Experimentation - Log 1

Notes on Building a Writing Brand

_"All art is a work in progress. It's helpful to see the piece we're working on as an experiment. One in which we can't predict the outcome. Whatever the result, we will receive useful information that will benefit the next experiment. If you start from the position that there is no right or wrong, no good or bad, and creativity is just free play with no rules, it's easier to submerge yourself joyfully in the process of making things. We're not playing to win, we're playing to play. And ultimately, playing is fun. Perfectionism gets in the way of fun. A more skillful goal might be to find comfort in the process. To make and put out successive works with ease."_

— Rick Rubin, _The Creative Act: A Way of Being_

As I sit here playing cards with my family, vacation winding down, and summer drawing to a close, I'm reflecting on this creative journey I've been on. This writing challenge has been a fantastic push for my creative development, even when the ideas flow slower than I'd like.

Today, I want to share some thoughts on how I'm approaching the experimentation process—especially as it relates to designing the look and feel of this brand. What am I aiming for? Honestly, I'm still figuring that out. I'm playing with ideas, testing out different approaches, and seeing what sticks.

Here's what I got: I love God, being a husband, parenting, and coffee. These are the pillars of my life and are becoming the pillars of my writing. I want my work to be as comforting and satisfying as a well-brewed cup of black coffee—simple and grounded but with a depth that invites you to savor it.

In terms of aesthetics, I'm experimenting with colors, images, and themes that resonate with me. The pictures I've shared here—colors that evoke calm and creativity, photos that capture the warmth of everyday life—are helping to shape the visual identity I aim for. I'm thinking about how simple tools can enhance communication and boost the quality of life and the content I create.

I'm having fun with this process. I'm exploring the idea of writing essays on parenting and household organization, showing how simplicity can be powerful. And yes, I'd love to weave in my passion for coffee, even dream up what it would take to build a coffee shop through a platform like Substack.

This is a playground for ideas, not a rigid plan. I'm looking forward to collaborating with other creatives, hoping to attract more attention to my wife's business and celebrate the slowness of life.

So here's to experimentation, playing without the pressure of perfection, and finding joy.

Until next time,

John D.