Quit Your Day Job: What’s this craft thing?

November 3rd, 2008

Simply put your craft is whatever you are passionate about. It doesn’t have to be creative (it often is though), it can be anything.

My craft is probably visual storytelling, this encompasses a range of things from writing to illustration. Behind each of the markers pictures that I’ve been doing there is a story. Marita picked up on one of them and put exactly into words what I put into a picture.

“I love how she is sort of smiling. The I’m out here enjoying the wind in my hair and the sun of my face kind of happy look.”

It is this really simple statement that just makes my day because Marita just happened to get exactly what I put in. Of course it doesn’t matter what the story is that the viewer does take away, it’s a personal thing and you may get something completely else, like when Arjan and I were discussing what Dr Doom was screaming.

So that’s my craft.

Your craft might be making model trains, collecting stamps, programming, reading novels, writing novels, the list is essentially endless. Your craft could be simply (although simple is not the word I’d use) your family. That’s your passion: your family and that’s what you do when you’re not at work.

The key to the concept of Quit Your Day Job is that when you walk out the door of your day job you leave it all behind and reward yourself with practising your craft. Stop thinking about work and start thinking about your own stuff.

Work will still be there, surprisingly enough tomorrow will march on and you’ll find yourself back at work in no time so there is plenty of time in your working hours to think about it.

So what is your craft? What are you passionate about? It doesn’t have to even be something you’ve ever tried, you might just want to try it. Like those little Warhammer figures, I think they’re pretty cool but I’ve never actually painted one, I’ve never built one of those little castle things that they are always building. But I think I might enjoy it if I did. Which brings me to another very important point about your craft, it doesn’t have to be lifelong and it can changed on a daily basis.

I’m one of those people whose attention is extremely limited. I may be passionate about Lexx today and tomorrow I might be back into Stargate Atlantis (giggle). That can still work though, but it means that you have to be acutely aware of what is taking your fancy that day and ensure that you don’t waste your time and more importantly your hard earned money.

You could for example wake up tomorrow and decide that today is the day that you will paint a Warhammer character, if you have a day job then there is a chance that you have a little disposable income (which is why we have the day job in the first place) then go buy that Warhammer figurine and a couple of paints - don’t go overboard though. Buy a small one and a couple of paints. Give it a go, it won’t be perfect but you’ll know from there on that you dig it or you don’t.

Leave a comment and tell everyone what’s important to you! What’s your passion? What’s your craft?

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7 Comments

Arjan November 3rd, 2008
I’ve almost gone all out on passions this weekend: drinking beer with friends, painting models, taking photo’s, blogging, playing music (mp3/cd), drinking some Belgian special brew with my family and I went to my grandma for some family time.
Let’s see what tomorrow brings.

Arjans last blog post..Jurassic Park and a Ravener

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Dan November 3rd, 2008
I’ve decided to try to pick up the guitar again this month. I’ve never really been able to play, just a few chords, but I think I’m going to see if I can get myself some proper lessons.

Writing has become a bit of a “craft” for me too, I’ve also been toying with starting a novel, but I doubt I’ll actually do that. I enjoy the shortness and the immediate reaction of blogging too much I think.

I’ve also been thinking of starting a course in photography, or even something like maths or physics. I’m curious to find out what I can learn now I’m mature enough to pay attention.

But as you say my main focus will always be my family. Which is probably a good job as I stuggle to find time for all the other things I just mentioned.

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Kathleen November 3rd, 2008
I think my craft (just to share with you, Lee, since you are so good at sharing with us here and over twitter!) is baking, cooking and writing. I also love photography but I’m an amateur. I bought a book on digital photography last week, so yay me! I’m getting a new hobby and learning to use my new camera!

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Jeff November 3rd, 2008
As unfocused as it is, trying new things is pretty much my craft. I enjoy doing things I haven’t done before, or maybe it’s that I like attacking things I’ve done before from a new angle.

Writing fiction plays into that easily, because I can attack stories in different ways each time. Same thing with composing music. I’m not great at either of those, but I enjoy them. I’m considering whether to start putting my own creations on my blog.

Finding new ways to integrate new technology into solving problems is an intersection between my day job and my craft. (On the other hand, convincing people that the solution is worthwhile falls firmly into “day job” territory - I hate doing that.)

Jeffs last blog post..How to get Desitin cream out of… well… everything

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Marita November 3rd, 2008
I’ve found if I don’t take time out for me I start to get very cranky. Stitching is my craft, it relaxes and calms me.

But when I’m super stressed I tend to bake. You know how stressed I am by the amount of home made bread, cakes and biscuits are in the house. But I don’t count it as my craft because while it does relax me to cook - the creation of food or of anything really is relaxing - the clean up after baking is a nightmare and often causes my stress levels to rise again.

Now I’d best go get the icing ready for that cake and check how the apple pie dough is going in the fridge…..

Hmmm think I may not have had a chance to do any stitching today

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Rol November 3rd, 2008
It probably goes without saying that mine is writing. It’s always been my thing, and I’m always thinking about my next story / stories (because there’s always more than one on the go) or looking out for new ideas.

Rols last blog post..Tonight we’re going to party like it’s 1987…

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arkonbey November 4th, 2008
Mountain biking is my addiction and takes up most of my brain, in the summer months, but it is not really a craft.

I am always trying to improve my draftsmanship and making comics has helped. My painter wife says I’m improving but, it infuriates me when I get done with a work and it’s still not as good as Alan Davis:(

I also design posters (gotta use that Bachelors of Fine Arts degree!) and that is pretty satisfying.

Other than that, can’t sew, can’t knit, can’t woodwork, can’t act. I do make a mean lentil stew, though.

arkonbeys last blog post..My dad is not a photographer

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