filtering
Funny thing about regrouping, if you really seriously sit down and try to get your act together, you usually can. I’m kind of sick of the constant tripping over myself when it comes to getting things done, so i’ve gone to the core of some of my working habits and tried to change a few things. The main thing i’ve been needing to do is filter things better.
I used to tend to be a real pack rat. I rarely used to throw things away and even kept things like boxes for wireless routers and mice. The standard excuse for not wanting to throw anything away is that you “might need it sometime in the future”. The only problem is, the sheer volume of junk that gets collected keeps you from being able to get to the things that you really DO want to keep. Junk hoarding is a function of being too lazy to filter things as you go.
A long time ago (with the help of Seraphim) i changed my ways when it came to hoarding and pack ratting, and the real surprise to me was that i found i was getting access to things i had put away and long forgotten about. By limiting what i did save, it gave me access to those things. The human brain can only access and absorb so many things, so proper filtering will ensure that end up enjoying the things that really matter to you, instead of having things so buried that you don’t even remember you have them.
I have a problem with distractions. As most of you know, computers and net connections were MADE for distracting you 
Being open to distractions is a lot like being a pack rat — you allow yourself to be open to everything because you feel like you don’t want to miss anything, but once again i think it’s a function of filtering. It may only seem like a few moments here and there, with a random AIM conversation here, check a web page there, make sure you have the latest episode of that anime there, review your RSS reader, check email, check the forums… none of these take a lot of time, but if you let them tag team you, over and over again, you can find yourself getting nothing done all day.
I produce my best work when i’ve isolated myself from distractions, and the nature of being a web-based creator and the isolation that is needed to produce the work for the net presents a kind of paradox and traveling between two different worlds that can be… confusing, i think. It’s a lot like when during WWI, troops would spend a week in pure hell in the trenches, then spend a week sipping wine in Paris while on break. The contrast between the two drove a lot of them crazy. I find myself struggling with accessibility and absorbing incoming data with the need for isolation to do the comic on a regular basis, and if anything it is the core problem i have with doing a webcomic.
Anyways, i’ve taken a hard look trying to filter the things i do, trying to restrict some distractions, even things that i tend to enjoy… not because they are bad, but because there are creative things i want to do, and i’m finding that i’m not DOING any of them because i’m spending too much time being distracted. We’ll see how it goes.
June 13th, 2005 at 11:38 pm
My goodness…we really DO have the same issues with the creative process and what is truly necessary to get anything done. If you read my blog, which is the url I use to comment under this name with, you may see that. Then again, this entry is about filtering out distractions, so I suppose you can look at your own leisure/discretion/time.
Anyway, I wish I could find a place to isolate myself. I need the right atmosphere (a sitting desk away from all electronics, and a closed door). Unfortunately, I don’t have a place like this, so you can imagine how difficult it is to stay focused when there is every distraction calling me every which way.
I hope you are able to accomplish this to its utmost level. It really is a serious struggle. Best to you.
June 14th, 2005 at 11:33 am
I know what you mean, I’ve been without internet at home for nearly a week and I’ve found that I’ve been getting more done and doing more of the other things that I enjoy. I’m tempted to shut off cable TV as well.
At work I’m removing the assorted messaging programs as well. Talking to people is fun but I’m not getting things done that I should do
June 14th, 2005 at 1:49 pm
Story of my life. I keep so much extra crap that I _never_ use, and then find myself emotionally attached to it later when I try to get rid of the excess. And then people *give* me stuff that I don’t really need and I don’t know what to do with it, so it just gets left in a pile somewhere, such that I can’t find it later when I do want to use it.
As far as distractions go,they have been the biggest bar to my general success in life. TV, video games, anime, toys, books, the Net… all of these have been for me a distraction from the things that I should have been doing, from schoolwork to housework to errands to anything else that needed to get done or that I felt would have liked to see myself doing (i.e., more creative things like drawing and whatnot). I understand how the Net tag-teams to destroy one’s day, especially when used for less-than-moral purposes. It’s helpful to know that someone I respect for their creative ability has much the same difficulties in life that I myself have.
And with that, I must not let the Net distract me any further until I’ve gone to get a coursebook for the school I hope to attend next Fall… *irony*
June 19th, 2005 at 4:25 pm
I can understand the pain. I pack a bunch of stuff too that I don’t need like old magazines and manga.What you can do is ask yourself if you really need computer part and if you will use anytime in the future. If you say no to either of them, throw it away, The same goes with me and writing FanFics. I never seem to find the time to finish them on my set date.I usually have someone to remind me over and about it. So I do it first.
June 22nd, 2005 at 12:39 am
dude, read your rant from june 16.
I don’t ususaly post on sites, but there are just sum time when i wanna say stuff, but i type very badly, plz read it any way. So here goes.
srry you get alotta slack from so many people bout piro and his self esteem. Not to feed into your hatred for those people who find him boring, but i do understadn were they are comming from.
piro can be very self defeating sometimes, and he seems to sell him self short very often, However, I have also noticed it dosn’t ever seem to stop him from doing anything he knows is right; nor does it let him do things he knows are wrong.
He seems to be getting past it, with kimiko encouraging him. All in all i like piro, he isn’t my favorite character, but him and kimiko are my favorite pair. I don’t know if you intend to put them together or you’re just toying with us readers.
personally i am impatient as far as reading the comics, but you are doing a great job. And putting new strips out quickly The story dosn’t ever really have any dead spots. every new issue moves the story ahead. Good art takes time. I can’t stand the people that don’t see the excellent work you are doing.
I don’t mean to be a kiss ass, srry if it sounded that way, just really enjoy the strips and you should know there are people who do appreciate what your doing.