New Writing Idea

I want to write a book about uninteresting people.

Not only do I believe everyone is interesting, I believe most people don’t give themselves enough time to think. Reflection upon what we do, where we’ve come from and where we’re heading is key. The fun part is recalling the events and figuring out what made them interesting.

And what is a measure of interesting? This, I assume, is going to be another fun part. Is it travel? An art/music/writing project? Hobbies in general? What about where or how they work? I love reading about how my favorite authors wrote - as in writing rituals. For example, Truman Capote lay on his back. Maybe they started their own business? Maybe they’re a relative of someone famous? Or invented something? 

Discussing this idea with the drummer in my band on the way to a gig yesterday, I realized this might be kind of hard to research. My guess is that most people aren’t going to identify as “uninteresting”. How to describe this or find someone, then, will take some learning. I’ve considered asking people to connect me with someone who they think isn’t very interesting and then interview that person - without telling them the real reason for interviewing right away. The person I ask might also, at that moment say, “Well, I’m not very interesting. You could interview me.” That’s best-case scenario.

We also realized that our lives aren’t very interesting. If you were to stop and look at our day to day lives (wake up, drink coffee, write, go to work, eat, sleep), you would find that life can be routine.

Though after reflecting upon what the last year of, say, my life has looked like, I think I would find it’s been kind of interesting. I’ve traveled New Zealand, written a book about wedding planning from a guy’s perspective, recorded and released an album, played music at an event for Obama, opened a show for one of my favorite bands (DeVotchKa), had a blog published by TEDx, been a piece of our growing music community, and developed some really great new friendships - to name a couple things.

But it’s kind of strange how normal all that seems and how the excitement wanes as I go about my daily routine.

Anyways, I think it would be interesting to see how many people would identify as uninteresting. And I think it would be a great community exercise to reflect with people about their lives.

Thought of the Day

“I need to know, again, how I feel about things that ought not to go passed by without a care.”

-

With my days becoming more and more routine, I have slowly stopped writing about the world around me and how I feel about the people I meet, the news I read, the sounds I hear. I know better than this. To get back in the habit, I have begun 10-minute writing exercises. I will share these as I produce more.

What do we see in the distance?

I am beginning to look beyond the nonprofit work I do. And the scary thing is I don’t really know what that means.

I appreciate and understand the purpose for nonprofits. I have been hands-on with various causes and offered my skills to make a difference.

Yet, if I had to answer the question: “What is the one social cause you would do anything for?” I don’t know if I could answer that question without feeling torn. I don’t know if I believe there is one that ought to be focused on above the others that surround us.

Still, I care so much about the development process. There are outcomes that need to be identified for truly making a difference in the lives of those provided services - be it people, animals or the environment. These outcomes are goals for the month, year or 3-year in order to provide the highest quality services one can.

So I am stuck with the question: What role can I play? Where do I see myself going, as it isn’t into for-profit cubicle?