Introduction
Ahoy!
After many years’ absence from blogging, I’ve decided to crawl back out from under my rock.
Who am I? I’m just an eccentric analog enthusiast who writes fiction & essays and dabbles in comics.
So, what’s the blog about? I intend for it to have a three-fold focus:
1. Tools of the trade. I’m a stationery geek with a deep interest in tools used for both writing and drawing, especially if those tools are analog. I have a very strong fountain pen bias, so I’m bound to discuss them frequently. However, this is not strictly a pen blog.
2. Health management as it relates to pain and creativity. I’ve been managing chronic pain from repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) since 2006 from poor writing and drawing habits. Learning how to behave and listen to my body rather than my ambition is an ongoing journey. It isn’t easy holding yourself back from doing what you love most.
2023 was an especially rough year of enduring the price of creative zeal. It started out productive enough, but became a year of pausing, resetting, reassessing, and healing. I’ve had ample time to consider that delicate balance between being productive with creative goals and maintaining one’s health. One may come at the expense of the other. Oftentimes, the two need each other. Moderation: far easier said than done.
I hope some of what I have learned over the years can benefit others who struggle with similar pain. I also hope working on this blog will help to keep my own behavior on track.
3. Creativity in more general terms. The creative life. The creative struggle. The joys. The frustrations. Anything pertaining to writing or cartooning. I’m likely to discuss books as well. I will also post comics from time to time.
For me, all of these are naturally intertwined. I really cannot address one point without focusing on the others. And, I’m finally starting to realize that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Setbacks can be learning opportunities. One line from Van Helsing in Bram Stoker’s Dracula has especially stood out to me as of late:
“We learn from failure, not from success!”
It’s a wise notion to remember.
I hope to update the blog every other Friday, life permitting.
On a side note, nothing makes me happy like filled notebooks and drained pens, two signs of sure progress and productivity. I already filled an entire notebook preparing material for this blog! On to volume two!
Out with the old (on the left) and in with the new! The old notebook is the sort of thing I gravitated towards years ago. The one on the right is what I use the most frequently nowadays—a Leuchtturm1917 festooned with spiffy stickers.
I want to extend a big thank you to those who offered answers, guidance, and feedback as I was working to get this site started. I value your patience and moral support immensely!
Thanks for stopping by and please—don’t forget to create responsibly!
