For the past several years I’ve chosen a word to be my focus for the year. They’ve all been variations on trying. Last year was iterate.
This year I want to try something different. I find working on my own to be incredibly difficult. In some ways, all art is collaboration. There is a conversation that is happening, between the artist and the world. I am constantly having conversations in my mind, and when I can engage with someone else, there is a synergy that catalyzes the process. Collaboration gives me the structure I’m constantly seeking, something to push against and respond to.
In the spirit of this intent, I was also given the word LOUD by my friend Andrea. So I am considering what that means for me, and the irony that I don’t have much to say on it right now is not lost on me.
So in 2018, my challenge to myself and invitation to you is to collaborate with other artists. If you are interested in collaborating with me, please let me know. Likewise, I will challenge myself to reach out to artists I want to collaborate with!
What are your intentions for 2018?
My intent is to finish things. Not necessarily every little thing I start, but most of them. Last year was defined by me making very slow progress on projects that feel like they should have been done years ago, or start something, working on it a bit, and then leaving it abandoned. Not because I didn’t like working on the thing, or got tired of the idea. It just…slipped away.
So this year I want to finish the novel I’ve been working on for 5+ years. I want to finish the video games I start, assuming they can be finished. And I want to make some new things, and keep them small enough that I can finish them this year, instead of adding yet another nebulous, incomplete thing to my brain that I’ll work on in fits and starts for the next decade, having it bother me all the way.
That said, things will take as long as they take. But I think going out there with the intent to complete them, and a strong desire to, will help prevent me from losing my way.
On collaboration: I think this is a really cool idea. I would love to collaborate with you on something! I keep thinking it’d be fun to put together a group short story collection called “B-Sides” which is everyone’s trunk stories that they love so much but can’t sell anywhere. It could be a cool thing to collaborate on. Or, you know, anything else you’re interested in! Just let me know. 🙂
That is awesome! I will join you in completing things I’ve started. I have a few short pieces that have gotten feedback or need feedback and could use further revision – so those could go toward the B-Sides!