Why?
Let's start with why I (Adam) chose to make Related Work Journal (rwj):
1, I like the sound of my title. Keep in mind, in these early days of the blog, name picking on this basis is like casting a hottie for my exciting, green-lit film... which has, as of this moment, no script to speak of.
2, I think it may will inspire me. rwj is a mindset, whereby the happenings, items, places, and people in my physical world may influence my work, and therefore, are related to my work. This (with effort on my end) is the journal where I’ll document and take note of those things in my world. Related to work, in a journal, there you go.
Interrupting the list here to tell you something: I once was an audio engineer and producer—albums and podcasts. Then, I assisted in building and teaching a high school media program. Boom, educator. Now, I’ve moved to a new city where I know two people, on the lookout for a new job, and feeling like it’s a new game and I’m on level 1. Have you been here before? New place? Job hunting? Trying to find something fresh?
This brings me to,
2 cont., I am not only looking for something fresh in my physical world, jobs, friends, places, but I dare say, looking for the freshness in me. rwj looks at the things and work I do out there, in the world, and right here (_), in my brain. I have an interest in posting more than words, but additionally, pictures, audio, music, and video.
3, my girlfriend. I recently sent out a cover letter, and I asked my girlfriend to look it over. She graciously accepted. I was not expecting her editing intensity. I should have, though, because she’s working on her PhD and is constantly working on papers (how many pubs you got?!) for major journals—she has her shit locked down. All to say, she the copy editor. Please keep in mind, if while reading here you find mistakes, errors, or typos, it must mean the writing was marvelous as to distract her with joy (must’ve been a bewildered cover letter). Once I get good at this, I’ll distract you!
4, trying to listen to my gut much more these days after many years of waiting too long, realizing I had known something the whole time (a future blog post!). Now, my gut says: write.
5, at the moment, there is a big element of fear for me. As I venture into my new surroundings, I’m not sure what I’m trying to accomplish, and that is abnormal for me. I’ve mostly known what I wanted to do, and to a degree, how to do it. Well, no longer! I hope the simple act of writing will open my eyes.
Blast off!