Ideas in Stride

Notes:⁠⁠⁠⁠The two words defined in this story come from John Koenig's amazing project The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, which is (and will continue to be) a massive influence for this work in progress. You can purchase the dictionary/book here (which is awesome), and you can also peruse the words online. This idea in stride comes to you from my Patreon, The Write Balance, where you can read and hear the final version of each practice piece (with touches of music and SFX). And you can even engage in the feedback process to be more connected to every final product. To learn more and subscribe, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thewritebalance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  And now, if you want to avoid another subscription but want to support me, you can buy any of my finished products individually or as a bundle on Gumroad. ⁠⁠Click here to pick your favorites⁠⁠. I created The Write Balance to show mainly myself—a high school English teacher—that there is no right way to carve out time to write—I just need to do it. So for me, these brief episodes are a way to practice publicly on that tightrope of creativity. There are countless ways to fall into procrastination, neglect, fear, and doubt, and whether you’re a teacher or not, we all have a balancing act, and this is my way of looking up instead of down.

Featured Products:"Chekhov's Diner" (short story)"Jumbo" (one of my favorite nonfiction pieces)"When We Named the World" (brief synopsis on my website)If you are a listener and have never reached out, I'd love to hear from you!Instagram [email protected] Attribution (EpidemicSound subscription):"Chasing Horizons" (Victor Lundberg)

This idea in stride comes to you from my Patreon, The Write Balance, where you can read and hear the final version of each practice piece (with touches of music and SFX). And you can even engage in the feedback process to be more connected to every final product. To learn more and subscribe, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thewritebalance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  And now, if you want to avoid another subscription but want to support me, you can buy any of my finished products individually or as a bundle on Gumroad. ⁠Click here to pick your favorites⁠. I created The Write Balance to show mainly myself—a high school English teacher—that there is no right way to carve out time to write—I just need to do it. So for me, these brief episodes are a way to practice publicly on that tightrope of creativity. There are countless ways to fall into procrastination, neglect, fear, and doubt, and whether you’re a teacher or not, we all have a balancing act, and this is my way of looking up instead of down.

This idea in stride comes to you from my Patreon, The Write Balance, where you can read and hear the final version of each practice piece (with touches of music and SFX). And you can even engage in the feedback process to be more connected to every final product. To learn more and subscribe, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thewritebalance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  And now, if you want to avoid another subscription but want to support me, you can buy any of my finished products individually or as a bundle on Gumroad. Click here to pick your favorites. I created The Write Balance to show mainly myself—a high school English teacher—that there is no right way to carve out time to write—I just need to do it. So for me, these brief episodes are a way to practice publicly on that tightrope of creativity. There are countless ways to fall into procrastination, neglect, fear, and doubt, and whether you’re a teacher or not, we all have a balancing act, and this is my way of looking up instead of down.

This idea in stride comes to you from my Patreon, The Write Balance, where you can read and hear the final version of each practice piece (with touches of music and SFX). And you can even engage in the feedback process to be more connected to every final product. To learn more and subscribe, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thewritebalance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. I created The Write Balance to show mainly myself—a high school English teacher—that there is no right way to carve out time to write—I just need to do it. So for me, these brief episodes are a way to practice publicly on that tightrope of creativity. There are countless ways to fall into procrastination, neglect, fear, and doubt, and whether you’re a teacher or not, we all have a balancing act, and this is my way of looking up instead of down.

This idea in stride comes to you from my Patreon, The Write Balance, where you can read and hear the final version of each practice piece (with touches of music and SFX). And you can even engage in the feedback process to be more connected to every final product. To learn more and subscribe, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thewritebalance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. I created The Write Balance to show mainly myself—a high school English teacher—that there is no right way to carve out time to write—I just need to do it. So for me, these brief episodes are a way to practice publicly on that tightrope of creativity. There are countless ways to fall into procrastination, neglect, fear, and doubt, and whether you’re a teacher or not, we all have a balancing act, and this is my way of looking up instead of down.

This idea in stride comes to you from my Patreon, The Write Balance, where you can read and hear the final version of each practice piece (with touches of music and SFX). And you can even engage in the feedback process to be more connected to every final product. To learn more and subscribe, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thewritebalance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. I created The Write Balance to show mainly myself—a high school English teacher—that there is no right way to carve out time to write—I just need to do it. So for me, these brief episodes are a way to practice publicly on that tightrope of creativity. There are countless ways to fall into procrastination, neglect, fear, and doubt, and whether you’re a teacher or not, we all have a balancing act, and this is my way of looking up instead of down.

