Mobius Update: June 2023

Hello again. This month, I successfully wrote three chapters, putting me at 15/39. Act II is underway and Jaco has just met his foil. While it feels nice to meet this particular goal, if I continue at this pace I will finish in February, not December as I hope to. Luckily, the solution is simple: I can write more if I stop putting it off for the weekends.

My mental health has continued to improve, leading me to discover new joy and motivation for writing. I rediscovered a mode of creating that I haven’t experienced since before college: play. I let myself have fun with the characters, writing several unplanned scenes, and realized they were better than what I had planned for them!

As a kid, I dabbled in making video games. One day, I got out of bed and started working on my computer. After some good progress drawing tiles and constructing levels, I found myself feeling unwell. Looking at the clock, I realized it was 3:00 PM. I had gotten so lost in my creative project that I had missed breakfast and lunch!

Lately, I wondered if it would be possible to find such a flow state again. It’s much harder as an adult, since I have to manage my own life and am constantly distracted by worries. But I found a technique: I wrote a list of all my responsibilities, projects, and relaxation activities. Anytime I start to worry about what I should be doing, I pull up the list. If nothing is urgent, I let myself sink into an activity without worry. Seeing all my responsibilities laid out reassures me that I won’t be neglecting anything, and this reassurance is the key to achieving a flow state. At long last, I have unlocked the ability to lose myself in creativity again!

By July 18, my goal is to write 4 more chapters. It will be a challenge, because chapter 19 is going to get metaphorical, so I’ll need a clear picture of the themes and how to manifest them. But maybe something will come together if I just let myself play.