David Richards

Data, software, hiking, writer

[Dr. Dominic Ng @DrDominicNg]

i regret to inform you that personal growth rarely comes from acquiring new knowledge and almost always from:
- getting humiliated
- showing up terrified and doing it anyway
- admitting you might be the problem

[Poetry Foundation @PoetryFound]

The fire we dreamt of was no portent of punishment, brother, but a beacon.

—Joshua Bennett (@SirJoshBennett) on James Baldwin's centennial.
CW: racist violence https://t.co/EzF5S7aTOz

[David Richards @drichards]

@occulife

[Kathryn Nuernberger @KatNuernberger]

Happy pub day to this pretty baby @MayaJZeller and I spent a pandemic and a half writing for @BloomsburyBooks . If you are looking for a textbook for a poetry workshop, maybe this is the one?

[David Richards @drichards]

@occulife I recently drove to Fossil Butte National Monument in Wyoming to clear my head and find beauty on a day when my heart was heavy. Look at the blue and white vastness. Read my alt-text. Or don't. You're doing great. Let me know what I can do for you, always.

[David Richards @drichards]

Every time I read something of Rekdal's, or hear the news, I'm filled with envy and pride--so much talent in someone who works hard for amazing results.

[David Richards @drichards]

@occulife The thing I love about Claire is the beauty. You share the good news, simple things, and kindness on difficult or wonderful days. It's honest. Pawtastic paws could be the Claire mascot.

[David Richards @drichards]

"Don't be afraid of trying." Love this.

[Nick @struutinsky]

Here's to the speakeasy bar culture!
@50BestBars inspired me on a journey once. The journey continues...

I just published How To Get Into A Bar You Never Knew Existed https://t.co/6qEDbFvOI5

[David Richards @drichards]

This feels like everything I'm learning about removing hard edges and building a creative rhythm over many cycles.

[Tatiana Gulenkina @TGulenkina]

Finding the right balance between structure and chaos is a key to increasing your creative output ⚖️🌪️

Chaos is the raw energy of life, the unpredictable force that sparks newness: random ideas, unconventional perspectives, fresh takes… Embracing chaos involves allowing the mind to wander aimlessly, encouraging it to go off limits without immediate judgment, and welcoming the unexpected.

Structure, on the flip side, provides the framework that turns chaos into something tangible. It's the order that allows ideas to take shape, evolve, and transform into meaningful outcomes. Structure provides a roadmap for creativity, shaping it’s naturally chaotic energy into a coherent and refined form. It involves setting goals, establishing timelines, and organizing thoughts in a way that facilitates effective execution. This self-imposed structure can serve as a metaphorical life-saving lighthouse that prevents new ideas from getting lost in the sea of chaos (and their creator from going mad 😅).

The key to navigating both lies in recognizing that these two forces are complimentary and can be successfully brought together:

Diverge Before You Converge
Begin with a phase of uninhibited exploration and idea generation. Allow chaos to rule for a while, encouraging the wildest possibilities without immediate concerns about the execution.

Define Clear Objectives
Once the chaos has yielded a pool of concepts, introduce structure by defining clear objectives. What are you trying to achieve? What is the purpose of your endeavor? Establishing a framework helps channel chaotic energy towards a specific goal.

Iterative Process
Embrace an iterative approach. Move back and forth between chaos and boundaries. Allow for periods of free-form thinking, followed by structured refinement. This cyclical process allows for the best of both worlds.

Create a Hybrid Space
Designate a physical space that fosters both chaos and structure. It could be a brainstorming corner with art supplies or whiteboards for spontaneous ideas and a quiet corner with a minimalist desk for focused, structured work.

Embrace Constraints
Introduce constraints strategically. While too much structure can stifle creativity, the right constraints can spark inventive solutions within a defined framework.

By considering this balance, creative individuals and teams can optimize their output, producing work that is not only original but also effectively realized. The Yin and Yang of creativity, where chaos and structure coexist, offer a path that embraces the beautiful tension between the untamed and the refined. Some of the best examples of this approach include:

Literature: J.K. Rowling
J.K. Rowling's creative process for Harry Potter involved a mix of structured planning and spontaneous inspiration. While she had an overarching plan for the series, many details and characters emerged organically during the course of her writing.

Animation: Pixar
Pixar Studios has a well-documented creative process that involves structured storyboarding and planning while fostering a collaborative and open culture that encourages experimentation and idea generation (chaos).

Design: The Eames Office
The Eames Office, led by Charles and Ray Eames, was renowned for its approach to design. The couple embraced a combination of structured problem-solving and playful experimentation, leading to iconic designs in furniture.

Business: IDEO
IDEO, a renowned consulting firm, follows their own design thinking process that combines empathy and creativity (chaos) with structured prototyping and testing (structure) to develop innovative solutions for some of the world’s top companies.

[David Richards @drichards]

What I am witnessing with Dave right now is rare: the ability to build and share something while it's starting. This is important. If you love animals, working with grounded and committed people matters.

[Dave Paola @dpaola2]

Do you have a dog? I built a little thing that I'd like some private feedback on. DM me and I'll send you the URL :)

[David Richards @drichards]

@coenesqued2 Thank you for posting. I subscribe. It's the only thing I pay for on Twitter. I look forward to your work, though I do little more than like some posts.

[Susan Triemert @SusanTriemert]

The girl who almost dropped out of her MFA program because she didn't think she measured up has now been nominated for her third Pushcart nomination (total) One from Colorado Review, so there!

[David Richards @drichards]

@scottneuffer Being around motorcycles, I relax around the kind of people that once scared me. The best healing transforms a fear into an action that I can learn to love.

[David Richards @drichards]

@scottneuffer When I hate something, I don't engage in a solution and everyone holds their breath. The barrier is bigger. When I let people breathe, they relax and we find another way. The barrier begins to shrink.

[David Richards @drichards]

My wife brought me a slice of warm bread and a pat of butter. I am loved. My world a gesture.

[David Richards @drichards]

My son called with good news. As a parent to adults, I can ache for contact. Sometimes love is joining the backup team.

[Tara Skurtu @TaraSkurtu]

Too much heart-hurt in our world.
Loving each other is all we have.
If you love someone, say it to them. Say it. ❤️

[David Richards @drichards]

At my first programming job, I used these sounds for all the beeps on my Windows 95 computer.

[David Richards @drichards]

It is a very nice author website, simple and strong.

[Terri Linn Davis (playfully horrific) @TerriLinnDavis]

I made a new author website. I'm very proud of it, and I would be titillated—nay—THRILLED if you took a look.

https://t.co/xjRrss1lgD

[David Richards @drichards]

@MasterClass @MasterClassCare That's funny. I have to be a subscribed person to tell them they have a bug. It's not my job to QA your system for you, and it's not my job to pay someone for a service I'm leaving to do it. Good luck.

[David Richards @drichards]

@MasterClass You're awesome. A bug in your system: if I've watched a class, and I'm re-playing, the state of the video is complete, so it auto scrolls through each lesson from where I left off the last time, which was the end. Meaning, I can't rewatch some of your content.