Ever walk around thinking you're on the verge of some great epiphany, that it's just around the corner? You can smell it, almost touch it ... tip of the tongue ...
Well I've been doing a lot of reflecting lately, and I've come up with a few conclusions:
Life is wonderful and fun, and when it isn't fun, it's always good to ask why.
Things are hard to start, but once the ball gets rolling, it gets easier and easier.
We are capable of so much more than we think we are; there are no limits, except the ones we place upon ourselves.
Years ago I'd occupy a lot of my time with idleness. Playing games. Reading pointless books. Doing who knows what and eating up God knows how much time. I'm not saying those things are bad, not in the least. What I am saying is, time is precious, you don't ever get it back. But then, you only really have the now, don't you? There is, and always has been, only this moment. This is Tolle talking, but think of it, when was it never not 'now'?
I take responsibility for my decisions on how I spent my time. I take responsibility for my health, my careers, and my attitude.
What makes a day terrible? What makes a day great? Here's a little video that inspired this blog:
This is Water.
I've fallen in love with hard work over the years. Having a cup of tea / coffee and just focusing all day on one thing at a time. I highly recommend the focused approach. One steady step a time. Always forward.
A couple years ago I started writing a book to try something new. It was so much fun I couldn't stop. It was like when I first began making music; I couldn't stop then, either. But the craft was lacking. I researched the best books on how to write better, and read the shit out of them. I mean, those books literally pooped on the floor when I was done with them.
Draft after draft after draft after draft (if you're dyslexic, sorry about that). And in the meantime, I inhaled other people's books, going over them like an electron scanning microscope. The classics. Modern. Non-fiction. Blah blah blah. I wish I was a faster reader. I wish there were more hours in the day. All right, so I need to learn how to be more efficient. One programming guy uses a chess clock. Not sure I'm ready for that yet, but it's been on my mind. Get up to go to the bathroom? Hit pause. Sit back down? Resume. You get the picture.
Anyway, I'm on book three, but I've also been submitting to agents at the same time. My plan? It's a pronged approach: do the best you can sending out queries to all the relevant agents (and I mean, use every ounce of that brain), but also prepare to take your career into your own hands. I have zero publishing credits, so it's an uphill climb, I know that. These agents get upwards of 6000 submissions a year, and the number is rapidly climbing because there are less and less of them. Sound familiar? Well it should - it happened in the music industry. If you aren't touring you're losing.
That's why I've decided I'm going to be successful publishing no matter what, whether it's traditional publishing or self-publishing (the latter excites me to no end, it's a challenge waiting to be accepted); Regardless, I'm going to make it work. I'm also going to use synergy - music and publishing at the same time, one boosting the other. I'm in a position I can do that. I believe I've learned (i.e. failed) enough to succeed in my endeavours. All right, it's a mix - too easy to poo-poo our successes isn't it? We need not talk about the latter here. That's not the point.
That said, here's MY IDEAL AGENT: He/she understands my digital capabilities (making video, graphic design, audio books, sonics, etc.) and utilizes them. My ideal agent recognizes my burning ambitions, and helps focus them. My ideal agent recognizes I will learn whatever is necessary to make the work a success, and won't be afraid to suggest materials to study. My ideal agent understands my ability to work hard and focus like a laser beam. My ideal agent won't be afraid to tell me what needs fixing, and can feel at ease I will tackle the problem until it is solved. My ideal agent doesn't believe in talent, only hard work. Above all, my ideal agent and I inspire each other to achieve new heights together.
When I took a break from music for a few years, I also stopped communicating through the social blogosphere (myspace / facebook / twitter, etc.). Am I ready to start that up again? I think so. it was fun, after all. I've been thinking of a lot of ideas lately that I think deserve sharing. I'm ready to contribute once again.
Now bear with me as I work out the kinks. The gears have gathered a bit of rust; just have to add a bit of oil ...
Sever
