Where does MetaFilter rank among your creative outlets? March 23, 2012 3:35 PM Subscribe
Where does MetaFilter rank among your creative outlets?
Its rank among mine can be guessed. But I may be strange.
Its rank among mine can be guessed. But I may be strange.
Very low. But it is high on my list of creative inputs.
...hm.
posted by jeffamaphone at 3:42 PM on March 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
...hm.
posted by jeffamaphone at 3:42 PM on March 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
It's not a creative outlet for me at all. I create nothing here. Where MetaFilter is concerned I take-take-take, greedily consuming everything everyone else produces, Asking for more whenever I feel like it (34 times so far!), and giving very little back besides my uninformed and poorly-thought-out opinions. MetaFilter is the opposite of my life.
I am really grateful for MetaFilter.
posted by headnsouth at 3:45 PM on March 23, 2012 [21 favorites]
I am really grateful for MetaFilter.
posted by headnsouth at 3:45 PM on March 23, 2012 [21 favorites]
I think Metafilter is a bit too general-interest and middle-of-the-road to be a good place for my creative output/input. I'm pretty otaku about creative stuff like the media and music, though, so that's understandable.
posted by dunkadunc at 3:49 PM on March 23, 2012
posted by dunkadunc at 3:49 PM on March 23, 2012
MetaFilter is a distraction from my creative outlets.
posted by SPrintF at 3:53 PM on March 23, 2012 [23 favorites]
posted by SPrintF at 3:53 PM on March 23, 2012 [23 favorites]
This is how the creative process works for me (and I like it this way):
1- Get an idea
2- Start executing
3- Run into problems
4- Fix problems
5- Repeat 3 and 4 until:
6- Explosion of frustration fueled rage where everything gets destroyed and thrown in the trashcan or /dev/null/
7- Flash of inspiration
8- Working like a maniac
9- Success
I have never been able to make it from Idea to Success without going through the frustration fueled explosion of rage.
Metafilter allows me to go straight from 1 to 6, saving me a lot of time.
posted by Ayn Rand and God at 3:59 PM on March 23, 2012 [6 favorites]
1- Get an idea
2- Start executing
3- Run into problems
4- Fix problems
5- Repeat 3 and 4 until:
6- Explosion of frustration fueled rage where everything gets destroyed and thrown in the trashcan or /dev/null/
7- Flash of inspiration
8- Working like a maniac
9- Success
I have never been able to make it from Idea to Success without going through the frustration fueled explosion of rage.
Metafilter allows me to go straight from 1 to 6, saving me a lot of time.
posted by Ayn Rand and God at 3:59 PM on March 23, 2012 [6 favorites]
You know, I have to admit that writing MetaFilter comments scratches the itch I have to always be writing. It's probably not a total coincidence that since I've been a MeFite, I have stopped journaliing (well, writing journaling, I do keep a sketchbook). I wouldn't call it my major creative outlet, but I'd call it maybe a way to keep practicing written expression.
Writing posts is a lot of fun, so I wish I had more time for it (I like research-intensive posts). They're a great short form, kind of like writing a good magazine blurb. That's a good challenge.
Maybe if I ever get my music act together MeFi Music will become more of an outlet.
posted by Miko at 3:59 PM on March 23, 2012 [4 favorites]
Writing posts is a lot of fun, so I wish I had more time for it (I like research-intensive posts). They're a great short form, kind of like writing a good magazine blurb. That's a good challenge.
Maybe if I ever get my music act together MeFi Music will become more of an outlet.
posted by Miko at 3:59 PM on March 23, 2012 [4 favorites]
A dedicated observer could figure out whenever I am on deadline at work because my rate of posting increases exponentially while becoming sillier and sillier.
posted by Snarl Furillo at 4:00 PM on March 23, 2012 [11 favorites]
posted by Snarl Furillo at 4:00 PM on March 23, 2012 [11 favorites]
This is an interesting question. On one hand, not really. I mean, once in awhile I get proud of a little zinger or argument here and there, but it's all pretty ephemeral.
