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Jack of All Trades, Master of None by mongreldog
I’ve been thinking a lot recently about how thinly i stretch myself in terms of creative and intellectual ~output~. Long story short, I feel like free time is shorter, and if I’m ever actually going to be any good, I should really dedicate myself to one strand of output.
This is tough though because I really do love (and need) all three of the main things I do:
First off, while I’m not in a permanent academic post right now, I’m a career academic, with a Ph.D. in English Literature, years of lecturing experience and several decent publications in the areas of literary/critical theory, with more on the way. Maintaining this is my primary “thing”, because it is/will be my living, and I have invested the most time (and money) in achieving this.
Secondly, I’m a musician. I am a lousy instrumentalist, and I can’t read music (I’ve now chosen not to learn), but overwhelmingly the response to my stuff leads me to think that I’m pretty okay at composing/creating tracks. I take music-making very seriously, and am keen to make it as professional-sounding and enjoyable as possible—though I’ve always rejected the notion of monetizing my music, because I like to give it away (Recently I guess my position on this has softened some, and I’ve done one or two commissions — particularly soundtracking an ipad game).
Thirdly, I draw stupid cartoon dogs. I’ve done this since I was about 11, and it’s also very important to me. I’m not sure why. I’m not very good at it, but I’ve started to forge a style that I can enjoy, and I think that, after years and years of fiddling with Thom as a character, I think I might be onto something with the whole REZQ thing.
The thing that bothers me is that I feel like I should pick one of these things and pursue it, and get really mega good at it. But it’s so painful to choose. I’m a rigorous academic but I’ve never been an obsessive one. Likewise as a musician it’s hard to know where else to go other than trying to Get Famous, and I’m not really into that. And as an artist, maybe if I drew more often, I’d actually get something done (while I’ve successfully completed and released musical albums, as well as published academic articles, chapters and books, drawing is an area within which I’ve never successfully completed a project [comic or otherwise]).
Anyway this is me thinking aloud!!! Sorry!!!
Jack of All Trades, Master of None
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Comments
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What I mean is that, instead of focusing on one thing in particular, maybe all you should try to sit back and fiddle with all three?
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Thank you for responding and for the helpful comments. :) Actually, this is one thing I am considering -- I've been toying with flash a little bit, thinking about making a multimedia REZQ comic. But that would take so so much time that I have no idea how I'd pull it off. :/
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Hell, a small minigame could be interesting to try out too with the mention of using Flash. But dont get ahead of yourself if you do decide to try a bit of all, because it can be overwhelming. Work in sections, doing a bit of this, taking a break to work on a bit of that, pace yourself and I bet you could do it just fine ^^
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I didn't tell you this but a video game was the original pitch for REZQ :3 it may still be yet!! I was going to co-pitch it with the guy who made the game that I did the music for. We have a mechanic all figured out and everything!! But we're both very busy . . .
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All the more time to work on backstory, plot twists, etc :3
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I commented on your FA one. :3
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And I, sir, have replied to it :3
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do all that you love my friend. time management is key. do not pigeonhole yourself into only one thing if you can help it. use all of your talents! do what you love. : )
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Man, you have so much motivation, I wish I were you |:
I wouldn't worry about it too much. You're still quite young and you have all the time in the world to make amazing things. If you find that you have more inspiration for one of the three things then just stick to that until you feel like it's time to switch. Don't barrage yourself with all three unless you're really up for it
And speaking of the quote you used as the title, I actually was talking about that same quote two days ago with a friend. woah.
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I don't have much motivation really, just terrible boredom and an inability to stay focused on one thing for any length of time :i
But yes I agree with that strategy! I don't feel that young though, I'll be 30 in a couple weeks. :( blahh
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I think it's a good thing to have multiple creative outlets! I like to draw but I also craft & sew. When I find myself hung up on one project, I an turn over to another and it feels like a break because I'm using a different part of my mind. I guess I used to draw more before I got a more solid interest in costume-building, but I also used to get more frustrated. :)
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This actually sounds similar to what I'm going through. From writing to artwork I sometimes can't pick witch some to focus on. In the process I lose motivation as I get overwhelmed by it. For me, it was connected to other issues in my life. So counseling has helped. I hope that you work through this and can continue to be creative whatever path you decide to go down. :)
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I think it's pretty awesome you're pursuing different interests in the first place. I like your art style and I'm listening to one of your songs right now and find something really nice about it's ambiance (and I tend to be picky about songs). You've got some good stuff going on now, and if you want make some decisions and change the way you're doing things, that's your decision and the more power to you.
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KajTaotsu
I'd say find a way for you to somehow blend all three things together into one. I dont know what kind of literature you've written, but maybe come up with some sort of story for Thom to go through, draw illustrations for it, or do a comic over the storyline, and accompany it with a soundtrack of sorts?
Then again, this is just me popping off an idea or two that are probably a bit absurd, lol. But hey, who knows?