Love the bag! Nice job. Also, #7 made me remember advice from a college drawing instructor: “when you think you are done, work for 15 more minutes. That’s when the best things happen. “ It’s so true and I need to remind myself of that. I think it applies to many creative tasks.
Ohhh, I love that (let's up my ten minutes to fifteen). It's the hardest thing besides starting, too. That feeling when I'm all pooped out and I think "I've done enough, I can check it off the list if I stop now." But if I work for a bit more, something cool usually comes.
The Mythical Messenger bag is perfection. I can’t believe your friends reacted so casually, unless you are in the habit of making perfect things. I give you credit for being so patient in making it. I wouldn’t have been. It looks professionally done, and now you have to share all the how tos.
Ah, my friends were enthusiastic, it was my FAMILY who reacted casually, because they were likely sick of hearing me talk endlessly about zippers and adjustable straps and who-wants-to-go-patch-shopping-with-me.
Aww, Julie, thank you for the generous Babysitter inclusion. I know you aren't 👀ing for it, but your bag DOES look awesome (thank you for the photos for us visual-receiving types). And I love that you hid the patch at the end of the day, thus solving your "is it for me, or for me+others?" temp. quandary.
I feel you so much on not sharing nascent creative ideas. I typically don't even share inspirations much, especially while I'm pondering them and what I love about them and how that might apply to something I'm working on (meaning I haven't publicly reviewed quite a few of my VERY favorite picture books...a pretty major jerk move, but there it is). In fact, can one be TOO much of a hoarder with the things they are lucky enough to have learned/experienced? Because that might be me. Like, a week ago, I went to see the salmon use the elevator at our local lock and dam. It was amazing. I took videos of the fish that used, and didn't use, the elevator--the fish IN the elevator--and then some of the harbor seal that was evading the fisheries people and their rules to snack on some of the salmon to make it through. This is all to say, the whole thing was so interesting. And I took it for me, just to "Save" the experience for myself of seeing it, and then I thought, "I could share this." And then I was like, "wait, maybe I want to use this." Maybe I will! But likely...I won't. So it's hard. Because I don't want to not share (because I love when others share with me). But then, too, my blog is kind of navel-gaze-y maybe because I share my process, my end results, my thoughts (not story thoughts, but writing thoughts) but not my inspirations or "cool stuff I recently learned"--which is a big part of me. And it's okay to not share, but also a little sad because my first instinct is, truly, not to share anything. Which is not great--way worse than being prone to "sharing too much." So I may be working on the opposite of you--I don't trust the average person, really, at all. So trusting the kidlit community (not with stories and story ideas! those are for me! but with some of my "I can't imagine this will actually go into a story, but might spark something for someone else") type inspiration might be good "personal development" for me. 😂 Sigh. We'll see.
I go to see David Sedaris in November, and maybe I'll ask him about that. He shares (select) diary entries--and I wonder how he decides which of those "story ingredients" to share as-is, vs. saving for "using" in a bigger piece.
I *love* this salmon elevator example. First of all "I went to see the salmon use the elevator" is a perfect sentence intro. An entire novel could start that way and I'd be so in. But that's one of those instances where I ask myself, "why?" as far as sharing. This might just be me, but there was a time in my life when I shared EVERYTHING. Knee-jerk, anything even vaguely interesting, I'd put it on the internet. Then I remember taking an intentional break from social media, and a whole bunch of extremely cool animal encounters happened, and we did some really fun things, and I was suddenly struck with how much more I enjoyed them when I wasn't even considering sharing them.
And (as you know!) I do end up sharing some things here, but what I'm liking now is giving myself the time to figure out why I would share it. So it's not just "here are some things I saw/did/made" but it might be months later, when I've sat with whatever the experience was, and decided how it's related to creative living. And there is so much I don't share, and I think that's fine. Sure yes from a privacy standpoint, but also, do I really want to be adding to the noise of the internet?
And I do think it's more than ok to keep 95% of your stories and experiences to yourself. So much of life can be used in stories, so why give it all away? I think there's a way to be generous without telling everything.
Have we talked about seeing David Sedaris before? Have you seen him already? I can't remember. I saw him once more than 20 years ago and the crowd was a surprise. Most of the questions were some version of either "how can I write a book?" or "I've written a book and I'm hoping you can help me." This was before he started talking more about how he really likes talking to people in the signing line. Maybe he doesn't do the involved audience Q&A before. It was...uncomfortable.
Julie, okay, that is a great way to look at it! Realizing that not sharing now is not a "now or never" proposition--that I can always share later, but also, will probably have more context then--so if I do, it should probably be richer and less "raw"? (Am I think of that word only because I'm thinking about the harbor seal and the salmon again? Probably! 😂) Anyhow--I love that! So helpful!
