On Machines and Work

• to be informed
• literature, contemporary, classic
• news – see what's happening in the world, your neighborhood
• and then, ..

• reflective, not necessarily public,
  • while you've got something to say, now is the time to be reflective.
  • what do i like, why?
  • what don't i like, and why?
• journal, diary, pen and paper, or on the computer, keep private thoughts, share much

I've two quick stories on my reading and writing. These from my first years in college. My first humanities course in college was my first writing assignment. Before handing the papers back, the professor held up a handful saying "Here are some good examples of common mistakes." Then holding up the first paper he says, "Here is how not to start a paper" and starts reading. By the second sentence, I recognized it as mine. After a few more, he offers "This person should be taking the writing course." Meekly raising my hand, I replied "This person is". It now occurs to me I was so shame-faced to have missed the other half-dozen other examples. The professor was good enough not only to point out my mistake but offered the needed correction: An opening statement must be supported later in the paper, if not been the main point, supported by evidence.

On reading, probably spurred on by that experience, and likely by my second year, I recall saying to myself: "someday you'll enjoy reading this stuff. I wonder when that will be?" Well that someday has arrived, probably about ten years ago (2004, 5), when I joined a book club through my alumni club. Our first book was "A Beautiful Mind". Which has encouraged me since.

Here's good article, "Bookends", on the subject of criticism from the New York Times Book review

• to enjoy the process
• get advice, cultivate helpful friends
• talk about ideas, things, events, rarely about people

• no need to strictly budget your time, but
• avoid excessive commitments
• if you're not enjoying yourself, try something different
• spontenaity is good, again in moderation.