Nathan Lowell (he/him) 📎

What’s a creative habit you’ve wanted to adopt but haven’t yet? I think the only 2 I haven't tried yet are pottery and painting. I played several instruments in my youth. Tried sketching. Never stuck with it long enough to develop proficiency beyond rough doodles. The lure of photography keeps me using my phone's camera occasionally. My Canon M1 lies ignored in a cupboard. Spent a lot of time doing fiber arts like knitting, crochet, and macrame. Even took up basket weaving for a time. I'm working on calligraphy by trying to get my daily penmanship up to snuff. I still type when I need to read it later At my age, I think my best bet is to double down on my current creative efforts and see how far I can go before I can't. I'm good with that. #ScribesAndMakers

Convince us to read a book you don't care for yourself.

An interesting question because of all the responses that are direct answers without following previous instructions.

#ScribesAndMakers

Is the time you've had for creativity this month what you expected?

Yes, but it's not the time.

It's how I use it.

In my dotage, I'm finding a lot of what I do is creative, even when it's not productive.

Sometimes those are the most satisfying.

It's too pretentious to say "I trust my Process." Like some kind of auteur or something.

Yet in the last few days, that dry wellspring has started filling again. Enough that small splashes moisten my dried ideas. A few fresh shoots breaking through and I'm delighted.

#ScribesAndMakers

Our featured creator writes both novels and short stories. How do you feel about short fiction? Do you read short stories as often as novels?

It's probably a character flaw, but I'm not a fan of short stories. As a rule, I don't read them. I don't write them. Although I've done both in the past.

They fall into a weird space that, no matter how good they are, they're not satisfying.

If they're good, they're over too soon. A couple of minutes reading. Maybe five. Then they're gone. No more. A delicious artisanal potato chip, one per bag.

If they're not, I'm left without even that.

I read too fast. Even standalone novels can leave me looking around for dessert. Give me a beefy series, something that can keep me entertained for more than a day or two. Characters that live for more than a few minutes in my mind.

Maybe I'm just lonely and these are my imaginary friends filling in the spaces left open from childhood. 😅

#ScribesAndMakers

Our featured creator has an em dash key on his keyboard. Do you do any customizations for your creativity?

Only in Spell Check in my word processor.

I try to keep text as clean as possible.

I tried programming function keys once. I realized, eventually, that I didn't have the habit of hitting function keys.

#ScribesAndMakers

Are you able to communicate in sign language? Sadly, no. So many languages I don't know, can't speak. So many modes lost on me. I'm not even sure I can communicate effectively verbally. At least written communication gives me time to change my mind about what I might say before I actually - you know - say it. #ScribesAndMakers

How do you choose a title for your book? No single path. Since I write novels in a series, they all relate to the series title somehow. Most often they come before the story, shaping the narrative. "Oh, that's a cool title. Wonder what book is behind it!" Occasionally, like this next one, I know it'll be The Wizard's Something but the final title? I have contenders but the finalist will have to wait until I'm further along in the writing. #ScribesAndMakers

"The market for something to believe in is infinite."

I came across this notion back in the last century when I first learned of Hugh MacLeod. I realized - only this morning - that it has been a foundation for my career as author.

Maybe you'll find it helpful, too.

https://www.gapingvoid.com/the-market-for-something-to-believe-in/

#ScribesAndMakers #WritingLife

How much time do you expect to have for creative work this month?

Undoubtedly more than I'll use.

My biggest obstacle isn't time. It never was, even when I had a day job.

It's focus.

It's the single most important aspect of writing for me.

Perhaps because ADHD keeps robbing me of it. Hyperfocus is great when I can get the next book as a target.

When I can't?

Yeah.

It's why I don't waste time on advertising and promotion. I don't do all the extra little bits and bobs that I "must do" to be successful.

They rob me of precious focus. Something else to look at instead of the next chapter.

Because, without the next chapter, everything else is moot.

