Simmer or Sear
January 3, 2024
Current location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Reading: The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal
Listening: Nah It Ain’t the Same by Greentea Peng(if you have a moment, reply with your own 3-item status via email or in the comments)
Simmer or Sear
Some creative work requires the application of quick, definitive force if you want to take what’s in your head, commit it to a distributable medium, and get it out the door in a shape that’s true to what you pictured in your mind.
Other creative works, though, necessitate the slow, consistent application of effort and energy over time if you want to avoid converting desirable matter into unpalatable char.
The distinction between these categories of work is partially down to the ingredients used (some conceptions are more suitable for extended-duration effort, while others are ideally served essentially raw), but is also related to what kind of output we’re hoping to achieve and the intended purpose of the final product.
A book is distinct from an essay not just in its word-count, but also in the sprawl, scope, and number of connections it contains: there’s typically more complexity in a book, and that means conceiving of, refining, and tending to a wider variety of theses, entangled ideas, and intentionally arranged, pre-packaged takeaways.
An essay can also contain multitudes but its richness will tend to be in service to just a few entwined points; any more than that tends to muddle an otherwise clear and focused message.
Switching between these two stances can be tricky: cranking up the heat from simmer to sear requires time and energy, and experience is required to accurately determine when things have cooled down enough so that we don’t accidentally burn a simmerable work.
I find it helps to practice this transition between creative states so that I have a better sense of when I’ve reached the optimal conditions for one type of work or the other; I can then set aside time for different sorts of projects when I’m primed for them, while also having the option of turning the dial if I’m feeling misaligned with something I’d like to work on.
It’s an imperfect equilibrium, though, and if you’re not accustomed to keeping track of and managing your creative temperature, you can end up with a lot of dangerously undercooked and inedibly burnt creations in the process of learning to strike this balance.
Interesting & Useful
“Cottonclads were a classification of steam-powered warships where a wooden ship was protected from enemy fire by bales of cotton lining its sides. Cottonclads were prevalent during the American Civil War...Confederate tactics generally had cottonclads, which were outgunned by Union warships, steam at full speed towards enemy vessels, relying on the cotton to absorb fire. Once they were within firing range, they would open fire, and, if possible, ram or board the enemy.”
2023 Astronomy Photographer of the Year Finalists
These are just absolutely stunning.
The Mathematically Correct Way to Tie Your Shoes
“As it turns out, there are two possible mathematical outcomes that arise from following all three of these steps successfully. You can wind up with a tied shoe that won’t come untied throughout the day, even after thousands of steps, with a “bow” that sits nice-and-square atop the shoe itself. Or, alternatively, you can wind up with a shoe that appears tied, but whose knot invariably wants to “twist” at an angle, and that will frequently come undone even with relatively light daily use.”
Outro
This week’s essay was inspired by my end-of-2023 return to a blended rhythm of daily book-writing and everything-else-making that’s been interesting to navigate.
I’ve been heartened to find, though, that most of my old temperature-dial reflexes are still intact, and it’s been an absolute pleasure working on this new book and finding that I can do so alongside my more daily- and weekly-scale concerns.
Also: it’s 2024! That’s wild. What do you have planned for the year?
Tell me what’s on your mind or take a moment to introduce yourself if you’ve never said hello (you can just hit reply on this newsletter and I’ll receive your email). I respond to every message I receive and would love to hear from you :)
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A roaring 20s day at the beach. (restored video)
Still have those old editions of the books, send them my way 😁