Your honest work
Oh, hi friends!
Michael R. Jackson, the creative genius behind A Strange Loop, has been answering questions on his Instagram. It’s a neat look into his work process and practice (among learning other fun trivia). But one answer he gave has been swirling in my mind for days.
Someone asked him about how he pushes forward his musicals, especially when it comes to writer’s block.
Jackson said he asks himself, “Am I saying what I mean, and do I mean what I say?”
So perfect, right?
Because it is always about clarity (saying what you mean) and truth (meaning what you say).
(Let me just say every time my own projects flounder, it’s usually from a lack of clarity, or truth, or both.)
If you’re polishing up something or trying to overcome a roadblock right now, maybe it’s time to get back to those basics.
Are you saying what you mean, and do you mean what you say?
And if the answer is no, can you begin?
Choosing Our Words Carefully
Thanks to the recommendation of Ginny Mohler, I’m super into this Vox site Language, Please, a “free, living resource for journalists and storytellers seeking to thoughtfully cover evolving social, cultural, and identity-related topics.”
I especially loved this interactive edit exercise, where you can highlight problematic terms in stories and see the rationale for editing and changing the language to be more inclusive. (Yes, I like doing edit tests for fun…) If you’re working on public-facing documents, surveys, newsletters (and, of course, articles!) it’s a stellar style guide. And there’s a directory for inclusivity readers as well!
Do you like these daily emails? Please share with a friend!
You can also support my work by checking out my motivational journal, Do It For Yourself, designed to guide you through your creative and work projects, and my upcoming journal Do It Today, which encourages you to find time for the things that matter most to you.
Thanks, as always, for reading.
Love, Kara