Colin Wright's Blog, page 34

The Deep End

Basic math is easy.

Understanding why 2 + 2 = 4 is something most of us grasp conceptually from a very young age, because our minds are wired for that kind of conceptual thinking. Two of something plus another two of something results in four of something; we’re hard-wired for this.

Writing also comes naturally to most of us. Like math, letters are encoded information, and words, sentences, paragraphs, and books are all just collections of such figures. Those of us who are fortunate to grow up...

Anthropological Default

We’re different people when we travel. Away from the stresses and habits of ‘normal,’ we allow ourselves to open up and explore. To try new things and consider new perspectives.

It’s not a stretch to find yourself overseas, on vacation perhaps, nodding your head and smiling as you listen to Romanian folk music. Or oohing and ahhing over cave paintings. Or enjoying a picnic under the Eiffel Tower.

All this, even if you don’t care for folk music. Or paleolithic art. Or Futurist-period architectur...

Consumption is a Statement

Minimalism and capitalism are two philosophies that seem like they should be at odds, while in reality capitalism improves if the tenets of minimalism are applied.

This is because minimalism is not just about owning less, it’s about owning better. It’s about eschewing the superfluous in favor of that which truly brings you value and makes you happy. That means you have more resources left over from the stuff you’re not compulsively buying to invest in higher-quality possessions and experiences...

Boxes

When it comes to money, I’m fairly conservative.

That is to say that I don’t throw cash around, and I generally know why I’m earning the money I’m earning. I know my expenses and I know what kind of unexpected expenses to plan for, and as a result, there aren’t too many surprises. My finances are standardized and relatively predictable.

When it comes to food, I’m fairly liberal.

I like trying new things, going to new restaurants, and experiencing flavors from all around the world. There are cert...

Fortunate

This piece was originally published in Exiles, a collection of essays I publish twice-monthly. I had several subscribers suggest I publish it here on the blog, as well, and decided it was probably worth sharing. More about Exiles here, if you’re curious.

I’m fortunate to live in a time where my brand of weird is not just acceptable, but celebrated.

I’m fortunate to have access to tools and resources that allow me to pick up new skills, glean new knowledge, and experience new things at a pace li...

Visible Brush Strokes

The uncomfortable reality of perfectionism is that it encourages creative-sequestration: if you know you won’t be able to do something well, you’re less likely to try, in order to avoid failure (or less-than-perfection).

This was true in my case, at least. When I was younger I was terrified of coming across as less than I was capable of, and that meant I seldom emerged from my comfort zone. It was a small world I lived in, but everything was where it was supposed to be. A closet-sized room wit...

Be the Machete

There’s a confidence that comes with blazing trails. Knowing that you can set off into the woods with nothing but your wits and ambitions, with a damn good chance of not just surviving, but thriving. Carving a trail from one place to another; one way of living to another.

The path you shape will be there for future travelers to discover and wonder over; to follow partway and popularize among their friends; to explore more fully, the sharp bits safely whittled down to stumps.

The path you sculpt...

Watching the Periphery

I’m in publishing, but I’m watching the video game world closely.

There’s some really interesting stuff going on in that industry. Valve has innovated along multiple fronts. Amazon is a barbarian at the gate. Even the big players — Microsoft and Sony and Nintendo — are making moves like rookies with something to prove. It’s been an interesting couple of years in video games, and the next few years should be even more so.

I’m also watching the film and TV industries. Both are very different crea...

Set the Goal, Enjoy the Journey

When I write, I start with a framework. A skeleton of what I’m doing, to establish the rough shape, size, and purpose of what I’ll eventually end up with.

With a blog post, that means I figure out what point I want to make, and establish how best to express it. With a book, I determine who the characters are, what kind of world they live in, and what important things happen in each chapter.

In between these milestones — these pre-determined landmarks in my work — anything could happen. The stor...

The Authority of Experience

There are a whole lot of blogs and articles and even books written by folks who don’t know what they’re talking about.

Or rather, they know some aspect of what they’re talking about, but lack the authority of experience. They’ve read a lot about a particular subject and have re-spun the information into something new. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this — it’s what we’re taught to do in school, year after year — but it can be detrimental if the positive feedback received for remixing bo...