You are definitely not alone in this feeling. The thing I do to remind myself that everything is in phases, and each day is a chance to try again. This is a great clip from Taika Waititi about writing that I remember every time I get stuck or feel like things aren't progressing as fast as I want.
Hi Alan, if you’re looking for something to spark ideas, check out Oblique Strategies – it was originally a deck of cards with short “prompts” aimed at triggering creative thinking. I use an app for that. If you’re in Apple’s garden the link is https://apps.apple.com/us/app/oblique-strategies-sideways/id6739569502
Good luck and I hope this or something else helps you find your muse again. I love reading your articles!
Hi Alan, fellow substack author here (https://qualityeng.substack.com/). I always enjoy reading your posts on leadership and sharing a few via my newsletter and other places where I'm active.
Anyway, I saw your message on Notes on ideas on how to refocus on the newsletter. While I'm no expert (I have only been going for about 19 months, 500+ followers) and will make a lot of assumptions about your situation (I'll try and be clear when I am), you've already identified the problem: direction.
Writing about leadership and management is a focus, but it's really quite broad. Why do you want to write about leadership? Is it to get things off your chest? Is it to help other people? Is it to use it as a spring board to write a book? Answering the why might help you narrow it down and help you figure out your long-term direction.
One thing I did notice was that when you've been writing consistently, you have some constraints. For instance, you're musical-themed post (Taylor was one; I forgot the other now). But that could help you get some focus and narrow down again in the short term. But as you said, they are "seasons", so you'll need to keep coming up with new constraints to keep going.
I think that was an interesting read in itself.
You are definitely not alone in this feeling. The thing I do to remind myself that everything is in phases, and each day is a chance to try again. This is a great clip from Taika Waititi about writing that I remember every time I get stuck or feel like things aren't progressing as fast as I want.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4g2qmDh5Ew
Hi Alan, if you’re looking for something to spark ideas, check out Oblique Strategies – it was originally a deck of cards with short “prompts” aimed at triggering creative thinking. I use an app for that. If you’re in Apple’s garden the link is https://apps.apple.com/us/app/oblique-strategies-sideways/id6739569502
Good luck and I hope this or something else helps you find your muse again. I love reading your articles!
Hi Alan, fellow substack author here (https://qualityeng.substack.com/). I always enjoy reading your posts on leadership and sharing a few via my newsletter and other places where I'm active.
Anyway, I saw your message on Notes on ideas on how to refocus on the newsletter. While I'm no expert (I have only been going for about 19 months, 500+ followers) and will make a lot of assumptions about your situation (I'll try and be clear when I am), you've already identified the problem: direction.
Writing about leadership and management is a focus, but it's really quite broad. Why do you want to write about leadership? Is it to get things off your chest? Is it to help other people? Is it to use it as a spring board to write a book? Answering the why might help you narrow it down and help you figure out your long-term direction.
One thing I did notice was that when you've been writing consistently, you have some constraints. For instance, you're musical-themed post (Taylor was one; I forgot the other now). But that could help you get some focus and narrow down again in the short term. But as you said, they are "seasons", so you'll need to keep coming up with new constraints to keep going.
Thanks for sharing with us. You're one of the few writers I follow who I always read. And thanks for keeping going through the slow season!