You’d think I would have figured out that underlying creative beauty of the blockchain back a couple years ago when there was a boom. I knew it was interesting and valuable, people would explain the ledger, payments, etc etc and what came through was ideas around decentralization and what was loudest was all the $$$ and ICOs.
Steven Johnson wrote “Beyond the Bitcoin Bubble” a couple years ago and wow, like… I feel that inspiration after reading it. It pushes past the frenzy.
Token economies introduce a strange new set of elements that do not fit the traditional models: instead…
Hub Talk
At some point in the writing journey, writer’s block can creep in. Maybe it hits after a long break. Maybe it’s after you’ve developed a strong writing habit. As Will…
Hub Talk
Medium writers share their best tips
Building a writing habit is tough. What actually works can change from person to person, and sometimes the best approach is to try a bunch of different things and just see what happens. In that spirit, we recently asked writers, “What Has Worked for You to Support Your Writing Habit?,” and to our delight saw a whole range of great ideas shared in the responses. We’ve highlighted a few of them here — you’ll find some familiar advice, and also some surprises. Thanks all who submitted!
If you’ve got any additional ideas, share them in the comments of the discussion…
Three excerpts from Sick Woman Theory by Johanna Hedva
This past year I’ve been navigating more health issues. There are moments where it’s discouraging. I look at myself when I was well. I know not everyone has to figure out these things. What’s happening. And why. And then there’s moments of hope. I’m thankful for the support I have and finding doctors who can help.
It’s likely due to the pandemic stress and adjusting to new ways of living. In general, ongoing stress can lead to all sorts of health problems, including autoimmune issues, and chronic stress caused by the pandemic itself can be especially harmful. …
Resources
Charts and visualizations on Medium
Data visualization can be a great way to bring additional depth and clarity to your stories. Charts or graphs can complement your writing, highlighting insights and revealing patterns to your readers. Rugare Maruzani shares a quick guide on how to do this with Datawrapper in “How to Embed Interactive Graphs on Medium” in Towards Data Science.
Note that data visualization isn’t limited to the field of data science. Consider where you see charts in the reporting you follow. Datavis can be useful across a number of topics including health, sports, business, and finance.
Learn more about other embeds you can use to bring additional features and media into your Medium stories here.
Sonic Wonder
volca modular + delay = 😌
Wandering analog synths eventually you’ll come across a style of synthesis described as West Coast synthesis. It can be a bit wackier and unpredictable compared to East Coast synthesis. Two companies that represent either style are Buchla on the West Coast, and Moog on the East Coast. I’d come across Moog synthesizers before, but never Buchlas, and it’s that weirdness that intrigues me. What might be creatively possible with this different sort of interface to music?
I found out about Buchla synths through the music of Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith and Suzanne Ciani. …
What’s next for growth?
When it comes to figuring something out, I dive into tips and self-help. I can find the information, I can learn, I can do this. So when this past year yielded all the stress and problems and anxieties that was 2020, this is what I did. What I noticed though, was that stories on personal growth and productivity took a shift.
Jocelyn K. Glei writes about creativity and productivity, and hosts a podcast called Hurry Slowly¹. …
Hub Talk
It’s that time of year for resolutions and I know I’m not alone in making a writing resolution. Most writing goals boil down to developing a regular writing practice — and that’s tough. I’d love to hear your tips and suggestions! Share in the comments, and I’ll include a tip I’ve been trying out, too.
Resources
It’s not just a style thing
The quote feature in the Medium Editor gives you two styles to work with: block quotes and pull quotes. To use the feature, highlight the text you’ve written and the quote option will pop up (you can find more info in the Help Center on this). You can use this feature on any text you’ve written, so there’s a ton of flexibility.
While the tool can be used to offer some style differentiation alone, there are best practices and common use cases to improve readability and hone the writing in your stories.
Being & Creativity
Insights from the visionary abstract expressionist Agnes Martin
Like many, when I first saw a painting by Agnes Martin, I felt a stillness,
a pause,
a presence.
It’s a peaceful feeling you feel in your body. It sits in a striking contrast with other works in the space of abstract expressionism, which instead come with an aggression and loudness.
For Martin, the quality is not only about the art, but of the feeling and perception of the work in the viewer. “We have a tremendous range of abstract feelings,” she says, “but we don’t pay any attention to them.”
In her studio, she cultivated a stillness that allowed…
Kawandeep Virdee
writers at Medium ✨ illustrator & poet, author of “Feeling Great About My Butt”. http://whichlight.com.