On the other hand, it's certainly taught me a lot about writing, maybe even more than graduate school taught me. It's the only place where I write every day, and when I look over my commenting history, I see a continual improvement. It's also taught me a lot about how to make a good argument, and how to sniff out a bad argument disguised as a good one.
posted by roll truck roll at 4:04 PM on March 23, 2012 [3 favorites]
On the other hand, it's certainly taught me a lot about writing, maybe even more than graduate school taught me. It's the only place where I write every day, and when I look over my commenting history, I see a continual improvement. It's also taught me a lot about how to make a good argument, and how to sniff out a bad argument disguised as a good one.
posted by roll truck roll at 4:04 PM on March 23, 2012 [3 favorites]
Metafilter is directly responsible for the completion of several projects, created a few, and has lead to contact and collaboration with many astounding and amazing people.
posted by The Whelk at 4:04 PM on March 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 4:04 PM on March 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
Also, I've managed to turn offhand metafilter micro fiction runs into actual, paying short stories so yea, sometimes it feels a bit like boot camp.
I mean, Ive spun some accidental gold over at Fiction Fights, like doing pushups in your cell or something.
posted by The Whelk at 4:06 PM on March 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
I mean, Ive spun some accidental gold over at Fiction Fights, like doing pushups in your cell or something.
posted by The Whelk at 4:06 PM on March 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
Fortunately I've found a new place to write the sort of stuff I'd prefer to be writing anyway (fiction), so my MetaFilter output has probably diminished some in the last six months or so. Because yeah, as Miko says, writing comments here does scratch that writing itch, but (and no offense) writing message board/online community comments isn't the kind of thing I super want to do with my writing, and I sort of need that itch to keep me doing what I do love.
posted by shakespeherian at 4:06 PM on March 23, 2012
posted by shakespeherian at 4:06 PM on March 23, 2012
Oh, but yeah, I should also mention that the thing I'm doing now is directly aided by a group of people online, most of whom are Mefites.
posted by shakespeherian at 4:07 PM on March 23, 2012
posted by shakespeherian at 4:07 PM on March 23, 2012
On the other hand I have like three books that need serious outlining..
And that comic
And that play
Hmrph.
posted by The Whelk at 4:08 PM on March 23, 2012
And that comic
And that play
Hmrph.
posted by The Whelk at 4:08 PM on March 23, 2012
Oh, but yeah, I should also mention that the thing I'm doing now is directly aided by a group of people online, most of whom are Mefites.
ALSO IT IS AWESOME AND YOU SHOULD COME FIND US OR YOU ARE MISSING OUT.
posted by juv3nal at 4:11 PM on March 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
ALSO IT IS AWESOME AND YOU SHOULD COME FIND US OR YOU ARE MISSING OUT.
posted by juv3nal at 4:11 PM on March 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
For me, an outlet is something you plug into.
posted by found missing at 4:15 PM on March 23, 2012
posted by found missing at 4:15 PM on March 23, 2012
but (and no offense) writing message board/online community comments isn't the kind of thing I super want to do with my writing
In my case, I was delighted and happy to discover in MetaFilter an ideal milieu for the kind of writing (I think) I'm good at.
posted by Trurl at 4:16 PM on March 23, 2012
In my case, I was delighted and happy to discover in MetaFilter an ideal milieu for the kind of writing (I think) I'm good at.
posted by Trurl at 4:16 PM on March 23, 2012
you mean this?
Yes, but spoilers! Start from the beginning.
posted by juv3nal at 4:17 PM on March 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
Yes, but spoilers! Start from the beginning.
posted by juv3nal at 4:17 PM on March 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
I'll second that metafilter acts as distraction from anything important I'm doing, but the newsfilter here saves me from wasting time elsewhere, making it possibly a net gain long term.
posted by jeffburdges at 4:19 PM on March 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by jeffburdges at 4:19 PM on March 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
ALSO IT IS AWESOME AND YOU SHOULD COME FIND US OR YOU ARE MISSING OUT.
come join us in the woods
posted by shakespeherian at 4:24 PM on March 23, 2012
come join us in the woods
posted by shakespeherian at 4:24 PM on March 23, 2012
I use Metafilter as a way of practicing my writing skills. That's pretty much the reason I'm still here. That, and AskMe.
I guess it's also a good place to pick up random conversational tidbits, although reddit's probably better for that if you can sift through the deluge of information.
posted by Afroblanco at 4:36 PM on March 23, 2012
I guess it's also a good place to pick up random conversational tidbits, although reddit's probably better for that if you can sift through the deluge of information.
posted by Afroblanco at 4:36 PM on March 23, 2012
I'll second that metafilter acts as distraction from anything important I'm doing, but the newsfilter here saves me from wasting time elsewhere, making it possibly a net gain long term.
Third.
I wouldn't have thought of it as a creative outlet, perhaps because I'm not the creative type.