Notes:Learn about ⁠⁠sashimono⁠⁠This idea in stride comes to you from my Patreon, The Write Balance, where you can read and hear the final version of each practice piece (with touches of music and SFX). And you can even engage in the feedback process to be more connected to every final product. To learn more and subscribe, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thewritebalance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. I created The Write Balance to show mainly myself—a high school English teacher—that there is no right way to carve out time to write—I just need to do it. So for me, these brief episodes are a way to practice publicly on that tightrope of creativity. There are countless ways to fall into procrastination, neglect, fear, and doubt, and whether you’re a teacher or not, we all have a balancing act, and this is my way of looking up instead of down.

Notes:This idea in stride comes to you from my Patreon, The Write Balance, where you can read and hear the final version of each practice piece (with touches of music and SFX). And you can even engage in the feedback process to be more connected to every final product. To learn more and subscribe, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thewritebalance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. I created The Write Balance to show mainly myself—a high school English teacher—that there is no right way to carve out time to write—I just need to do it. So for me, these brief episodes are a way to practice publicly on that tightrope of creativity. There are countless ways to fall into procrastination, neglect, fear, and doubt, and whether you’re a teacher or not, we all have a balancing act, and this is my way of looking up instead of down.

Notes:This idea in stride comes to you from my Patreon, The Write Balance, where you can read and hear the final version of each practice piece (with touches of music and SFX). And you can even engage in the feedback process to be more connected to every final product. To learn more and subscribe, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thewritebalance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. I created The Write Balance to show mainly myself—a high school English teacher—that there is no right way to carve out time to write—I just need to do it. So for me, these brief episodes are a way to practice publicly on that tightrope of creativity. There are countless ways to fall into procrastination, neglect, fear, and doubt, and whether you’re a teacher or not, we all have a balancing act, and this is my way of looking up instead of down.

Notes:This idea in stride comes to you from my Patreon, The Write Balance, where you can read and hear the final version of each practice piece (with touches of music and SFX). And you can even engage in the feedback process to be more connected to every final product. To learn more and subscribe, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thewritebalance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. I created The Write Balance to show mainly myself—a high school English teacher—that there is no right way to carve out time to write—I just need to do it. So for me, these brief episodes are a way to practice publicly on that tightrope of creativity. There are countless ways to fall into procrastination, neglect, fear, and doubt, and whether you’re a teacher or not, we all have a balancing act, and this is my way of looking up instead of down.

Notes:This idea in stride comes to you from my Patreon, The Write Balance, where you can read and hear the final version of each practice piece (with touches of music and SFX). And you can even engage in the feedback process to be more connected to every final product. To learn more and subscribe, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thewritebalance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. I created The Write Balance to show mainly myself—a high school English teacher—that there is no right way to carve out time to write—I just need to do it. So for me, these brief episodes are a way to practice publicly on that tightrope of creativity. There are countless ways to fall into procrastination, neglect, fear, and doubt, and whether you’re a teacher or not, we all have a balancing act, and this is my way of looking up instead of down.

Content Warning: This story mentions animal captivity and the inevitable abuse that comes with it. This story gripped me, and I try to honor the wonderful creature in Jumbo the best I can, but I understand if this is not for you.Notes:⁠⁠A short write-up from London MuseumBrief YouTube video about Jumbo's memorial statueThe David Attenborough documentary (absolutely worth the entire watch)This idea in stride comes to you from my Patreon, The Write Balance, where you can read and hear the final version of each practice piece (with touches of music and SFX). And you can even engage in the feedback process to be more connected to every final product. To learn more and subscribe, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thewritebalance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. I created The Write Balance to show mainly myself—a high school English teacher—that there is no right way to carve out time to write—I just need to do it. So for me, these brief episodes are a way to practice publicly on that tightrope of creativity. There are countless ways to fall into procrastination, neglect, fear, and doubt, and whether you’re a teacher or not, we all have a balancing act, and this is my way of looking up instead of down.

This idea in stride comes to you from my Patreon, The Write Balance, where you can read and hear the final version of each practice piece (with touches of music and SFX). And you can even engage in the feedback process to be more connected to every final product. To learn more and subscribe, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thewritebalance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. I created The Write Balance to show mainly myself—a high school English teacher—that there is no right way to carve out time to write—I just need to do it. So for me, these brief episodes are a way to practice publicly on that tightrope of creativity. There are countless ways to fall into procrastination, neglect, fear, and doubt, and whether you’re a teacher or not, we all have a balancing act, and this is my way of looking up instead of down.