We have definitely talked about David Sedaris before, only because I talk about him all. the. time. to the point where it might be an "issue" for me. To support my habit, I think (outside of COVID) I've gone to a reading of his at least once a year (sometimes twice) since 2017--even in Oz. The last few years, my older son has gone with me and there's always a lot to talk about afterward and we always, always go through in insane signing line because it's so worth it. He still does a Q&A -- now at the end -- but most of time
(now) people ask random personal questions about his family members (which, honestly, is way more cringe than even how to write a book). 😂 I love that you've seen him, too--but am bummed that it was uncomfortable! The vibe can definitely be "a lot"--he attracts a lot of eccentrics (says an eccentric).
Also, I agree that there are NOT enough novels that kick off with salmon elevation! Hugs, creative kindred!
That is one awesome bag ... love the colors and the floral interior. that would make me smile every time I lift the flap. And the story of the journey is pretty durned inspirational in itself!
Um, that is an amazing bag! I love it and am SUPER impressed.
I nodded my head through this entire thing. I’ve been working on something this past year and have felt tempted to post process online... but the longer I keep it to myself, the more magical it feels. It’s really nice to create in silence/boredom/analog.
I love your bag! I often am in the make it myself, if I can’t find what I want in the real world- or I feel it is too expensive! But I certainly don’t plan as you do! Which is probably, directly related to the fact that your bag looks like you bought it, and most of what I make, looks like I made it! Also, love your list of 8 things you posted on creativity on the internet. Definitely a nice mood booster.
Great read, great bag, awesome messages. If you can't find a bag that fits your needs make your own. Not everyone will be able to take on that project on their own. Bravo! I loved your 1 to 8 bullet points. They resonated with me BIG time. Thanks for sharing when it was time to share. I've been on that path now for a year and it makes me happy to not share everything to just please an algorithm. ❤️
Love the bag! Nice job. Also, #7 made me remember advice from a college drawing instructor: “when you think you are done, work for 15 more minutes. That’s when the best things happen. “ It’s so true and I need to remind myself of that. I think it applies to many creative tasks.
Ohhh, I love that (let's up my ten minutes to fifteen). It's the hardest thing besides starting, too. That feeling when I'm all pooped out and I think "I've done enough, I can check it off the list if I stop now." But if I work for a bit more, something cool usually comes.
Thanks, Julie....it's on my "to-do" list for sure!
LOL! This is not what I would call an upbeat theme song, but you do you, friend!
The Mythical Messenger bag is perfection. I can’t believe your friends reacted so casually, unless you are in the habit of making perfect things. I give you credit for being so patient in making it. I wouldn’t have been. It looks professionally done, and now you have to share all the how tos.
Ah, my friends were enthusiastic, it was my FAMILY who reacted casually, because they were likely sick of hearing me talk endlessly about zippers and adjustable straps and who-wants-to-go-patch-shopping-with-me.
The how tos: first, block out five months.
The stars have aligned....was just browsing and happened on your very interesting site...with the great bag....been looking for one like that! Thanks.
I hope you make your own perfect bag, Bonnie!
Aww, Julie, thank you for the generous Babysitter inclusion. I know you aren't 👀ing for it, but your bag DOES look awesome (thank you for the photos for us visual-receiving types). And I love that you hid the patch at the end of the day, thus solving your "is it for me, or for me+others?" temp. quandary.
I feel you so much on not sharing nascent creative ideas. I typically don't even share inspirations much, especially while I'm pondering them and what I love about them and how that might apply to something I'm working on (meaning I haven't publicly reviewed quite a few of my VERY favorite picture books...a pretty major jerk move, but there it is). In fact, can one be TOO much of a hoarder with the things they are lucky enough to have learned/experienced? Because that might be me. Like, a week ago, I went to see the salmon use the elevator at our local lock and dam. It was amazing. I took videos of the fish that used, and didn't use, the elevator--the fish IN the elevator--and then some of the harbor seal that was evading the fisheries people and their rules to snack on some of the salmon to make it through. This is all to say, the whole thing was so interesting. And I took it for me, just to "Save" the experience for myself of seeing it, and then I thought, "I could share this." And then I was like, "wait, maybe I want to use this." Maybe I will! But likely...I won't. So it's hard. Because I don't want to not share (because I love when others share with me). But then, too, my blog is kind of navel-gaze-y maybe because I share my process, my end results, my thoughts (not story thoughts, but writing thoughts) but not my inspirations or "cool stuff I recently learned"--which is a big part of me. And it's okay to not share, but also a little sad because my first instinct is, truly, not to share anything. Which is not great--way worse than being prone to "sharing too much." So I may be working on the opposite of you--I don't trust the average person, really, at all. So trusting the kidlit community (not with stories and story ideas! those are for me! but with some of my "I can't imagine this will actually go into a story, but might spark something for someone else") type inspiration might be good "personal development" for me. 😂 Sigh. We'll see.