#ScribesAndMakers

Do you abandon creative projects? If so, how do you determine when to abandon them? I've abandoned a few. Usually because I lost interest. They disappear behind me. Some I've set aside for a time because I wasn't ready to take them on. Either because I lacked the skill to do it credit or because I lacked sufficient clarity on the goal. I don't have any on hiatus at the moment but I've gotten better at not starting projects that aren't sufficiently defined. At least, that's what I tell myself. #ScribesAndMakers

Would you stream your creative process/the creation of your work? Why or why not? Depends on what you mean by streaming. On video? Watching me write would be pretty boring. I once wrote a novel "in public" with a Google Doc that anybody could read as the story unfolded. Not quite Harlan Ellison writing in shop windows, but same energy. I've thought about doing it again. Like NaNo, there's a kind of pressure to get it done. Knowing that it's not only possible but, in a sense, almost inevitable that a story will grow from tiny seeds if properly tended. But my process is scattered. Binging into the night sometimes. Waking too early to pound keys. Then losing myself in reading for hours before returning. Eventually. Might be interesting to have a twitch stream where I sit on camera when I'm writing and viewers have a view of my word processing document. Only seeing the story that unfolds a sentence at a time, only the last paragraph on display. Gimmick, but might be fun. #ScribesAndMakers

Have you ever or would you ever do your own cover?

I did in the beginning. In spite of (or perhaps because of) some training in the practice, I realized that even an inexpensive, pre-made cover worked better.

I've had some good ones. Some that are only so so, but the bad ones were all the ones I made myself.

Now that I have revenue to support the writing, I pay an editor and cover artist to make my work better than I can do alone.

#DailyHaikuPrompt

Do you have a favorite decade of music? Which one(s)?

Not really. Every decade seems to have some favorite songs, favorite performers. My favorites have shifted over time.

Beatles, Stones, Clapton, Bowie. A waltz with Captain Beefheart and a line dance with Commander Cody mixed with Dylan, Baez, Mitchell, and Collins. Janis, man. Janis.

Then Pink Floyd, Steely Dan, and the Eagles. Joan Jett, Pat Benatar, Melanie.

Through it all, throw backs to Dave Brubeck who changed my life, Leonard Cohen who made me cry. A Last Dance with Mary Jane.

Delving into Madness with a visit to the Caravan Palace. Enigma. Delirium. Growing more esoteric with each iteration.

I kinda lost track when the century changed. Buried in grad school and academe until my day job left me in 2012.

So, no. I don't think in decades. Only the music that has moved me over so many of them.

#ScribesAndMakers

How are things going for you this month, creatively or otherwise?

I opened a new document file while I let the mental boiler come up to speed.

It's started generating a little pressure in the pipes but hasn't enough umph to spin the turbine yet.

#ScribesAndMakers

How well do you sing? If you don't consider yourself a good singer, do you sing anyway?

I used to be pretty good, I think.

I sang sea shanties when bathing my kids when they were babies. I only remember a few verses of "Drunken Sailor" these days.

I still sing to myself sometimes. Usually only scattered phrases that rise at the moment and make me homesick for the sea.

#ScribesAndMakers

**How do you define a book? Do audiobooks and graphic novels fit your definition?**

In one sense, a book is a collection of pages bound together with a protective cover. This differentiates them from other forms like scrolls and clay tablets.

They come in various sizes and shapes with subcategories like pamphlets, chapbooks, magazines, texts, references, workbooks, and effing tomes.

In another sense, they're words recorded for later consumption. Generally those pages hold stories - some true, some fiction, some simply flights of fancy. Some are diaries and journals. Some are blank, waiting for someone to fill them.

People, being people, prefer various forms. Some through necessity. Some merely because of availability. Others because, well, people are going to be people.

And yes, they do, but - this being the internet - your mileage may vary.

#ScribesAndMakers

You now have the same occupation as the main character of your current WIP (or book you are reading/last read) What job are you doing? Butler to an eccentric mage. #ScribesAndMakers

Annual traditions not tied to holidays? Nothing really. I'm so old that all the touchstones have worn smooth. Each day slides easily to the next and I celebrate them as they arrive. #ScribesAndMakers

What's one creative thing you'd like to get done this month? Finally wrap up the paperback release of the latest book. Snafu on author proofs have delayed it by weeks. And it's my own fault, dammit. :D Stretch goal: Open a new file and begin again. #ScribesAndMakers

Share something about your creative work this month. I'm coming to the end of a fallow season. I think. #ScribesAndMakers

@gahlearner@sunny.garden Yeah. This. Much as I hate to admit it, I get a little thrill every time I open a box of paperbacks and see the physical instantiation.

What is the most rewarding thing about your creativity? Hearing from readers. Learning that my books helped them in some small way, if only for a few hours of entertainment. #ScribesAndMakers