Thanks for the creative posts, everyone whose posts, questions, comments, and answers entertain and enlighten!
posted by Lesser Shrew at 5:14 PM on March 23, 2012
Third.
I wouldn't have thought of it as a creative outlet, perhaps because I'm not the creative type.
Thanks for the creative posts, everyone whose posts, questions, comments, and answers entertain and enlighten!
posted by Lesser Shrew at 5:14 PM on March 23, 2012
MetaFilter is a nice, soothing background tone that keeps the rest of my peripatetic existence in harmony. I wouldn't quite say it's necessary for me to function as a writer, but it certainly helps. It's also a nice outlet for pointing others towards cool things I come across on the internet. As an outlet for sharing interesting stuff, it's number #1 for me.
It's also invaluable for me to think through opinions. It takes me a while to form an opinion on anything, and the back and forth on MetaFilter always helps me get me towards having my own.
For actual creative writing, I'm a pen and paper type of writer. Well, more of a staring off into space type of writer, but I try to at least have pen and paper nearby.
posted by Kattullus at 5:18 PM on March 23, 2012
It's also invaluable for me to think through opinions. It takes me a while to form an opinion on anything, and the back and forth on MetaFilter always helps me get me towards having my own.
For actual creative writing, I'm a pen and paper type of writer. Well, more of a staring off into space type of writer, but I try to at least have pen and paper nearby.
posted by Kattullus at 5:18 PM on March 23, 2012
Interesting question. Personally, I think of Projects as the final arbiter of major works: I didn't post my blog there until I was two years into developing the site, and don't expect to post again until I complete the process of turning the blog into an e-book. Smaller projects tend to go on forrst, Twitter, dabblet, Flickr, etc as appropriate. To me, there's a particularly high standard I have to achieve before I'm ready to share my work with the community here.
I think the give and take is severely lopsided - how can I possibly contribute as much to Metafilter as the site has provided me? - but I know that posts frequently inspire and inform my work: seeing the Dali/Opeth and subblue posts today has started me in interesting creative directions, for example
I'll also confess that it's a long-term ambition of mine to have at least one post on every sub-site, so Metafilter is also helping me work on my music.
posted by Bora Horza Gobuchul at 5:34 PM on March 23, 2012
I think the give and take is severely lopsided - how can I possibly contribute as much to Metafilter as the site has provided me? - but I know that posts frequently inspire and inform my work: seeing the Dali/Opeth and subblue posts today has started me in interesting creative directions, for example
I'll also confess that it's a long-term ambition of mine to have at least one post on every sub-site, so Metafilter is also helping me work on my music.
posted by Bora Horza Gobuchul at 5:34 PM on March 23, 2012
Metafilter is directly responsible for the completion of several projects, created a few, and has lead to contact and collaboration with many astounding and amazing people.
Unfortunately, it is also good for the exact opposite of all of that stuff. Drink it strait up in the morning and the whole day could be shot.
posted by three blind mice at 5:39 PM on March 23, 2012
Unfortunately, it is also good for the exact opposite of all of that stuff. Drink it strait up in the morning and the whole day could be shot.
posted by three blind mice at 5:39 PM on March 23, 2012
This is why you always mix your metafilter with coke.
posted by The Whelk at 5:59 PM on March 23, 2012
posted by The Whelk at 5:59 PM on March 23, 2012
Dead bottom. My creative outlets are all hands on, and have nothing to do with the internet. Even trying to blog about my creative work has been nothing but failures.
posted by mollymayhem at 6:01 PM on March 23, 2012
posted by mollymayhem at 6:01 PM on March 23, 2012
I've made several songs that I wouldn't have made if not for the MeFi Music Monthly Challenges (MeFiMu MoChas, for short), and I've done collaborations with several people I've met here/there. So it's definitely on my outlet list.
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 6:47 PM on March 23, 2012
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 6:47 PM on March 23, 2012
I have submitted my only two comic book scripts here. Both involved Squirrel Girl.
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:48 PM on March 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:48 PM on March 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
(Actually, I have many more comic book scripts, but have not submitted them anywhere. I have some Future Shocks, but I am told Tharg and his editroids think American writers are shit.)
