Blog Posts
Why, in Writing, Process Trumps Product, And Why You Shouldn’t Worry About The Quality of Your Work
By Hillary Rettig |
Everyone's obsessed with quality, but the way to achieve it is not to focus on it. That's because: 1) Quality is an Emergent Property An emergent property is one that's intrinsic to a system, and that arises organically as that system operates. Think of relationships: if you try to force ...
On the Topic of Not Waiting for Ideal Conditions to Get Started
By Hillary Rettig |
Here's a gent who, having lost a lot of his vision in old age, continues to paint amazing things **using Microsoft Paint.** Very inspiring - and you won't believe what he can do.
A Great Day for Mushrooms, and Alliteration
By Hillary Rettig |
Woke up to find it's raining again, for the upteenth time this fall. At first, I had my normal reaction, "Aw, crap." But this time I quickly corrected myself, "All right! More mushrooms!" Michigan is apparently great for mushrooms. Maybe today, Monday, I will make manifest a marvelous Michigan morel. ...
Mushroom Picking in Michigan
By Hillary Rettig |
We found... Shaggy Parasol Mushrooms Mouse Mushrooms Slippery Jack Mushrooms
Are You Waiting for Ideal Conditions to Start Your Project?
By Hillary Rettig |
Recently, someone mentioned she was waiting to clear “a big chunk of time” before starting a project. Other things people wait for are: The kids to be in school (or out of the house entirely). A better work space (either at home or elsewhere). More money. Retirement. ”To do more ...
I Bought the World’s Best Coffee Mug at Goodwill Recently, and The Best Part is…
By Hillary Rettig |
no matter what J says to me, I can respond simply by pointing at it.
Dave Barry on How to Cope With Post-Pulitzer Prize Situational Perfectionism
By Hillary Rettig |
Situational perfectionism is when something causes your perfectionism to spike. It can be a failure, of course, but it can also be a success. Here's J.K. Rowling, quoted in Salon: “For the first time ever in my life, I got writer’s block. The stakes seemed to have gone up a ...
Lessons from a Struggling Math Student
By Hillary Rettig |
Math teacher Ben Orlin has all the usual complaints about students. They don't do their work, don't show up for help, and settle for memorizing facts instead of working to truly understand the material. Unlike many teachers, however, he knows better than to label his students as lazy and unmotivated—in ...