Discovering What Comes Next

Lately, I’ve been looking forward to getting to my desk.That may sound like an ordinary thing for a writer to say. But after struggling with anhedonia, the absence of pleasure even in things I knew were worthwhile, that eagerness means something to me.Writing fiction has been bringing it back. I want to find out what my characters will do next, even though I’m supposedly the person in charge. Apparently, nobody has explained that arrangement to them.In this solo episode, I explore discovery writing, the feeling of being absorbed in creative work, and the possibility of returning to something you love with all your life experience behind you. I also talk about why I’m likely to write out these solo episodes before recording them. Some of the discovery happens while I’m figuring out what I want to say.The big takeawayMy eagerness to return to storytelling is something I want to pay attention to. It tells me something about what belongs in my life. Your curiosity may offer something worth noticing, too.In this episode* I describe how writing fiction has renewed my enjoyment, while keeping that experience distinct from anyone else’s experience of depression.* I consider how creative absorption may overlap with flow, drawing on the work of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and Martin Seligman.* I explain why “discovery writer” fits the way I work, even when I have a destination in mind.* I connect the pleasure of discovering characters with everyday discoveries, from a new restaurant to a solution for a stubborn problem.* I reflect on Bruce Robert Coffin’s return to writing after nearly three decades in law enforcement.* I share why scripting solo episodes feels like a return to my own writing roots.Something to tryAsk yourself: What am I curious enough to come back to?It might be a story, a skill, an unanswered question, or something you once loved. Give yourself a little room to explore it without requiring yourself to know where it will lead.And when you notice that small lift of discovery, pay attention. I’m learning to take my own eagerness seriously.A thought to carry with you“Being excited to get to the desk is something I want to pay attention to. It tells me something about what belongs in my life.”Mentioned in this episode* Flow and engagement: The University of Pennsylvania’s Positive Psychology Center explains engagement within Martin Seligman’s PERMA framework and its connection to Csikszentmihalyi’s work on flow.* Bruce Robert Coffin on The Indy Author Podcast: Matty Dalrymple’s conversation, “Writing the Stories Only Life Can Teach You.”* The Sparklight Chronicles, my fictional parables exploring nonfiction principles.* The Chemistry Between Us and The Signal Between Us, the first two books in the series I’m writing as Devon Marin.* Kevin on Kraft, my ongoing conversations with Kevin Tumlinson about writing, creativity, and making things.With thanks to this episode’s sponsorsButterfly Copywriting: Val Roskens Tews helps take the stress out of creating LinkedIn content and sharing your message.The Chemistry Between Us, by Devon Marin: Meet Riley, a behavioral scientist, and Leo, a science communicator with ADHD, in the first book of a planned STEM romantic-comedy trilogy.Through September 30, sample two chapters through Diversity is Mainstream, a promotion featuring nearly fifty writers whose stories include neurodiverse characters. After the promotion ends, the excerpt will remain available at DonnKing.com/Devon.What have you been discovering lately—or what are you ready to come back to? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.Article VersionGood morning, good evening, good afternoon, wherever you are in the world, welcome once again to The Alignment Show, where we talk about where w