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:53 PM on March 23, 2012
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:53 PM on March 23, 2012
Just above self-abuse and just below booze?
posted by octobersurprise at 7:05 PM on March 23, 2012
posted by octobersurprise at 7:05 PM on March 23, 2012
but (and no offense) writing message board/online community comments isn't the kind of thing I super want to do with my writing
I would probably feel very much the same if I were primarily a creative writer or poet. But since my writing is almost all nonfiction - reporting, interpretive, expository, opinion pieces - MeFi comments and posts are really providing practice at something pretty close to what I need to produce IRL. Rather than take away from it, I think it's taught me a lot and keeps the mental muscles in shape. It takes me a lot less long a time to bang out a well-structured, clear 6-paragraph funding case for a new program than it would have if I never wrote on MeFi, I'm certain.
posted by Miko at 7:14 PM on March 23, 2012 [3 favorites]
I would probably feel very much the same if I were primarily a creative writer or poet. But since my writing is almost all nonfiction - reporting, interpretive, expository, opinion pieces - MeFi comments and posts are really providing practice at something pretty close to what I need to produce IRL. Rather than take away from it, I think it's taught me a lot and keeps the mental muscles in shape. It takes me a lot less long a time to bang out a well-structured, clear 6-paragraph funding case for a new program than it would have if I never wrote on MeFi, I'm certain.
posted by Miko at 7:14 PM on March 23, 2012 [3 favorites]
Metafilter is directly responsible for the completion of several projects, created a few, and has lead to contact and collaboration with many astounding and amazing people.
WORD.
My agent is sitting on a project right now that I would never have written if not for metafilter and she's going to give me comments next week and I can't wait to sell it just so I can tell you guys so c'mon hurry up hurry up nice agent lady.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 7:23 PM on March 23, 2012 [4 favorites]
WORD.
My agent is sitting on a project right now that I would never have written if not for metafilter and she's going to give me comments next week and I can't wait to sell it just so I can tell you guys so c'mon hurry up hurry up nice agent lady.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 7:23 PM on March 23, 2012 [4 favorites]
Hmmmm I don't really think its all that possible on mefi anymore - you can get input and help on some things though, but its mostly a useful distraction at best - which is a bit sad really.
posted by sgt.serenity at 7:27 PM on March 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by sgt.serenity at 7:27 PM on March 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
Pretty low. This isn't a programming site, an area where my creative energy is focused these days. I'm here for the jokes and diversion while I have downtime.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 7:34 PM on March 23, 2012
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 7:34 PM on March 23, 2012
Metafilter is directly responsible for the completion of several projects, created a few, and has lead to contact and collaboration with many astounding and amazing people.
If Migs said that, I would believe it.
posted by sgt.serenity at 7:38 PM on March 23, 2012
If Migs said that, I would believe it.
posted by sgt.serenity at 7:38 PM on March 23, 2012
Rather than take away from it, I think it's taught me a lot and keeps the mental muscles in shape.
My takeaway is that I need to troll the site more.
posted by shakespeherian at 7:40 PM on March 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
My takeaway is that I need to troll the site more.
posted by shakespeherian at 7:40 PM on March 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
MetaFilter is the sole and exclusive repository of all my doggerel. For better or for worse.
posted by The White Hat at 7:45 PM on March 23, 2012
posted by The White Hat at 7:45 PM on March 23, 2012
5
posted by chococat at 8:20 PM on March 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by chococat at 8:20 PM on March 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
Well, I have no creative outlets currently, but I've been meaning to start using music.metafilter on a regular basis, so.. potentially 1 out of 1?
posted by curious nu at 8:20 PM on March 23, 2012
posted by curious nu at 8:20 PM on March 23, 2012
*Cast: Haste : Nice Agent Lady*
posted by The Whelk at 9:19 PM on March 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by The Whelk at 9:19 PM on March 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
Depends on what you mean by "creative outlet". :) Used to try and do narrative-flows etc in my comments here, but found that consumed too much of my time, and instead, do that in a different, less frequently updated, venue. What I do like sharing here is what I come here for: "consuming" knowledge. I like to dump realms of data on others, just as I like everyone else to do to me.
