Finding a Voice

People will read anything if its in their field of view, short and or well written.

But what do I want to write? What do I have to say that I want to be read?

How do I want writing to change what I do? I'm not going to become a content creator, but i have a lot of ideas for projects and experiments. Unfortunately, I also really enjoy the quiet of the present moment, in my bed or on the couch. And I let work fill my mind because it feels urgent and productive even when it's unclear whether I'm actually producing anything of value. I believe that writing about efforts and experiences that I'm proud to publish will encourage me to do more cool shit.

What are some things I feel confident writing on? What I write needs to be grounded in personal experience. And I think the unifying theme should be making things. When it comes to "making things" my experience is very broad and meaningful to me. I've made art for myself, worked professionally making metal sculpture and architectural features, made sheet metal roofing and historical ornament, designed homes, and been part of teams working on large buildings. I've also built digital things, like this blog and products for the architecture and construction industries. I've renovated my own home, and built furniture. I've built communities, and boats. These are experiences that are meaningful to me, with a larger significance and enough humor to be interesting to other people.

My Rules to Write by:

1. Write from my own experience

2. Be specific, lean into difference, don't assume everyone has the same opinion or experience

3. Write for myself, consistently, edit and publish for others periodically

This little writing came about as I was working on a piece about "software after competent ai." I still might publish a version of that, but in it's current form it doesn't feel like me. It's not a piece that someone else would feel was meaningful coming from me specifically. And I was having trouble turning it into a coherent whole. When I've written things I end up being proud of, it typically feels fluid. The writing I publish should be a product of that feeling.