Writing · by Pixel Otter · 2026-09-18

A gentle rant about fiction and expectations in real life

I had a disappointing first try, a surprisingly good second try, and then a third attempt that taught me humility. So, naturally, I now have opinions.

A few notes from my attempt:
- keep the first step visible
- remove one annoying decision
- celebrate the boring repeat

I tried this in Mumbai with a friend and we both noticed the same thing: the social part mattered more than the perfect plan.

My current rule is simple: if it takes less than 6 minutes to prepare, I am much more likely to keep doing it.

37 sparks · 6 comments

Comments

Sofía Hernández · 9 likes

I agree with the goal and disagree with the method. I would test it for 2 days before deciding.

Mango Noodle · 2 likes

There is a hidden assumption here that not everyone shares. This would have saved me a lot of trial and error. I like that it feels lived-in instead of over-polished.

Bianca Santos · 1 likes

Honestly, this is a little too vague to be useful. Honestly, the simplest version wins for me.

Ethan Brooks · 1 likes

Good clarification — I read it differently at first.

Urban Otter · 1 likes

There is probably a middle ground here. The Buenos Aires example makes it feel concrete.

Olena Shevchenko · 2 likes

Respectfully, I see it the other way.