So I see Mefi less as an outlet for creative output - cultural artifacts that gives you greater insight into the human condition through a narrative leading to a climax and a denouement - and more as an outlet for knowledge output - artifacts that give you an insight into the human condition through a series of facts, but one who's order, relative merit and importance isn't fully commented on by the presenter. You can be creative for the latter, but displaying your creativity isn't the main goal; the goal is to clear these tidbits of information that have accumulated in your brain so that someone else may find it useful or interesting.
posted by the cydonian at 9:20 PM on March 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
So I see Mefi less as an outlet for creative output - cultural artifacts that gives you greater insight into the human condition through a narrative leading to a climax and a denouement - and more as an outlet for knowledge output - artifacts that give you an insight into the human condition through a series of facts, but one who's order, relative merit and importance isn't fully commented on by the presenter. You can be creative for the latter, but displaying your creativity isn't the main goal; the goal is to clear these tidbits of information that have accumulated in your brain so that someone else may find it useful or interesting.
posted by the cydonian at 9:20 PM on March 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
I'm sitting on what I believe to be a fantastic post even while I dedicate my half assed concentration to wrapping up my project and documenting it (urgh) in time for the deadline so I can pay rent and buy food and all that stuff. I am resentful of not being able to spend the day on google to create taht perfect post.
posted by infini at 10:51 PM on March 23, 2012
posted by infini at 10:51 PM on March 23, 2012
It stands in their way, preventing them from moving forward.
posted by idiopath at 12:42 AM on March 24, 2012
posted by idiopath at 12:42 AM on March 24, 2012
Somewhere below making rude shapes out of my mashed potatoes.
posted by Decani at 2:28 AM on March 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Decani at 2:28 AM on March 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
It's probably not a total coincidence that since I've been a MeFite, I have stopped journaliing
Wow, I just realized this is true for me too! I think this might be because whatever's on my mind, there's usually a new topic somewhere that's addresses it.
I don't really think it's a creative outlet for me, though. More like a way of connecting brain-to-brain with other people based on shared experience, the way other forms of personal writing function. Actually I've noticed that a lot of the internet satisfies what used to be the guilty pleasure of reading my babysitter's Seventeen magazines.
posted by stoneandstar at 3:09 AM on March 24, 2012
Wow, I just realized this is true for me too! I think this might be because whatever's on my mind, there's usually a new topic somewhere that's addresses it.
I don't really think it's a creative outlet for me, though. More like a way of connecting brain-to-brain with other people based on shared experience, the way other forms of personal writing function. Actually I've noticed that a lot of the internet satisfies what used to be the guilty pleasure of reading my babysitter's Seventeen magazines.
posted by stoneandstar at 3:09 AM on March 24, 2012
Where does MetaFilter rank among your creative outlets?PDF Link, MeTa thread), creating and running PoliticalFilter for a while and now Mefi Mag. There's a certain creative energy here that is appealing.
Comment stories are another favorite thing of me to do, due to interesting ideas perculating in threads. One could even do a collection of comment stories and post it to Projects.
One my favorite things I've created on the site is a post about the Apollo 15 lunar mission and crew. Have been thinking about similar type posts about each lunar mission, but oddly enough that seems out of the scope of Metafiilter. Perhaps projects...
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:37 AM on March 24, 2012
Comment stories are another favorite thing of me to do, due to interesting ideas perculating in threads. One could even do a collection of comment stories and post it to Projects.
One my favorite things I've created on the site is a post about the Apollo 15 lunar mission and crew. Have been thinking about similar type posts about each lunar mission, but oddly enough that seems out of the scope of Metafiilter. Perhaps projects...
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:37 AM on March 24, 2012
I love answering questions on Ask.Me, where being a know-it-all is *encouraged*.
posted by theora55 at 7:42 AM on March 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by theora55 at 7:42 AM on March 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
Is snark a creative outlet?
posted by octothorpe at 8:05 AM on March 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by octothorpe at 8:05 AM on March 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
It keeps me off the streets.
posted by jonmc at 8:22 AM on March 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by jonmc at 8:22 AM on March 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
This place is a deadly placebo version of artistic achievement, where immediate feedback for middling efforts can lull you from reaching for something deeper and more meaningful.
Not MF's fault directly, just a character flaw. I have to keep stuff secret because once something is published in any way, even just telling someone what I could do, then it is "done". Maybe some day I will unplug the Internet and get something done.
posted by Meatbomb at 8:52 AM on March 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
Not MF's fault directly, just a character flaw. I have to keep stuff secret because once something is published in any way, even just telling someone what I could do, then it is "done". Maybe some day I will unplug the Internet and get something done.
posted by Meatbomb at 8:52 AM on March 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
You could say the same thing about video games, that they are placebo achievement, but you could also say that about any game and it's really how you define achievement. I know people for whom anything without a quantifiable and measurable reward is worthless, and anything not spent advancing your carrer highly suspect, and there is no point in doing anything unless you do it perfectly to prove you're not wasting time. Hell i know people for whom having kids isnt an achivement cause thier parents did it and they have a low opinion of thier parents.
