Matt B. Perkins

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Ello, there…

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A couple of months ago, I joined this little emerging social network called Ello. I first learned about this through the blog of fantasy writer Ksenia Anske, who has written extensively about the network and manages the @ElloWrites community there. 

Ello, at its core, is a minimalist social network and home to thousands of artists and creators of various media (writing, photography, illustration, graphic design, etc.). I say minimalist because it’s just that — white background with black type, of the Courier-style font, giving it that old-school typewriter feel, which I personally love and frequently use. I’ve been pleasantly surprised to find that the community there is humble, welcoming, open-minded and it’s a platform that fosters creativity. There are countless brilliant artists on there. Lots to like.

I was humbled when Ello listed me on its recent list of “10 awesome Ello’ers” and also received notification that I’d been listed as a featured user. I have yet to really dig into what this means, let alone dig into the network, but next to Twitter, it’s emerging as my favorite venue for creative efforts and discussion.

And no, the folks at Ello have not asked me to promote the platform…I simply felt the need to express my thoughts on the network. It’s a great up-and-coming tool in the world of social media, especially for writers and artists of all mediums. I’ve dabbled quite a bit in the other giant social platforms, and I’m honing in on the following as my go-tos: Twitter, Google+, Ello and Instagram. That’s just where I find myself most comfortable (it’s impossible to keep up with every social platform, after all, and so it’s good to focus only on what works best for oneself). 

Want to learn more? Check out this fantastic article from Vermontguides.com on founder Paul Budnitz.

I still have a ways to go and more to do on the site, but if you feel inclined to check out something new, then by all means.

Come say Ello.

The Long Run

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At about Mile 8.5 or so, a boy who appeared to be no older than 10 said, “You know why I like hills? Because they make you stronger.”

It wasn’t clear if anyone else could hear him say this. He ran up the hill as the sun reflected off his neon-yellow shirt, which matched that of the father figure running alongside him, the one with whom he’d apparently been speaking. And he spoke with a voice that did not so much as tremble or give any hint that it had endured more than eight miles of steady jogging.

[Read more…] about The Long Run

Why do I write?

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It’s a question Chuck Wendig recently asked of his readers, a challenge of sorts. It’s a good one, and the timing for me was appropriate. Mostly because I haven’t written anything in a while (at least not beyond illegible scribbles in my notebook) and it made me think about this. In my case, the question needed some revising before I could actually answer. [Read more…] about Why do I write?

Tumbling on the Bookshelf

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Over the past year or so I’ve experimented a bit with various social networks, trying them out to see what might fit best for my creative efforts. This site in particular has undergone a few design changes in the process, but mostly I’ve tried out a few other platforms to complement them before settling on what I saw as the most appropriate for what I’d like to focus on. [Read more…] about Tumbling on the Bookshelf

Change in 2015 and the #WriteandRun31 Challenge

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runandwrite

Runner, author and blogger Matt Frazier (of No Meat Athlete) and his sister Christine (of the Better Novel Project) have done a great thing.

Taking the New Year’s resolution idea to another level, the two have established an effort for those looking to make some changes for the better in the year ahead. Which I am — and, specifically, I’m looking to write more and run more. These are two things I’ve admittedly put off time again out of my own anxieties (which, as I elaborate on here, are what I feel cause for so many in life to hold back on doing what they love).

I have frequented Matt’s site and blog since I started running nearly two years ago, and loved his book, No Meat Athlete; while Matt certainly focuses many of his efforts on plant-based eating, he’s also got some great thoughts and tips when it comes to running and changing one’s habits for the better.

And so, enter the #WriteandRun31 challenge.

I stopped short when I saw Matt’s e-newsletter announcing this; it was exactly what I’d been craving. While I write and edit frequently as part of my day job, I’m actually talking here about writing creatively, that is anything in the form of fiction, creative nonfiction (be it blog posts, essays, etc.) and poetry. I personally strive to write more in all of those areas, though primarily fiction and poetry.

Running is something I’ve loved for quite a while, but it took me a long time to give it a serious commitment. I’ve tapered back a bit on it recently, so getting back into it in full form is a welcome challenge. When I started running regularly in the spring of 2013, I kicked things off with the renowned Couch-to-5K plan, and that led me to eventually taking part in three 5Ks, a 4-mile race and a 5-mile race, all within the span of a year (this is not meant as a boast; rather I only mean to tell that small beginning efforts can lead to great things).

If you’re new to running and aren’t sure how to get started, I couldn’t recommend the C25K plan enough. It’s ideal for beginners. And while I’m looking to run a marathon at some point down the road, I know I’m far off from that goal, so I figured this new challenge would be a great start to getting back into the habit; this year I’m hoping to stretch forward into the 10K and possibly half-marathon arenas.

So, I filled out Matt & Christine’s commitment sheet, focusing on completing the following tasks every day for 31 days, starting Saturday, Jan. 3 (I’m a couple days late to the game, but anyone can start anytime; the final day being Monday, Feb. 2):

  • At least 10-20 minutes (1-2) miles of running each day
  • At least 500 words of writing fiction, poetry or nonfiction each day

If I can do more of that, great, but with a full-time job and family responsibilities, I’m also realistic. My hope with this is not to just do this for a month and stop, but to spawn a snowball effort of good habits, and after Feb. 2 I may look to tweak my running plan and writing practice. I’ve also learned that once you stop, it’s harder to get back in the game, whatever that game is.

I think this is a great project Matt and his sister have established and I’m glad to be apart of it. I’ll be tracking my progress daily on my Twitter feed @MattBPerk, and encourage anyone looking to make some changes in their lives to take part. As Matt clarifies, this does not have to focus on writing and running specifically, so you are clear to make any substitutes you wish.

Here’s to good habits in 2015. Cheers.