So you’ve got the idea — then what

And a new connections column / Issue 1,134

Oh, hi friends! 

So I’ve got this idea, right. I think it’s a pretty good idea. At least it feels good in the way most early ideas do — fresh, gold, all potential. I can already imagine who might want to star in it. Where it would live (Broadway, Netflix, the Blacklist). The shape is there, the ideas are there. The details, they’ll get there. And how about I work on it for six, maybe eight hours a day, that seems reasonable, without stopping for, let’s say, six months. That’s enough to get it good and finished. And then I’m going to send it to exactly one person and this one person will hold a lot of power — how, I’m not sure — and they are going to respond in six minutes and they are going to love it. They’re absolutely bowled over by it. And they’re going to take it to their friend who has a lot of power, and in six months I’m going to be holding a contract or be on set or be in a recording studio and wow it’s amazing how this is all happening so fast, isn’t it. Then the people who have the power are going to get together with the other people in power and they’re all going to say I’m the second coming of Taylor Swift and also Nora Ephron and they’re going to say, Where have you been? And I’ll respond, I’ve been right here. And we’ll laugh together and they’ll hand me money and I’ll say thank you, as if I was surprised by this event I predicted long ago, and doors will fly open and all my bad habits will disappear as if by magic, even though this period of my life is actually more stressful than it was when I was sitting in a room by myself just holding an idea in my hands, just holding it and wondering what it might be.

And then I’m back in that place, holding an idea in my hands, and I remember…

I’m the one with the power. 

The power to have the idea. 

The power to push it forward. 

The power to say yes.

And the rest is empty chatter and wild dreams.

Start with yourself.

On succeeding as a writer

So much of this artistic life, I think of it as self gaming. You’ve got a chance to tell yourself all kinds of stories about what you’re doing. If you tell yourself the right stories, you become more positive and powerful. If you tell yourself the wrong stories, you don’t.

From this nice interview with Hamish McKenzie and George Saunders.

Photo by Zdeněk Macháček on Unsplash

Thanks to everyone who filled out the “Do you know someone” form and submitted their asks.

If you can help make a connection, just hit reply to this email and I’ll give you their email! 

Do you know someone who:

• researches “gray divorce”? Specializes in adult children of divorce?

• works with birds in Portland or Oregon in general?

• teaches guitar in the New York area?

• can help me write my cover letters for job applications? I'm applying for project management positions in a variety of industries. I'm qualified, but am having trouble putting it down on paper. (Thanks, Kara!)

• is looking for entry-level stage lighting techs? I am a recent university graduate looking for contract work in the theater world, with experience in lighting design and programming (as well as interpersonal skills!)

• has experience running in-person fundraiser events for nonprofits, preferably LGBTQ nonprofits?

• wants to play tennis with me once a week in NYC? I don’t know where to play or who to play with but would love to get back into tennis.

• has a contact at Forbes? Specifically a media buyer? TIA.

• does executive coaching in the non-profit space?

I love seeing what everyone is looking for and who they’d like to connect with — thank you for sharing your asks with me.

PS — Thanks also to everyone who’s already purchased Do It Today!

Also, a new podcast is coming Monday so catch up on previous episodes on Apple or my website and get ready to hear from more of my favorite people <3