Me, I tend to view Metafilter as part of my extended social sphere, and I am most productive when I'm surrounded by like minds, and promising things and then having the fear that I will let them down is the only way I've finished everything. And there is a bit of the old " the good are wrecked with doubt" thing, in I beat myself up over how much " wasted" time I have, until I remember that three hour live show I put on every week for four years that needed all new sets and costumes and props and music every week while at the same time working on a gigantic alternate history project that got screwed over outside my control while at the same time still selling cartoons at a decent clip and getting the first of my few stories published ( some of which, again, directly because of Metafilter) and then you just get into the never ending loop of You're Too Hard On Your Self/If I'm Not Hard On Myself Nothing Will Get Done and the whole concept of Achivement is touchy and loaded and strange.
posted by The Whelk at 9:05 AM on March 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
Me, I tend to view Metafilter as part of my extended social sphere, and I am most productive when I'm surrounded by like minds, and promising things and then having the fear that I will let them down is the only way I've finished everything. And there is a bit of the old " the good are wrecked with doubt" thing, in I beat myself up over how much " wasted" time I have, until I remember that three hour live show I put on every week for four years that needed all new sets and costumes and props and music every week while at the same time working on a gigantic alternate history project that got screwed over outside my control while at the same time still selling cartoons at a decent clip and getting the first of my few stories published ( some of which, again, directly because of Metafilter) and then you just get into the never ending loop of You're Too Hard On Your Self/If I'm Not Hard On Myself Nothing Will Get Done and the whole concept of Achivement is touchy and loaded and strange.
posted by The Whelk at 9:05 AM on March 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
This place is a deadly placebo version of artistic achievement, where immediate feedback for middling efforts can lull you from reaching for something deeper and more meaningful.
No no no, lull you.
Sorry that your brain works that wait, Meat, but not everyone's does. Like TheWhelk, mine feeds off the happy kinetic energy here. I like being surrounded by some of the smartest and most creative people on the internet and have only found that it pushes me to be more awesome--to be worthy of the rest of you, really.
(I've also made some great professional connections here. That's been awesome, too.)
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 9:12 AM on March 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
No no no, lull you.
Sorry that your brain works that wait, Meat, but not everyone's does. Like TheWhelk, mine feeds off the happy kinetic energy here. I like being surrounded by some of the smartest and most creative people on the internet and have only found that it pushes me to be more awesome--to be worthy of the rest of you, really.
(I've also made some great professional connections here. That's been awesome, too.)
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 9:12 AM on March 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
Achievement is overrated.
posted by jonmc at 9:19 AM on March 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by jonmc at 9:19 AM on March 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
I think a bad memory is the only defense, if I stop and think about the number of hours I've put into things that just fell apart and never happened due to complete chance I'd probably have to go lie facedown on the couch for a few weeks. (Get me drunk and ask me about that big RPG I never got credited in if you want a 3 hour monologue.)
posted by The Whelk at 9:21 AM on March 24, 2012
posted by The Whelk at 9:21 AM on March 24, 2012
(Get me drunk and ask me about that big RPG I never got credited in if you want a 3 hour monologue.)
I would love to hear that monologue.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 9:26 AM on March 24, 2012
I would love to hear that monologue.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 9:26 AM on March 24, 2012
It's in person only and requires a BAC of spectacular or above.
posted by The Whelk at 9:33 AM on March 24, 2012
posted by The Whelk at 9:33 AM on March 24, 2012
I have more than half a case of beer left over - first come, first serve (I don't drink the stuff if its not a social occasion)
posted by infini at 10:07 AM on March 24, 2012
posted by infini at 10:07 AM on March 24, 2012
Sometimes giving advice to less experienced writers here helps me give myself a concomitant kick in my own pants.
Also, there is nowhere else on the Internet I would rather do little parodies of whatever!
So thanks, folks, for all the creative fizz.
posted by Sidhedevil at 10:25 AM on March 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
Also, there is nowhere else on the Internet I would rather do little parodies of whatever!
So thanks, folks, for all the creative fizz.
posted by Sidhedevil at 10:25 AM on March 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
Sorry that your brain works that wait, Meat, but not everyone's does.
