"I’ve learned the things we end up loving are the things we struggle for."
I was reading 'The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck' over the Easter weekend. Mark Manson makes this point - true joy comes when you solve problems. Life must suck a bit for you to make a difference in it.
To be happy, you need to know what being unhappy is.
I had to turn my computer away from our daughter. She wanted to know why I was cracking up. Those "oh my god I can't believe he just said that" are smelling salts. Your genius work is waking us up Tim.
I was quickly energized by your post today to push away the little voice in my head this morning about "Who am I to try to translate Swahili?" No one else is doing it and it needs to be done, so I will do it, doggone it!
Also, we get better by doing. No one is top flight right off the bat, to happily mix probably only American metaphors. Do I still look up words? All the time. Do I learn more words and secondary and tertiary meanings and synonyms that I did not readily think of before? All the time.
DOING IS LEARNING. ACTING IS INFORMATION. :)
Glad I read your weekly newsletter first thing this morning!
Nothing holding me back. I started a Substack about 2-weeks ago. I have been writing for years in exactly the way you describe: with no real focus or purpose; with a vague sense of maybe getting some attention, but not really taking seriously the work of getting eyeballs. I have posted on LinkedIn for business, started a blog, written for a few publications with unimpressive levels of engagement. I think I write well - sometimes - but I have never invested in learning to get better. I actually have an endless source of things I want to write about. I wrote a whole novel and it nearly destroyed my life - writing can get weird sometimes. I hate it - the novel, not my life. There was some great stuff, but overall I hated it. Fiction is another thing entirely. I have written a ton of poetry. Some of it I love and some of it is meh. So, not jumping into this 4/28 course of yours was ALMOST something I didn’t do - which would have been consistent with how I approached writing so far: something to do, but not to take really seriously because I need to keep focused on the day job. Well, the day job is my own business now and I can do whatever I want. But, finally I have realized that, whatever the day job is needs me to write better. What I have realized is that the real job is making sh**t up that ends up making money. There are all sorts of ingredients to that but writing is key and understanding that better is really, really important. So, buckle up. This is happening!! LFG
Thanks Tim I needed those heart-felt words which came as a wake up call to me! I’ve been letting the distractions of the world get between me and my the work I love.
The massive amount of paperwork ongoing until who knows how many more months or years down the road, when a spouse with a last will
and testament passes away (here in the States at least). A major move because of the loss which is more paperwork. Being a brain injury survivor who's finally able to create and learn again but whose functioning shuts down with too much paperwork! lol An incompatible roommate with three dogs that aren't mine....My other small online business that isnt writing is not too much of a drain or distraction now that my VA runs it most of the time. (Now that I've had it for a year and four months it passively earns me $200 to $300+ a month which is nice!) But I still manage to write a little each day, five days a week and sometimes a weekend. A couple months ago II finally stumbled into my surprising "new love" that I wasn't expecting: the memoir short essay (the main theme of these essays, my mom's sociopathy) And I'm obsessed. You're right Tim, all this. New things will find you if you keep on
Update: I've just been given the excellent new writing tip on what to do if TBI and or life circumstances gets in the way of publishing regularly (once a week) for my followers/readers: (for Vella platform and my other main channels with my minimal (!lol) subscribers and followers (Substack and Facebook fan page): TRANSPARENCY and honesty with my readers. I was told if I address readers directly in a prologue type dear reader letter and explain my situation with my post-brain injury slower output and performance frequency and current life circumstances, that *understanding* readers will appreciate my genuineness and honesty and can and will support me and also still look forward to my next episode, or installment. Phew! What a relief!
Grandchildren, housework, my daughter has legal problems which I am helping with and then when I finally settle down to write I last about an hour and collapse with exhaustion
Another irresistible post...a real page turner and my favorite line: "Keanu Reeves Jesus". What's getting in my way? Building the habit and riding the line between traditional writing (article, books, etc.) and newer forms like Substack. Substack=Freedom?
Working on it...and learning. Conceptually, I see bringing depth to Substack as a challenge (e.g. increasingly short attention spans of readers) versus longer-form mediums lend themselves to greater depth. For example, if I pick up a book to read, I expect to spend some time reading it versus if I'm on a screen, I expect writers to get the point very quickly.
Whelp, now I've done it. Followed Tim's advice, opened my wine early and still drinking it... it's truly what I love. When will the money start flowing in? Hopefully before this box 'o' wine runs out...
Slowly but surely I am dismantling the belief that the Internet is too crowdee for newbies to join. Once I get started, I know the belief will come crashing down, but I am here to take 1 small step at a time. Also, working in public sounds terrifying, but the mindset to do it is liberating.
My largest issues is going from loving to write. Sharing my writing for years but not figuring out how to do more than just make people think for a second. To make my writing more helpful in such a way that I can create income from it. Without selling in the writing, which is a turn off for me and seems amateur.
Hi Sue. I went with Evernote and like it because a web clipper extension in major browsers that lets me highlight something and send direct to my Evernote, for research and categorizing later. Evernote did jump up a lot in its annual basic subscription this year (used to be $35 or so), but now that all my stuff is in it, I will pay the $99 or whatever it is, lol.