Notes: I quote frequently from my tattered (well loved) copy of Fahrenheit 451: Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451, Simon & Schuster, 2013. And for fun . . . something about the quality of the movie I rip on: I'm not a critic, but society sure spoke up on this one. This idea in stride comes to you from my Patreon, The Write Balance, where you can read and hear the final version of each practice piece (with touches of music and SFX). And you can even engage in the feedback process to be more connected to every final product. To learn more and subscribe, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thewritebalance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  I created The Write Balance to show mainly myself—a high school English teacher—that there is no right way to carve out time to write—I just need to do it. So for me, these brief episodes are a way to practice publicly on that tightrope of creativity. There are countless ways to fall into procrastination, neglect, fear, and doubt, and whether you’re a teacher or not, we all have a balancing act, and this is my way of looking up instead of down.

Notes: ⁠The original NYT article⁠ "Suicide Deterrent Net," a brief write up from the Highway & Transportation Distict page and a follow up with more detail about the project If you or anyone you know is struggling, you can call the 988 hotline to get connected quickly, or you can learn more on their website, where you can simply tap to call, text, or chat. When in doubt, reach out. This idea in stride comes to you from my Patreon, The Write Balance, where you can read and hear the final version of each practice piece (with touches of music and SFX). And you can even engage in the feedback process to be more connected to every final product. To learn more and subscribe, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thewritebalance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  I created The Write Balance to show mainly myself—a high school English teacher—that there is no right way to carve out time to write—I just need to do it. So for me, these brief episodes are a way to practice publicly on that tightrope of creativity. There are countless ways to fall into procrastination, neglect, fear, and doubt, and whether you’re a teacher or not, we all have a balancing act, and this is my way of looking up instead of down.

Notes: I took some creative liberties regarding the details of the film, but you can learn more about Quirino Cristiani's career (and let me know if I screwed up the factual stuff): Animation World Network's profile of the pioneer A much more detailed lament from Damn Interesting I randomly learned of this film on Wikipedia and naturally thought of Disney's Snow White, so it was neat to later come across this YouTube video that also mentions both This idea in stride comes to you from my Patreon, The Write Balance, where you can read and hear the final version of each practice piece (with touches of music and SFX). And you can even engage in the feedback process to be more connected to every final product. To learn more and subscribe, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thewritebalance⁠⁠⁠⁠.  I created The Write Balance to show mainly myself—a high school English teacher—that there is no right way to carve out time to write—I just need to do it. So for me, these brief episodes are a way to practice publicly on that tightrope of creativity. There are countless ways to fall into procrastination, neglect, fear, and doubt, and whether you’re a teacher or not, we all have a balancing act, and this is my way of looking up instead of down.

Notes: Mark Z. Danielewski's House of Leaves (goodreads) fun little YouTube video showing you why reading this book is like being in a labyrinth what I found instead of Dr. Embry's syllabus This idea in stride comes to you from my Patreon, The Write Balance, where you can read and hear the final version of each practice piece (with touches of music and SFX). And you can even engage in the feedback process to be more connected to every final product. To learn more and subscribe, go to ⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thewritebalance⁠⁠⁠.  I created The Write Balance to show mainly myself—a high school English teacher—that there is no right way to carve out time to write—I just need to do it. So for me, these brief episodes are a way to practice publicly on that tightrope of creativity. There are countless ways to fall into procrastination, neglect, fear, and doubt, and whether you’re a teacher or not, we all have a balancing act, and this is my way of looking up instead of down.

Notes: ⁠Elizabeth Gilbert's book Big Magic on Goodreads⁠ ⁠the E.T. IMDb page⁠ This idea in stride comes to you from my Patreon, The Write Balance, where you can read and hear the final version of each practice piece (with touches of music and SFX). And you can even engage in the feedback process to be more connected to every final product. To learn more and subscribe, go to ⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thewritebalance⁠⁠.  I created The Write Balance to show mainly myself—a high school English teacher—that there is no right way to carve out time to write—I just need to do it. So for me, these brief episodes are a way to practice publicly on that tightrope of creativity. There are countless ways to fall into procrastination, neglect, fear, and doubt, and whether you’re a teacher or not, we all have a balancing act, and this is my way of looking up instead of down.

This is a finished example of a product you would find on my Patreon The Write Balance, where you can read and hear the final version of each practice piece (with touches of music and SFX). And you can even engage in the feedback process to be more connected to every final product. To learn more and subscribe, go to ⁠www.patreon.com/thewritebalance⁠.  I created The Write Balance to show mainly myself—a high school English teacher—that there is no right way to carve out time to write—I just need to do it. So for me, these brief episodes are a way to practice publicly on that tightrope of creativity. There are countless ways to fall into procrastination, neglect, fear, and doubt, and whether you’re a teacher or not, we all have a balancing act, and this is my way of looking up instead of down. Notes: Eminem's interview on 60 Minutes Music: "Tree Swing" by American Legion SFX from Epidemic Sound

I introduce myself, and you go, "Nice, I think I'll listen to this guy's stuff."