Yeah I was not making a blanket condemnation, that is an entirely personal observation! And I love it here, just won't be writing The Trial or anything like that until I can get away.
posted by Meatbomb at 10:30 AM on March 24, 2012
Yeah I was not making a blanket condemnation, that is an entirely personal observation! And I love it here, just won't be writing The Trial or anything like that until I can get away.
posted by Meatbomb at 10:30 AM on March 24, 2012
After a night of fretful dreams Meatbomb awoke to discover he had lost all internet access....
posted by The Whelk at 10:32 AM on March 24, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 10:32 AM on March 24, 2012 [3 favorites]
Fizz? I always thought of myself as Tangy Zip, but whatever works.
posted by jonmc at 10:58 AM on March 24, 2012
posted by jonmc at 10:58 AM on March 24, 2012
I have done many more creative projects over the past few years than I otherwise would have because of MetaFilter. I think MetaQuilter is the one I'm most proud of, though. At the end of that project, sometime next year, there will exist 30-60 quilts, designed and made by mefites, all because I made a post to MetaTalk.
posted by ocherdraco at 12:16 PM on March 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by ocherdraco at 12:16 PM on March 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
Mostly metafilter has made me come to terms with the fact that I will never be a writer since yunz are all so effortlessly eloquent and it takes me ten minutes to painfully hammer out a single sentence that only has a fifty-fifty chance of making any sense at all.
And I'm such a freaking bad speller that I actually had to go to Google to figure out 'eloquent ' because I couldn't even spell it close enough for Firefox's spell checker to puzzle out what I was trying for.
posted by octothorpe at 2:01 PM on March 24, 2012
And I'm such a freaking bad speller that I actually had to go to Google to figure out 'eloquent ' because I couldn't even spell it close enough for Firefox's spell checker to puzzle out what I was trying for.
posted by octothorpe at 2:01 PM on March 24, 2012
octothorpe: I will never be a writer since yunz are all so effortlessly eloquent and it takes me ten minutes to painfully hammer out a single sentence that only has a fifty-fifty chance of making any sense at all.
"A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people."
At least that's what I like to tell myself when I've spent six hours staring at a piece of paper and have three sentences for my troubles.
posted by Kattullus at 2:34 PM on March 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
"A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people."
At least that's what I like to tell myself when I've spent six hours staring at a piece of paper and have three sentences for my troubles.
posted by Kattullus at 2:34 PM on March 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
There's a quote I heard in high school, which the internet seems to think is attributable to either Kurt Vonnegut or Thomas Mann, which is "A writer is someone who hates writing."
I wouldn't say I find it difficult exactly - but I find it vexing, fascinating, and serious hard work. I love the act of writing, in a flow state, and take pleasure in having written. But not all writing occurs in a flow state. Some of it is frustrating and full of backtracks, false starts, failed attempts and compromises.
Often when I'm in the midst of a long piece (not on MeFi but, like, drafting a lengthy talk or paper) I get the visceral sense that I'm working on something physical, doing a process something like scultping - like, get the big rough masses into place, then pass back over, touching here and there, refining and refining, turning it many times to look at it in the light.
posted by Miko at 8:19 PM on March 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
I wouldn't say I find it difficult exactly - but I find it vexing, fascinating, and serious hard work. I love the act of writing, in a flow state, and take pleasure in having written. But not all writing occurs in a flow state. Some of it is frustrating and full of backtracks, false starts, failed attempts and compromises.
Often when I'm in the midst of a long piece (not on MeFi but, like, drafting a lengthy talk or paper) I get the visceral sense that I'm working on something physical, doing a process something like scultping - like, get the big rough masses into place, then pass back over, touching here and there, refining and refining, turning it many times to look at it in the light.
posted by Miko at 8:19 PM on March 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
Oh! I've also submitted the only science fiction short-story I've allowed the general public to see here, too.
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:43 PM on March 24, 2012
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:43 PM on March 24, 2012
I use MetaFilter to test persuasive approaches in writing, also jokes. Depending on the response, I put the winning comment in a folder to be later restructured into something formal or something I can repeat at a party. When I am writing something, I check the folder to see what thoughts and examples I can take, but then I usually just go check MetaFilter "to test persuasive approaches in writing, also jokes."
circle of life.
posted by TwelveTwo at 8:20 AM on March 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
circle of life.
posted by TwelveTwo at 8:20 AM on March 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
I wouldn't say I find it difficult exactly - but I find it vexing, fascinating, and serious hard work. I love the act of writing, in a flow state, and take pleasure in having written. But not all writing occurs in a flow state. Some of it is frustrating and full of backtracks, false starts, failed attempts and compromises.
