside of it.
“We sat a coffee shop on campus for two, perhaps three, hours and went over every detail. He’d underline a word and simply ask you what it meant.”
I’d advise this level of discipline and diligence when it comes to editing your articles, too. I noticed a few sloppy errors, as in the above sentence, where you left out an “in”. Deep line-editing is especially important for philosophical writing, with readers themselves usually reading more deeply, perhaps, than they normally do. So when they come upon a slip of the pen, grammatically or by way of a careless omission, it’s more noticeable.
I struggle sometimes with starting too many things. I had to cut out learning guitar and a language from current goals since I just could give enough time to them to see progress. I settled on two creative projects: my substack and fiction writing. Those both naturally require a lot of reading to reach the level of quality I seek, so it's a nice synergy right now.
You're right, though, having a family really does not allow for a consistent workflow. It's a painful to realize you can't do everything, but it's worth it in the end. I also know that my podcast will be my main thing for over a decade, so I will surely be able to pick music back up when I finish my book or need a break
i’ve found it challenging to balance my very heady but largely meaningless professional life with more creative pursuits in my off time. this ideology of the seasons of life emphasizes the sacrifices i make by trying to do both at once. the two parts of my life clash and i’ve been weighing which set of sacrifices is more worth it.
thanks for sharing. this one found me at the right time.
Very interesting analysis. I’m currently in a similar situation, albeit as a former computer Science teacher and trainer. Having left international education after 8 years in summer 2024, I ventured into freelancing as an independent trainer / consultant. My ultimate goal is to eventually write a book on the implications of technology (especially now with AI causing a paradigm shift) on society or a related topics. Having “projects” to deepen my knowledge and understanding is an important strategy. The concept of Deep Work (Carl Newport) is fascinating, but in a distraction driven world not always easy to implement. And I do not even have kids! Learning a lot from your videos and write-ups, Jared. Keep ‘m coming. Ferry.
You’re absolutely right about the idea of “individual attention.” I’ve found that a balanced day that incorporates writing is a lot more fulfilling than one devoted to only one activity; experiential context fuels writing and does not detract from it.
I've come to realize the importance of creating a safe space for us whenever we feel like our passion projects or, let's say, the projects we work on from time to time, feel like a lot. Taking breaks is part of my definition of safe space. As well as cutting back on some reading I intended to do. There's power in the art of taking it slow, perhaps you'll find more meaning letting go some things (for now) as you work towards your book goal. Sending positive thoughts your way!
I found your mentor’s methodology interesting and intriguing. I might try to do it once I am out of college.
But yes, it's not okay to put too much on a plate. I hope your sacrifices pay off. I look forward to your first book!
There is absolutely no reason you can’t sip a whiskey with your research materials and a notepad in hand.
I agree with others that the more relaxed reading may be needed at times to break your mind free from the book work. When I’m working on a large painting there is usually a smaller side work that I will go to and get out the built up tension and creative blocks that inevitably happen. Then I return ti the main piece refreshed and ready to proceed.
Lionel sounds like an incredible mentor. This post speaks to me in a lot of ways, most particularly with regard to slow, detailed exploration and consideration for how even a single word or phrase could be perceived. I've been meaning to take my projects more seriously, so this post provided much needed perspective.
But, even more touching, is the remark on attention. I've been managing better, more quality time with friends as of late, while producing what I'd argue to my highest quality of literary work. Of course, the output doesn't reflect that the best, but all the journals certainly do. This post is a good reminder to remember what you cherish, and understanding that those many things don't have to conflict with your goals or purpose.
Man, I really like your voice.
Good luck in all that you do Jared!
Outstanding! Thank you for writing this - I enjoyed it a lot as I’m in a similar family situation while trying to tackle new ambitious projects. Congratulations on the second child coming soon, and I look forward to picking up the new book.