Keep The Flame Alive

How do you keep the flame alive?

Variety Against Specificity

If you've ever been distracted by the internet, then we can relate. Even inside your own mind there is a constant urge to veer off track. Maybe one good idea spawns a million and one babies, maybe your emotions are starting to get the best of you. Regardless it's a war. One that can't be won, because if you do then your work is too 'square' to be interesting. Although I should probably read The War Of Art, it probably addresses these exact questions.

Consistency

If the micro is the conflicts in your mind as you create your work, then the macro is certainly the manner in which you present it to the world. And in an online place that standardizes so much of its content, one of the most significant variables is the consistency that you maintain. This is the second battle of will. Except here you aren't going against your own demons, you're facing off against other real people. Which can be an asset or a weakness. You can declare total war and release an onslaught of content that can't be matched. You could do your research and address their weaknesses. Heck who cares, all's fair in love and, well, you know the rest.

Mind Games

We've already touched on two. Internal conflicts in writing and external competition. Which can be tied together in this advice, be your own handler, or find one. I for one underestimated how helpful the structure of school was in aiding me to do the tedious work. Now as many criticisms as I have for educational systems, structure is incredibly useful. Also, it doesn't take up that much space if done right. The structure provided by a daily ritual of writing 5 pages before sunrise, doesn't cost that much. Yes you need to set it up the day before (if you aren't a morning person), and you need an awareness of the time. But it doesn't require a large paper calender, or any other gimmick.

Be your own handler, We must each fight out internal demons, alongside the competition of other people. Equip yourself for war by training your self control and keeping an eye open for the simplest tools that help. Have a strategy.