Really? I find it very easy.
posted by jonmc at 8:46 AM on March 25, 2012
Really? I find it very easy.
posted by jonmc at 8:46 AM on March 25, 2012
An alternative read on that quote would be an observation on the difference between a needed want and an unwanted need.
When you aren't a writer, you really really would like to be writing. A non-writer does not write enough, never enough! You need to want to write more!
But when you are a writer, you really really really would like to not be writing. A writer writes too much, too much, too much, too much! You want to not need to write.
posted by TwelveTwo at 8:54 AM on March 25, 2012
When you aren't a writer, you really really would like to be writing. A non-writer does not write enough, never enough! You need to want to write more!
But when you are a writer, you really really really would like to not be writing. A writer writes too much, too much, too much, too much! You want to not need to write.
posted by TwelveTwo at 8:54 AM on March 25, 2012
This is an example of a comment I will probably rewrite later and fix the asymmetry of the need/want stuff.
posted by TwelveTwo at 9:00 AM on March 25, 2012
posted by TwelveTwo at 9:00 AM on March 25, 2012
I think of Mefi as a place for conversations.
I don't normally think of conversations as creative outlets, regardless of where they happen.
But maybe I should, because there is certainly a skillset, a craft, and once in a while, even an art to conversation.
posted by philipy at 9:25 AM on March 25, 2012 [3 favorites]
I don't normally think of conversations as creative outlets, regardless of where they happen.
But maybe I should, because there is certainly a skillset, a craft, and once in a while, even an art to conversation.
posted by philipy at 9:25 AM on March 25, 2012 [3 favorites]
But when you are a writer, you really really really would like to not be writing. A writer writes too much, too much, too much, too much! You want to not need to write.
Alternately you shouldn't be resenting your own birthday party on a Saturday because you'd really rather just be writing...
posted by infini at 10:47 AM on March 25, 2012
Alternately you shouldn't be resenting your own birthday party on a Saturday because you'd really rather just be writing...
posted by infini at 10:47 AM on March 25, 2012
Man, you know how it is when you got a really nice flow going on and ring ring, phone, apparently you are late to the party. But writing! It is going so well! So, you cancel. Then you regret it, then you can't get any writing done, then you pace throughout the evening, you can't call them back and un-cancel, so you spend the night feeling terrible. This sequence is also known as "Friday."
posted by TwelveTwo at 11:01 AM on March 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by TwelveTwo at 11:01 AM on March 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
Got to get writing on Friday, Friday.
posted by The Whelk at 11:24 AM on March 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by The Whelk at 11:24 AM on March 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
Let us recall all those writers who wrote standing up.
BALZAC!
posted by clavdivs at 11:33 AM on March 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
BALZAC!
posted by clavdivs at 11:33 AM on March 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
I use a standing desk for internet, but I lay for writing. Standing makes me impatient, while laying is nice, relaxing, imaginative. Sitting is for coding, excel, data entry, and number crunching, something about it makes it conducive to such tasks.
posted by TwelveTwo at 12:14 AM on March 26, 2012
posted by TwelveTwo at 12:14 AM on March 26, 2012
I often need a bit of lie down and others don't understand its all part of the 'I've started writing this damn document covering the past 3 months and due in two weeks' process - they think I'm taking a nap
/not joking
posted by infini at 10:33 AM on March 26, 2012
/not joking
posted by infini at 10:33 AM on March 26, 2012
I enjoy my attempts at creative remote random problem-solving.
posted by mareli at 5:59 PM on March 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by mareli at 5:59 PM on March 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
Laying down is great for inspiration. I don't know why, but I can resolve problems regarding abstract concepts easier while lounging. Puzzles are a breeze. However, there is a cost. I am not so concrete. I am much more prone to procrastination, napping, and fantasizing. If I have internet connection while lounging then I will get nothing done, but may learn a lot about current arduino projects. As for standing, the impatience it produces leads me to cut corners and perhaps it is because standing leads me toward over-confidence. Standing would definitely be the worst position to edit, although I haven't tried, it might make me delete more than I would while sitting or lounging. This is all anecdotal, but I think I understand why the Scholar of Yore™ would have a study that included a pedestal desk, a drawing board, a writing table with chair, a chaise lounge, wingback. You need to have the possibility of assuming any position. Every posture has a different flavor of thought. Every problem requires a different position.
posted by TwelveTwo at 10:31 PM on March 26, 2012
posted by TwelveTwo at 10:31 PM on March 26, 2012
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posted by The Card Cheat at 3:39 PM on March 23, 2012 [6 favorites]