I decided a while ago that I wasn’t going to worry much about documenting my writing or illustration process. It’s way too disruptive! Maybe it means I have less to post about, but you’re totally right that it leaves more time for getting actual things done. That’s waaay more valuable.
Julie, thanks for sharing. My image while reading is you as a whirling dervish…and of course you were still sharing via your writing…I do find I like pauses when I work on my writing when I cook a meal, fold laundry, walk with my dog. The quiet times are blessings. It’s critical to continually seek peace and contentment with oneself and not be critical of falling short…it’s really ok!
Ooooh, the image site! (And eraser, because I'm nothing if not a huge stationery--and sometimes stationary--nerd!) 👀👀 My favorite "works great" pencil eraser--that I typically use to cover up cool pencils with ridiculously-bad erasers--is slowly-decreasing-from-144-count box of Paper Mate Arrowhead cap erasers that I've had for at least five years. I have no idea how pencil makers select their default eraser material, but I have a feeling it involves checking under school desks for used wads of old bubble gum. "Hmm, this one works too well," they say, throwing out any that don't rip the paper or make words into a permanent blur.
Also, great reminder to order Chester Barkingham (done!) and my reviews (tbd, but on my list)!
Okay, funny story: I ordered it AGAIN, turns out--I had already ordered it but forgot! But Print was great--they sent me the second Snappsy book for the second order--I might now own the entire Julie Falatko catalog. (Will have to check, but I think I do!) 😂
It was only because of my author-investment (meaning expenses, but I think of the items as investments) spreadsheet. I started to type Chester and it helpfully suggested Barkingham Saves the Country? and I was like, uh, that's a little weird. LOL!! Yes, I'm with you, it's easy to be doubly excited about a new book!
I know, I have so many excellent pencils that have spectacularly bad erasers, that are almost like decorative prank erasers that only smear the pencils marks around the page unglamorously.
Oh goodness I needed this today. I love this idea of -cide meaning cut off. Because whatever decision we make, that's really what we're doing aren't we? I feel like keeping that in mind will help me remember the urgency of this, that staring at my phone means I'm not doing something else. And pretty much whatever that "else" is will be so much better lol. And then maybe once we've made the thing, separate and apart from social media, then we can decide if/what/how much to share?
Yes, exactly. I think there are ways to post and scroll on social media that are totally fine. And probably end up being good! I can tell when it's not working for me -- it's either when I realize it's making me feel terrible, or when I keep thinking about it even when I've stepped away.
Great stuff Julie. I especially love the public domain stuff!
I jump back and forth between sharing and not sharing. I began my Substack specifically to get my head wrapped around writing again, and describing the fails and fears and moments of revelation as I write the longest thing I’ve ever written gives me great joy. I more or less write it as a journal entry for me alone - I began writing with five subscribers - to figure out how I got here and how to move forward with this story. Readers - more than five now - seem to appreciate the story of the story. And it pushes me to continue when it seems impossible.
On the other hand, 99% of what goes on while I’m writing (and drawing since that’s what I mostly do) never makes it into any newsletter. So there’s that.
There's such a both/and to it -- everything I write in my newsletter starts as writing in my journal. But there's a lot of stuff in my journal that I'd never put in a newsletter, either for privacy reasons, or because truly no one but me would care. I love the shared journal aspect of so many newsletters, where it's personal and specific but also inspiring and helpful and interesting. (And now I am one of your newsletter subscribers!)
I decided a while ago that I wasn’t going to worry much about documenting my writing or illustration process. It’s way too disruptive! Maybe it means I have less to post about, but you’re totally right that it leaves more time for getting actual things done. That’s waaay more valuable.
DISRUPTIVE, yes. That's exactly the word for it.
Julie, thanks for sharing. My image while reading is you as a whirling dervish…and of course you were still sharing via your writing…I do find I like pauses when I work on my writing when I cook a meal, fold laundry, walk with my dog. The quiet times are blessings. It’s critical to continually seek peace and contentment with oneself and not be critical of falling short…it’s really ok!
Ooooh, the image site! (And eraser, because I'm nothing if not a huge stationery--and sometimes stationary--nerd!) 👀👀 My favorite "works great" pencil eraser--that I typically use to cover up cool pencils with ridiculously-bad erasers--is slowly-decreasing-from-144-count box of Paper Mate Arrowhead cap erasers that I've had for at least five years. I have no idea how pencil makers select their default eraser material, but I have a feeling it involves checking under school desks for used wads of old bubble gum. "Hmm, this one works too well," they say, throwing out any that don't rip the paper or make words into a permanent blur.
Also, great reminder to order Chester Barkingham (done!) and my reviews (tbd, but on my list)!
And thank you for ordering Chester!!!
Okay, funny story: I ordered it AGAIN, turns out--I had already ordered it but forgot! But Print was great--they sent me the second Snappsy book for the second order--I might now own the entire Julie Falatko catalog. (Will have to check, but I think I do!) 😂
I have done that SO MANY times, preordering a book multiple times. I've never caught it beforehand though!
It was only because of my author-investment (meaning expenses, but I think of the items as investments) spreadsheet. I started to type Chester and it helpfully suggested Barkingham Saves the Country? and I was like, uh, that's a little weird. LOL!! Yes, I'm with you, it's easy to be doubly excited about a new book!
I know, I have so many excellent pencils that have spectacularly bad erasers, that are almost like decorative prank erasers that only smear the pencils marks around the page unglamorously.
Yes! Prank erasers! That's exactly it. LOL.
Oh goodness I needed this today. I love this idea of -cide meaning cut off. Because whatever decision we make, that's really what we're doing aren't we? I feel like keeping that in mind will help me remember the urgency of this, that staring at my phone means I'm not doing something else. And pretty much whatever that "else" is will be so much better lol. And then maybe once we've made the thing, separate and apart from social media, then we can decide if/what/how much to share?
Yes, exactly. I think there are ways to post and scroll on social media that are totally fine. And probably end up being good! I can tell when it's not working for me -- it's either when I realize it's making me feel terrible, or when I keep thinking about it even when I've stepped away.
Great stuff Julie. I especially love the public domain stuff!
I jump back and forth between sharing and not sharing. I began my Substack specifically to get my head wrapped around writing again, and describing the fails and fears and moments of revelation as I write the longest thing I’ve ever written gives me great joy. I more or less write it as a journal entry for me alone - I began writing with five subscribers - to figure out how I got here and how to move forward with this story. Readers - more than five now - seem to appreciate the story of the story. And it pushes me to continue when it seems impossible.
On the other hand, 99% of what goes on while I’m writing (and drawing since that’s what I mostly do) never makes it into any newsletter. So there’s that.
There's such a both/and to it -- everything I write in my newsletter starts as writing in my journal. But there's a lot of stuff in my journal that I'd never put in a newsletter, either for privacy reasons, or because truly no one but me would care. I love the shared journal aspect of so many newsletters, where it's personal and specific but also inspiring and helpful and interesting. (And now I am one of your newsletter subscribers!)