This post is a marker. It’s about the strange days we live in, where the Outdoorstype project is at and where it all may lead.
I won’t bore anyone with the details of our current predicament, we’re all busy dealing with all the massive societal changes brought about by the onset of the Covid 19 pandemic. So far, despite the restrictions on trade and movement, we’re doing pretty well.
While I understand the seriousness of the virus, I don’t agree with most of the restrictions and I hope they are lifted soon. They don’t sit well with me. Once things change, not everything goes back to what it was before. That’s all I’ll say, I don’t want this to seem political.
Outdoorstype continues to build views even though I don’t do much except play with the design and I haven’t been adding new content as I should.
Allow me to explain.
As a writer, I changed my focus to writing articles for Weekend Notes. As a student, I’ve become snowed under with readings and assignments. As a worker, I’ve picked up a casual job driving delivery trucks. As a father, I’m still flat out doing school drop-offs and pickups and helping to run a household. Things are busier than ever!
Given the circumstances, it’s timely that I give my writing for Weekend Notes a rest. 252 articles is a good innings and it’s given me a taste of earning money from writing. The site is now making some money and the time I have for writing will more likely be spent here. I’m also finding a new groove for my Youtube channel.
As a student, I’m in the second year of my Bachelor of Media and jumped majors from graphic design to visual design. What’s the difference? It’s a leap from ‘learning the tools’ to ‘learning the why’. I’m familiar enough with the tools and platforms of media to understand the basics (and then some). I’m achieving very high results in the course and you’ll see new influences as the site continues to be developed to reflect my work.
As a worker, I find myself working with customers again but in a very different role as a supermarket delivery driver. Working as a casual is very refreshing. It’s free of the politics and pressure of retail being central to my life. It’s a casual job. I don’t have to care about it too much and I’m enjoying keeping it that way.
Family life has adapted as necessary. I’m still fitting in the school drop offs and picks ups as much as possible but daily life is a world away from what it was for my family when I started this project. If you’d asked me if this was possible back in 2012, I’d have said no way.
I’ve earned some stripes in my new writing career. I’ve worked hard at the basics. I’ve learned some formidable new skills and achieved the results to validate them.
In some ways, being forced to study at home has been a great help, by making me focus on hiding away and building my skills for the inevitable growth phase to come.
I’m not concerned about instant stardom. It’s a long game. And it’s working.
-Mike