I always look forward to Thursdays – especially on blog publishing weeks. I get an extra lift of accomplishment from clicking the “publish” button, knowing it’s another opportunity to connect with all of you, and also that the week ahead will be less about writing and more about making.
Breakfast ©2020 Elizabeth Fram, Ink on paper, 11 x 8.5 inches Drawing continues to be a place of respite in the midst of everything else, both art-wise and from the big world around us.
I have a system in place that allows me to get these biweekly posts out, making room for the time that blogging requires while still juggling the dyeing, drawing, and stitching that make up the practice I write about.
Snoozer ©2020 Elizabeth Fram, Ink on paper, 8.5 x 5 inches
In a nutshell, I let ideas for writing simmer until the end of the day on the Monday of publishing week, write a draft on Tuesday, polish the draft on Wednesday, and finally make last-minute adjustments before going live sometime during the day on Thursday. Dividing all these components into small chunks allows me to also keep up with whatever else may be in the pipeline, practice-wise. Having such a set schedule may seem restrictive, but it’s become my tried-and-true method for achieving this task, without fail, for almost 6 years.
Lemon Juice ©2020 Elizabeth Fram, Ink on paper, 11 x 8.5 inches
To underline this approach of manageable, consistent bites, James Clear’s Thursday 3-2-1 Newsletter last week drilled down on the concept. His title says it all: Scaling Down Your Habits, Obstacles, and Finding Time to Do What Matters. And while I have to continually remind myself to keep up with it, time and again I have seen the wisdom of adhering to this theory. Below is one of the key take-aways he offers:
“Go smaller.
Can’t learn an exercise? Reduce the range of motion.
Struggling to grasp a new concept? Break it down.
Failing to stick with a habit? Make it easy.
Master stage one, then advance.”
Jen ©2020 Elizabeth Fram, Graphite, ink and colored pencil on paper, 11 x 8.5 inches.
With all this in mind, I have a new house that is almost complete. There have been lots of unexpected decisions and mid-stream changes that have cropped up along the way. Chipping away at it in small bites has made for steady progress. Come back next time when I will share the process and the results with you.
Thank you. Good thoughts all. I love the broad whiteness in the lower part of “Breakfast,” something that sort of breaks the rules of composition and clearly shows why rules are meant to be broken.
I wondered if anyone would notice/comment on that open expanse in “Breakfast”. Thanks for your keen eye and for speaking up!