A Time to Focus
5 things from the studio this week
1. SOME ART MAKING
I’m in the middle of revisions with my editor on Just Jelly, so it stands to reason I’d have fish on my brain. Why he’s wearing hat and strolling with a cane outside of the water is a mystery. A story? What’s in the package?1
One of the things I discovered making Big Bike, Little Bike was this kind of collaged, freeform, semi-abstract ground treatment. It’s fun and makes me happy. I’m hoping that this kind of style rubs off and into other areas organically.
I also drew this, which you may see again soon fully rendered:
2. WORK WISDOM
The etymology of the word "decide" is from the Latin "to cut off." That "-cide" is the same root as in homicide. When you decide to do something, you are cutting off other possibilities. Like, if you decide to buy a house on Maple Lane, you are (for now, at least) cutting off the possibility of living in an apartment on 17th Street. If you decide to work on one book, you are not, right now, working on the other book. So go all in. Don't distract yourself from the fact that writing a book is, you know, really hard, by surrounding yourself with half-finished first drafts. Pick one and finish it. And give it the time it takes to get it done.
—
, It Takes as Long as It Takes
This bit of creative wisdom hit me between the eyes.
I always have a bunch of pots on the stove and it has occurred to me from time to time, that this juggling of things can be in and of itself a distraction I enjoy wallowing in. It can feel like I’m getting things done and making progress while the truth of the matter is more could be accomplished by picking one and carefully giving it my full attention … until that project is done.
Seduced by busyness no more! Hopefully.
(Maybe.)
3. THING I LOVED
I have to be 100% honest with you. I wracked my brain for something super relevant that I both authentically loved this week and that you’ll probably enjoy too. It’s usually right there!
BUT THE TRUTH IS, THE THING I LOVE THE MOST THIS LAST WEEK … WAS MY SON’S U16 CLUB SOCCER TEAM WINNING STATE CUP.
In the 122’ minute (that’s the end of 2OT for the non-futbol peeps), on a red card (our team had 10, while theirs had 11 - c’mon - focus!) and down 1-0 (all hope was lost), this happened:
Less than a minute later and the final whistle blew, 1-1 tie. Penalty kicks. Our goalie always gets 1 (he did) and our captain, who has been hurt for a month and got the above header — kicks the winning pen. We win. 16 year old boys running around like insane people, saying words they shouldn’t be saying in front of adults who usually care but not right now, and all of the hard work and dedication pays off. 5 years of trying and growing.
Perfection. It’s the thing I loved this week.
(I’m not sorry about it.)
4. A BOOK TO READ
I had a book event at a library near me a couple of weeks ago, and while I was there I noticed they had a bunch of new books I hadn’t seen in person yet. Felicita Sala’s If You Run Out of Words was an immediate get. I didn’t need to even open it to know I’d like it. Her work is gorgeous, her color choices inspired every time. The looseness in which she approaches line and the expressiveness she finds in her characters is so good.
This one, though? This is my favorite.
A little girl is getting ready for bed and her Dad is too busy to pay attention to his phone. When she finally gets it, she asks “what if you run out of words? Will you have any left for me?” The answers Dad gives are dripping with attention and love and take her on a fantastical bed time story.
The ending … is …
(if you know, you know).
5. EPHEMERA, ETC.
I did it. I looked past all of the gears and bolts and bobs in the Substack undercarriage, and found the horrible and illuminating section that shows you who has cancelled their paid subscriptions and why.
This is not a super fun look in the mirror. I did come to the conclusion that I need to step up my game for paid subscribers to retain and grow and for this to viable or scale back from a weekly publication for all subscribers. I really don’t want to do that because I love writing to you all weekly. So…
I’m aiming to offer more to the paid tier over the next month or two. Some ideas!
A regular live or written Q&A
A monthly shared portfolio review
Upping the amount of paid subscriber only content per month
Weekly “office hours” in the chat
Discounted books or art (I have an ultra-secret idea that I think you’ll love)
This will be a trial period to see what I can add and have it be valuable to you and to me. I’m excited to share more of me in new and awkward ways.
See you next week!
Best,
Jacob
Over on Bluesky, Cassandra Lee said “algae snacks” and I responded:
*gourmet* *handcrafted* *organic* algae snacks that you have to mail order
I like the idea of shared portfolio reviews. I think we can learn a lot from others reviews.
Always love your posts, Jacob.