In 2023, I also came across Tiago Forte's PARA organization method which is how I have my Evernote books organized. Then, I just let the Date Created organize themselves. Evernote is searchable, and I have been able to find stuff when my brain only remembered a key word of it. Tiago, Evernote, and @TimDenning gave me a big boost in 2023 and feeling confident for future years of research, writing habits, and DOING. :)
Admittedly, I'm just discovering your work, Tim. But its effing brilliant. Thank you for your honesty and irreverence. It's refreshing and a much-needed kick to the pants.
Another dollop of gold - doing what we love is is easy - right there in front of you - and yet to quote you 'doing what you love for the rest of your life isn’t obvious. But when you understand the basics, it’s almost impossible not to make it happen.' Do what you love and be open to discovering what you love!
This is like a description of my life right now. Getting slapped and pissing my pants and embarrassing myself by consistently putting out shit. Several times a day I wonder why I even jumped on this train (it was this https://unchartedterritories.tomaspueyo.com/p/how-to-create-a-masterpiece) but I just write the next piece and carry on. What will be will be. Thanks for sharing Tim!
How? Write better stuff? Trying. Enrol in courses? 3 so far (not yours right now cos it overlaps with another I'm doing, but perhaps in future). Read and interact with other creators on my chosen platforms? Yep, here I am. What else?
"I’ve learned the things we end up loving are the things we struggle for."
I was reading 'The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck' over the Easter weekend. Mark Manson makes this point - true joy comes when you solve problems. Life must suck a bit for you to make a difference in it.
To be happy, you need to know what being unhappy is.
His book is transformational. Life is a video game. Solving problems is playing a game and it's fun.
"“Do what you love” is some of the worst advice in history. It’s thrown around like dirty underwear at a strip club..."
Man, Tim, I want to write like this too.
I don't think that line is good. I nearly deleted. Am I missing something? I feel like I don't know what good writing is Denis.
I had to turn my computer away from our daughter. She wanted to know why I was cracking up. Those "oh my god I can't believe he just said that" are smelling salts. Your genius work is waking us up Tim.
Never thought of it like that Connie.
Where does this link take me Tara?
It made me chuckle, Tim. I consider the line good.
Appreciate it Denis.
Tim. You're right. You're right. You're so right. And a cat lover in the mix. Now it all makes sense.
I prefer dogs. Is that bad Connie?
Hi Tim.
I was quickly energized by your post today to push away the little voice in my head this morning about "Who am I to try to translate Swahili?" No one else is doing it and it needs to be done, so I will do it, doggone it!
Also, we get better by doing. No one is top flight right off the bat, to happily mix probably only American metaphors. Do I still look up words? All the time. Do I learn more words and secondary and tertiary meanings and synonyms that I did not readily think of before? All the time.
DOING IS LEARNING. ACTING IS INFORMATION. :)
Glad I read your weekly newsletter first thing this morning!
Best practice is not to spam the comments with a link to your Substack. Looks desperate.
Thanks for the tip! Updated and understood. :)
You are so cool
Nothing holding me back. I started a Substack about 2-weeks ago. I have been writing for years in exactly the way you describe: with no real focus or purpose; with a vague sense of maybe getting some attention, but not really taking seriously the work of getting eyeballs. I have posted on LinkedIn for business, started a blog, written for a few publications with unimpressive levels of engagement. I think I write well - sometimes - but I have never invested in learning to get better. I actually have an endless source of things I want to write about. I wrote a whole novel and it nearly destroyed my life - writing can get weird sometimes. I hate it - the novel, not my life. There was some great stuff, but overall I hated it. Fiction is another thing entirely. I have written a ton of poetry. Some of it I love and some of it is meh. So, not jumping into this 4/28 course of yours was ALMOST something I didn’t do - which would have been consistent with how I approached writing so far: something to do, but not to take really seriously because I need to keep focused on the day job. Well, the day job is my own business now and I can do whatever I want. But, finally I have realized that, whatever the day job is needs me to write better. What I have realized is that the real job is making sh**t up that ends up making money. There are all sorts of ingredients to that but writing is key and understanding that better is really, really important. So, buckle up. This is happening!! LFG
Love your story Neil. Writing books to start with is something I'll never understand.
Hey Tim - looking at the prep material for 4/28 is this a Twitter focused course or Twitter just a component?
Thanks Tim I needed those heart-felt words which came as a wake up call to me! I’ve been letting the distractions of the world get between me and my the work I love.
Any distractions that you find a real pain Sue? Phone? Email?
