Spent 10h writing an essay in a single sitting yesterday. Despite good ergonomics and stuff (timer to get up and move around every 25 minutes, outdoor and distance-viewing breaks) I’m still kinda wiped out today. Used to do this 2, even 3 times a week until 2y ago ☹️
Conversation
Replying to
This essay had amazing flow and learning that you wrote it in one sitting makes sense. I think that it is possible to get that feel over multiple sessions (or chunks) if you're able to keep in mind the landscape/world that you're building and return to it over followup sessions.
1
To repurpose idea of "vibe" to something w more positive connotation, you need 2b able 2 reenter same vibe that u were building in previous sessions. For me memory + environment mostly do this but also music. Discovery/epiphany/creation is emotional state, not just intellectual.
2
Replying to
Not for me. It’s more hard-edged like loading up design, libraries, IDE. I’m not sensitive to things like music. There’s no particular flow vibe to long sessions for me. Just calorie-burning thinky strain with occassional moments of delight at a piece falling into place right.
Replying to
Hmm. I definitely get emotional, even with very intellectual ideas and flow is tied w that.
Now I'm picturing your flow to be more like the closing arguments of a talented attorney who brings together the facts in a way that might not be born of emotion but can still evoke it.
Replying to
So if that's the case and you don't need to be in the same emotional state, why do you think chunking would be hard? With sufficient notes and a sort of vague flight plan, what prevents you from restarting the journey without losing too much time to finding direction?
1
1