I go to see David Sedaris in November, and maybe I'll ask him about that. He shares (select) diary entries--and I wonder how he decides which of those "story ingredients" to share as-is, vs. saving for "using" in a bigger piece.
I *love* this salmon elevator example. First of all "I went to see the salmon use the elevator" is a perfect sentence intro. An entire novel could start that way and I'd be so in. But that's one of those instances where I ask myself, "why?" as far as sharing. This might just be me, but there was a time in my life when I shared EVERYTHING. Knee-jerk, anything even vaguely interesting, I'd put it on the internet. Then I remember taking an intentional break from social media, and a whole bunch of extremely cool animal encounters happened, and we did some really fun things, and I was suddenly struck with how much more I enjoyed them when I wasn't even considering sharing them.
And (as you know!) I do end up sharing some things here, but what I'm liking now is giving myself the time to figure out why I would share it. So it's not just "here are some things I saw/did/made" but it might be months later, when I've sat with whatever the experience was, and decided how it's related to creative living. And there is so much I don't share, and I think that's fine. Sure yes from a privacy standpoint, but also, do I really want to be adding to the noise of the internet?
And I do think it's more than ok to keep 95% of your stories and experiences to yourself. So much of life can be used in stories, so why give it all away? I think there's a way to be generous without telling everything.
Have we talked about seeing David Sedaris before? Have you seen him already? I can't remember. I saw him once more than 20 years ago and the crowd was a surprise. Most of the questions were some version of either "how can I write a book?" or "I've written a book and I'm hoping you can help me." This was before he started talking more about how he really likes talking to people in the signing line. Maybe he doesn't do the involved audience Q&A before. It was...uncomfortable.
Julie, okay, that is a great way to look at it! Realizing that not sharing now is not a "now or never" proposition--that I can always share later, but also, will probably have more context then--so if I do, it should probably be richer and less "raw"? (Am I think of that word only because I'm thinking about the harbor seal and the salmon again? Probably! 😂) Anyhow--I love that! So helpful!
We have definitely talked about David Sedaris before, only because I talk about him all. the. time. to the point where it might be an "issue" for me. To support my habit, I think (outside of COVID) I've gone to a reading of his at least once a year (sometimes twice) since 2017--even in Oz. The last few years, my older son has gone with me and there's always a lot to talk about afterward and we always, always go through in insane signing line because it's so worth it. He still does a Q&A -- now at the end -- but most of time
(now) people ask random personal questions about his family members (which, honestly, is way more cringe than even how to write a book). 😂 I love that you've seen him, too--but am bummed that it was uncomfortable! The vibe can definitely be "a lot"--he attracts a lot of eccentrics (says an eccentric).
Also, I agree that there are NOT enough novels that kick off with salmon elevation! Hugs, creative kindred!
I loved this from beginning to end, Julie.
Also, prob something wrong with me that I IMMEDIATELY put American Murderer on hold at the library 😂
Ha, it's extremely good! And also pretty gross and very scary.
I've read enough about hookworm to know I need to mentally prepare myself for this one...
Also there are photos.
CAN'T WAIT 😂
Thank you for the share!
Thank YOU for recognizing the stalwart and implacable sea-worn goddesses who are the New England Women (in movies).
That is one awesome bag ... love the colors and the floral interior. that would make me smile every time I lift the flap. And the story of the journey is pretty durned inspirational in itself!
Julie- I loved this article. It made my day. Thank you for your beautiful writing, your beautiful energy, and your beautiful bag-making-process. Mwah!
Um, that is an amazing bag! I love it and am SUPER impressed.
I nodded my head through this entire thing. I’ve been working on something this past year and have felt tempted to post process online... but the longer I keep it to myself, the more magical it feels. It’s really nice to create in silence/boredom/analog.
I love your bag! I often am in the make it myself, if I can’t find what I want in the real world- or I feel it is too expensive! But I certainly don’t plan as you do! Which is probably, directly related to the fact that your bag looks like you bought it, and most of what I make, looks like I made it! Also, love your list of 8 things you posted on creativity on the internet. Definitely a nice mood booster.
Great read, great bag, awesome messages. If you can't find a bag that fits your needs make your own. Not everyone will be able to take on that project on their own. Bravo! I loved your 1 to 8 bullet points. They resonated with me BIG time. Thanks for sharing when it was time to share. I've been on that path now for a year and it makes me happy to not share everything to just please an algorithm. ❤️