With Casting Across hitting the ten year milestone, I’ve reflected on some of the highs and lows that accompanied a decade of creativity. It has been good to think about what has worked and what hasn’t worked. (And, sometimes, what hasn’t worked at first but then – through happenstance or tweaking – has worked really well!)

Concurrently, I’ve had a few conversations about this very subject. A few other writers in the fly fishing space have reached out recently. I’m also collaborating with some people on another project – one in which a lot of the experience from Casting Across will be quite helpful.

Where I think all of this benefits you is the intersection of writing and fly fishing. With ten years under my belt I’ve come to really see some points of continuity. There are some areas of overlap that are profound. As angling is quite adaptive, I think this would be true in a lot of hobbies, vocations, or perspectives.  Today I’m sharing four ways that lessons I’ve learned from churning out three posts a week apply to fly fishing. And whether you’re picking up a pen or a fly rod, I think you’ll agree they’re pertinent.

Consistency, Consistency, Consistency

All the internet strategies say to keep cranking out content if you want the crawling bots to keep you on the right side  of the algorithm. That is all fine and good. But much more important than that is the practice of practice. Committing to a project entails more than enthusiasm about an idea; it means more than the thrill of the beginning. Growth as a creator increases qualitatively with devotion to  quantitative output.

Fishing isn’t all that different. Getting outside is the first step. Stringing two trips together, regardless of the outcome of the first, is good. Making that third one happen in short order is better. If you’re legitimately trying, things like observation and casting intuitively develop with consistency.

Persistence in All Seasons

There are times when no creativity is hatching. The mind is a smooth, glassy surface with nary a rise. So switch to nymphs or head to a bluegill pond. Busy moments are opportunities for different approaches to writing. Working on something is vastly superior to hitting the proverbial snooze button. Typing through writer’s block is a rewarding experience. It often yields surprisingly good results.

Everyone has experienced the internal conflict of wanting to go fishing while also wanting to stay home just a  little bit more. Bad weather, being tired, or tight margin time are great excuses. And while there isn’t anything inherently wrong with not fishing, sometimes pushing through that malaise is the key to busting out of an angling slump.

More Innovation than Imitation

One of the greatest dangers in creativity is copying. At worst it is plagiarism. At best, it is lazily derivative. This doesn’t mean one can’t be inspired. Some great writing has come on the heels of reading Hemingway or watching a Joe Humphries presentation. But there must be a personalized stamp on content and voice. Authenticity comes through to the audience and should matter to the writer.

Fish how you want to fish. Don’t follow trends because everyone is doing it. Don’t buy gear just because you’re square in the sights of a marketing firm. If you don’t want to Euro nymph, you don’t have to. Learning something new is very beneficial if you are truly invested. But learning to do it some other way is just as valuable.

It is About Joy

Don’t write if it isn’t joyful. Don’t draw, get in front of a camera, or pluck your guitar strings unless you’re experiencing joy. Joy, of course, is not the same as happiness. Joy might come on quickly. It can also rise to the top after sweat and tears difficulty. If the latter doesn’t happen, reassess why you’re doing what you’re doing. At the same time, don’t give up because the clicks, dollars, or immediate gratification aren’t there.

There are people out there who wait until the sun warms things up before they start fishing. They pick and choose the hatches or runs they want to focus on. The exclusive use of dry flies or bamboo rods are their prerogative. And that is completely fine. Joy is the point.