I started a new hobby - it's a new Substack called In The Rotation. There, I'll write about high quality items in my life, why I have them, and the philosophy around them. I'll probably post an essay every few weeks. https://substack.com/@intherotation143

In our moment of technological speed, moral outrage, posturing, and constant noise dominate public life. Writing does something different. It forces the mind to slow down long enough for thought to take shape. “But,” you might protest, “it’s easier to hold a sign with a slogan, fire off a trash post on X, or just tune out and wait for March Madness.” Fair enough. But we are writers. And historically, hasn’t it been writers who changed minds, clarified ideas, and helped societies think their way through upheaval rather than merely react to it? So here’s the question for the Guild:What does writing allow us to do in times of turmoil that other forms of expression do not? Thoughtful reflection welcome. Disagreement welcome. The aim is clarity, not noise.

I'm not. Three weeks ago, I set a goal for myself to release a new essay each week which would lead toward my next book. I finished one so far. But that's OK. I had some distractions and obstacles, but I'm picking up the baton and moving forward. How about you?

Hey folks, This is the latest essay in my ten-part series. In it, I talk about how we have things that we want to do and know we should do and those may be pointing us toward who we are underneath. This is not my finest work, but I'm committed to never letting perfection become the enemy of progress. SO! Since this is the Wordsmiths' Guild, let's take a look at it. At your earliest convenience, let me know what you think of a few things: - Pacing - is the pacing good? Too fast? Too slow? - Grammar - how are my sentence and paragraph structures? Are my punctuations doing their jobs? - Was it too didactic? Too relatable? Too abstract? - Whatever else you think of - bust out your red pen and mark it up! Have fun! https://open.substack.com/pub/findingfuscata/p/beyond-should-and-want-the-work-of?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

It's the last day of January and I met my writing goals for the month! Four essays posted to Substack - one a week! (to be fair...the last one is getting posted this evening, but it's still in the window) Here are my writing goals for February: - One essay per week. - One meaningful Wordsmiths’ Guild post per week. - Bonus goal: get In A Little While loaded on KDP. - Bonus-bonus goal: The Third Path only happens if and only if #3 is complete and the core work is still on track. What are your goals for February, and how did you do in January?