In the Works

So much to do, so little time.

We all know the adage, but it has taken on a new meaning for me after the move. The new job is great, the schedule, not so much. Not only did I go from three and four day weekends down to two, but I loose half of the first day off to much needed sleep.

How does this affect you, dear friends? Other than a bit more irritable host, I hope it doesn't. I just have to become, forgive me a disgusted shutter, organized. Not that organized is a naughty word, but come on, we are all creative types here. Schedules and structure are the devil. They are also a necessary evil, now.

The first step in selling my soul is squaring away my work spaces. The goal is a spot for the forge, and a separate home for wood working tools. The writing space, the precious few times it has been utilized, is anywhere I can hunker down with my tablet and keyboard.

So far the lathe has a new locale.

It isn`t much, a vintage Craftsman pipe lathe. Not super precise, it gets the job done. It is mostly for turning tool handles and the occasional magic wand. Yes, magic wands. I would like to get back into tobacco pipe turning at some point. There is already enough on my plate for the time being, though. 

The forge is now nestled in a cozy little spot in the back stall of a little barn.

There was an addition to the family just before the move. She ain`t the prettiest thing in the world, but when I saw her rotting in a back alley I had to make the owner an offer. Thirty bucks later and she is happily back to work.

Still a bit of cleaning up to do, but no real complaints.

I have been tinkering here and there, lately. Made a couple of knives, and a few tools. Production has yet to really ramp up though. I have a decent stockpile of steel, and a ton of ideas, time is the only issue. Story of my life, what else is new.

Once the dreaded physical space organization process is done I need to lay down the law with myself. That means schedules and deadlines.

I now have three long form writing projects that are languishing in the half to three quarter finished stage of first draft. Each time I had a legitimate reason for starting something new, but now it is time to choose one and stay the course. I also have two short stories nearing completion that I am, quite frankly, scared to finish. 

It is an odd feeling. One that I only get about writing. The fear of actually finishing something, maybe simply because I will have to put it out there to be judged? That doesn't make much sense. I don't feel that way about any other form of art. I usually just dive in, do the work, and throw it out of the nest the second it can survive on it's own, off to make it's way in the world. But writing is cerebral, intellectual mixed with creative. The logical mind gets invited to the party, and he is a real downer. Sure he provides tons of facts, and establishes plausibility, but damn. He is always calculating risks, predicting disasters. The hardest part of writing is getting him to provide needed ballast without sinking the ship.

Deadlines should help with this. If I put a proverbial gun to his head, the logical mind is usually too preoccupied with the goal to nay say. Another way to distract him is task focus. Break the job into digestible pieces, and his ADHD becomes less of a problem. The final tine in my three prong approach is incentives. I have resorted to dangling my more physical pursuits in front of my own nose to keep me moving. No forging until you get your writing done young man.

No idea how this will pan out, but we shall see.

So the agenda is:

1. Make an agenda... 

2. Plot out specific goals, tasks, and projects.

3. Fit projects into the schedule.

4. Actually follow said schedule.

Goals:

Long Term

Angel'sKin - Urban Fantasy Novel - 3/4 completed

Oxmaer - Young Adult Fantasy Novel - 1/2 completed

Dark Man - Horror Novella - Nowhere near completed

Medium Term

Flight 666 (working title) - Short Story - 9/10 completed

Hear That Devil Sing - Short Story - 3/4 completed

Forge needed tools - froe, draw knife, tongs, etc...

Short Term

Finish organizing and arranging work spaces

Dig out any tools still packed away

Finish Chapter 1 of joint writing venture

I'm sure there is more, but for now the tally is;

Universe: one bajillion

Me: one 

At least I'm gaining ground, right. Stick around, kiddies. I'm either going to soar, or crash and burn. Either way, it should be a great show. Until next time, go create something.

The Process

I've spent a good bit of time questioning myself about what exactly it is that I'm trying to share with you guys via this blog. It is funny to admit that I'm not completely sure. I'm into things that are interesting, well, because they interest me. I figure that means they'd interest you too, but why consolidate them all here?

This isn't meant to be a journal, or a place to show off what I enjoy doing. It isn't just a place for project ideas,  directions, or DIY build-alongs (though there is some aspects of that at play). I had to really think about what I plan to serve up that is unique for your discerning palates.

As I was doing some carving this week, I had to stop to make a new tool. That led to needing a new jig for sharpening, which in turn led to a web search for jigs. That turned up an awesome jig for turning the ends of large stock into tenons for the rustic stools I'm working on. So I made one. Could have bought it, would have been easier. I would have gotten a tool made by a pro that would surely have done an excellent job, but I made one instead.

I could keep going, but you guys are smart enough to recognize the pattern forming. Everything we do creatively is interconnected. It is a process. Though heavily influenced by my ADHD like attention span, it gets the job done. I really only have a few goals with my creative time. First is the actual act of creating something. This one is by far the most mundane goal, and surprisingly the least important to me. Second, is to learn something new. I don't know how masters of a craft can stick with it after the initial stage where everything is exciting and new, with new knowledge gained daily. Next in the reverse hierarchy is the experience itself. I choose my projects based on what the experience will be like. I enjoy cooking more than eating. The trip is more important than where we're going, get it?

The process culminates in the understanding and definition gained. This is different than simple mechanical learning. Once I create something I can step back and reflect on how that affects and applies to so many aspects of myself and the world around me. Bushcraft gets me in touch with the environment, and mankind's place in it far more efficiently than any amount of philosophical introspection. Composing fiction gives me a chance to see things from another perspective, unlike anything my eyes could ever show me. I create in an effort to understand. To understand the project at hand, what it is and how it is made. To understand the job or task the finished product will be used for. And above all, to understand myself.

And that is where it is all heading, understanding. If the goal was learning, then you could just read a book. But we create. If the intention was just needing something, there are far more simple methods of acquisition. But we choose to create. Not to dive too deeply into philosophical babbling, creation is the cornerstone of understanding. It is active participation. It is a method employed to engage the reality we perceive around us.

Creativity is one of the few things that separates us from the beasts. Our most powerful tool for defining, and even redefining our environment. I would offer that you are not what you have, nor what you do, you are what you have created. And what have you created lately?