The massive amount of paperwork ongoing until who knows how many more months or years down the road, when a spouse with a last will
and testament passes away (here in the States at least). A major move because of the loss which is more paperwork. Being a brain injury survivor who's finally able to create and learn again but whose functioning shuts down with too much paperwork! lol An incompatible roommate with three dogs that aren't mine....My other small online business that isnt writing is not too much of a drain or distraction now that my VA runs it most of the time. (Now that I've had it for a year and four months it passively earns me $200 to $300+ a month which is nice!) But I still manage to write a little each day, five days a week and sometimes a weekend. A couple months ago II finally stumbled into my surprising "new love" that I wasn't expecting: the memoir short essay (the main theme of these essays, my mom's sociopathy) And I'm obsessed. You're right Tim, all this. New things will find you if you keep on
Update: I've just been given the excellent new writing tip on what to do if TBI and or life circumstances gets in the way of publishing regularly (once a week) for my followers/readers: (for Vella platform and my other main channels with my minimal (!lol) subscribers and followers (Substack and Facebook fan page): TRANSPARENCY and honesty with my readers. I was told if I address readers directly in a prologue type dear reader letter and explain my situation with my post-brain injury slower output and performance frequency and current life circumstances, that *understanding* readers will appreciate my genuineness and honesty and can and will support me and also still look forward to my next episode, or installment. Phew! What a relief!
Grandchildren, housework, my daughter has legal problems which I am helping with and then when I finally settle down to write I last about an hour and collapse with exhaustion
Legal problems are painful. I'm still dealing with my bad neighbor court case. It's such a huge mental load Sue.
Another irresistible post...a real page turner and my favorite line: "Keanu Reeves Jesus". What's getting in my way? Building the habit and riding the line between traditional writing (article, books, etc.) and newer forms like Substack. Substack=Freedom?
Why not drop the book part?
Substack can equal freedom. If you learn it in-depth, which 99% of people won't.
Working on it...and learning. Conceptually, I see bringing depth to Substack as a challenge (e.g. increasingly short attention spans of readers) versus longer-form mediums lend themselves to greater depth. For example, if I pick up a book to read, I expect to spend some time reading it versus if I'm on a screen, I expect writers to get the point very quickly.
Whelp, now I've done it. Followed Tim's advice, opened my wine early and still drinking it... it's truly what I love. When will the money start flowing in? Hopefully before this box 'o' wine runs out...
Start a wine youtube channel or blog and we'll see. Most won't...they'll just keep drinking.
Gary Vee got famous of Wine Library.
Damn you're good.
Slowly but surely I am dismantling the belief that the Internet is too crowdee for newbies to join. Once I get started, I know the belief will come crashing down, but I am here to take 1 small step at a time. Also, working in public sounds terrifying, but the mindset to do it is liberating.
The internet is crowded with bullshit. Makes it easy for people like me.
My largest issues is going from loving to write. Sharing my writing for years but not figuring out how to do more than just make people think for a second. To make my writing more helpful in such a way that I can create income from it. Without selling in the writing, which is a turn off for me and seems amateur.
Jay, why not just learn from someone who has already solved this problem?
Well that would be too easy for me!! Good simple point.
No I don’t have a ‘solid note taking app’ and I have a problem with locating notes which I take copiously because of my TBI. Any suggestions?
Google docs works well for me...
Apple Notes is good too. Simple and easy.
Use something like Notion. Writing everything down and add hashtags to each note.
Googlr Keep Notes or Apple Notes
Hi Sue. I went with Evernote and like it because a web clipper extension in major browsers that lets me highlight something and send direct to my Evernote, for research and categorizing later. Evernote did jump up a lot in its annual basic subscription this year (used to be $35 or so), but now that all my stuff is in it, I will pay the $99 or whatever it is, lol.
In 2023, I also came across Tiago Forte's PARA organization method which is how I have my Evernote books organized. Then, I just let the Date Created organize themselves. Evernote is searchable, and I have been able to find stuff when my brain only remembered a key word of it. Tiago, Evernote, and @TimDenning gave me a big boost in 2023 and feeling confident for future years of research, writing habits, and DOING. :)
The Do what you love line is a perfect ass-backwards header.
You say its bad and then you say - you gotta do it.
...when you understand the basics, it’s almost impossible not to make it happen.
I'm going to own that pattern.
Seriously, I'm struggling with how to turn my love for helping people and writing into something more fungible than mushrooms
Admittedly, I'm just discovering your work, Tim. But its effing brilliant. Thank you for your honesty and irreverence. It's refreshing and a much-needed kick to the pants.
Cheers David. What about my work is appealing to you?
appreciate the unfiltered honesty. Your insights and advice are authentic. You're speaking from experience but not blowing smoke. Cheers!
Is the voiceover generated by AI?
Nope it's my voice Renee. Can't you tell. I laugh a lot in it.
Now I can't tell if this comment was generated by a robot. Send help!
Another dollop of gold - doing what we love is is easy - right there in front of you - and yet to quote you 'doing what you love for the rest of your life isn’t obvious. But when you understand the basics, it’s almost impossible not to make it happen.' Do what you love and be open to discovering what you love!
This is like a description of my life right now. Getting slapped and pissing my pants and embarrassing myself by consistently putting out shit. Several times a day I wonder why I even jumped on this train (it was this https://unchartedterritories.tomaspueyo.com/p/how-to-create-a-masterpiece) but I just write the next piece and carry on. What will be will be. Thanks for sharing Tim!
Why not change then Shoni?
How? Write better stuff? Trying. Enrol in courses? 3 so far (not yours right now cos it overlaps with another I'm doing, but perhaps in future). Read and interact with other creators on my chosen platforms? Yep, here I am. What else?