Thursday Thoughts - 08/11/2022
In this short newsletter, I share the most interesting things that I’ve read, heard, and/or watched over the past week.
What I Read:
On Learning in Public
I’m not exactly sure how I found Ava and bookbear express. But I am glad that I did. Her writing reminds me of pieces I read when I first started NineOverFour. Deeply personal but with lessons that apply to almost anyone.
In this essay, Ava responds to a question from a reader about learning in the open. She says that unless the project is subject to change, she recommends working in public. She also offers tips she’s picked up since starting her Substack.
My favorite suggestion is:
“Whenever I’m giving advice I’m really giving advice to Past Ava. I’m motivated to make something that I would want to read. I think it would suck to have a personal blog that I didn’t like.”
What I Watched:
Thirteen Lives
Thirteen Lives is a movie about the Tham Luang cave rescue from 2018. A youth Thai soccer team and their coach get stuck in the cave due to heavy rains. The story picks up as volunteers from all over the world gather in Thailand to get the boys and their coach out. The movie features Viggo Mortensen and Colin Farrell as British divers that lead the rescue efforts.
I initially wasn’t excited about this movie when my wife queued it up. But I was on fully engaged by the 30 minute mark. I enjoyed the camera work in the cave and underwater scenes. I felt cramped while on the couch in my spacious living room.
What I’m Pondering:
There are 2 things I have come to believe about writing: The average person should write 5x more things than they do. The average written thing should be 5x shorter than it is.