The Joys of Curious Adventure, Discovery, and Timelessness

The goings on of the Ongoing Network, and why the first route isn't always the one you settle on

Pathways 0501 (via Midjourney & reference image)

Until late March, I was thinking about my sudden imposter syndrome regarding art and artificial intelligence.

An interest in both was leading to friction. Some people instantly blocking me on social media.

Yes, even on the new platforms that I'd been told were really welcoming.

I’ve never been one for imposter syndrome. But friction was setting me up to fail in two areas I had previously felt comfortable within. Now wasn’t the right time to centre my energy around bringing together a divided audience. Not when I was looking to start big new projects.

A balanced appreciation and commentary on current ethical and legal issues around AI and art was too big an ask. My past work didn’t start with controversy; it started with love.

My main aim had only been to write a book. And that wasn’t enough on its own to take a new direction for me to:

• bring my different social audiences together;

• build a strong email list;

• diversify my writing output;

• and work toward more sustainable creative/freelance income.

Around the same time, I noticed how Substack had developed in such a way that I could build a wider network, set up multiple money models around a media network, and have more room to write without the controversy.

Not only that, the email list was one of the main points.

The stars had aligned!

Nonetheless, my first post had been spurred on by the art & AI stuff, especially after a timely post by Nishant Jain (The Sneaky Artist).

My post got a Sneaky Artist like. Last time I checked, getting a like is better than being blocked, so I felt that a reasonable Substack welcome!

Over the first couple of months writing the Ongoing newsletter, I came to see better routes to what I truly wanted to get into.

When I say "the journey is ongoing", there are multiple routes and pathways. The first steps taken may be bold, but they’re also exploratory. Curious steps. In keeping with my overall theme of curiosity.

It’s safe to say that the first route you take isn't always the one you settle on.

That's why the first couple of months writing Ongoing was an adventure of discovery. It wasn't until that first, curious investigation that I had a more complete vision for the Ongoing Network.

But first, I’ll go back to my initial idea on writing a book about art and AI...

From Controversy to Curiosity

Art is timeless, while AI is current and contemporary. So where will that lead us into the future? Fear and excitement lead to different views. Often dynamic, determined, and deeply entrenched.

It's why any mention of AI led to artists blocking me. It's why any mention of legal and ethical matters in AI led to less fruitful discussion.

And since I'd been more known in the past for writing about higher education policy and students making the most of their time in university, I didn't have a ready audience desperate to discuss art and AI as a matter of course.

So I stepped back on my big book idea and took a wider view.

It's what I'm used to. Sometimes I start with a small detail and then zoom out, and other times I'll seek a broad overview and then zoom in. Both have their uses.

As I did this, I realised that my own perspective could be the whole topic. I've always valued curiosity from these different angles. And here I was, trying to work a mixture of past, present, and future thinking.

This had been my vague idea from the outset as I started Ongoing, but I hadn't worked out what was truly needed. And I hadn't seen it as an opportunity to focus all my efforts moving forward.

Over the next couple of months, I published different types of content to work out how I felt and what would make sense on the platform.

Turns out, a lot of it actually!

But the main thrust came around the time I posted The Courage to Hit Send and I could see that my entire outlook could be shaped by curiosity.

That got me thinking more about the multiple publishing perspectives, business angles, community focuses, and so on.

So I set to work on curiosity frameworks. I framed the drive to know more around humanity's wholeness. This drive isn't just about interest in the future, but about a timeless journey that doesn't have a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Just as art is timeless, so is curiosity. Everything is ongoing.

Buoyed on by this, I'm focusing my time with Ongoing as my work, rest, and play. Business and pleasure with clear boundaries, yet also part of the same thing. Embracing yin and yang.

Ongoing will end up having a paid tier among other things. Not by putting lots of posts behind a paywall, but finding various ways to provide value through a subscription model.

And I'll still be writing a book, but more toward curiosity as:

⦁ a creative superpower;

⦁ crucial to business, learning, fun, community, and everything we do;

⦁ a set of frameworks;

⦁ a way of finding the right balance, blend, and combination of past, present, and future considerations;

⦁ an ongoing endeavour for Ongoing.

This will allow many opportunities to build so I can work in all sorts of directions, and all around the Ongoing theme. A growing network.

That's why I'm now putting these posts out from the ongoing.network domain too. A web address to fit the mission.

I love how this can be a network of ongoing pathways, leading to everything, leading from everything, and all filled in with a curious vision.

All this has been a surprising turn of events. But it’s been down to many unforeseen circumstances that took place over a number of years. Among them, I'd fallen badly ill for a considerable time. Only now, I'm beginning to get back to a sense of normality. I've barely been out the house for years.

And yet none of the surprises, none of the illness, nothing that's brought about change over these years has taken away my mental energy and positive spirit.

And it certainly hasn't taken away my curiosity!

The Path of Many Personal Paths

One thing I've noticed through the many newsletters and publications I'm subscribed to is that personal stories and explanations help us to connect and feel understood. We find like-minded people, as well as those who have been through similar situations. We connect with those we may never have known if it wasn't for this type of communication.

So please expect more writing like this among a whole host of other things. Look back at my archive so far and you'll see various ideas. I'll be using several now, moving forward.

This publication alone is set to contain:

• longform articles;

• personal essays;

• voice notes;

• poetry;

• link roundups and shout-outs;

• short blasts of curious information and advice.

In exploring which of these would float my boat, I found most of it did. Instead, the angle I thought I’d be taking has shifted and evolved in ways that give more clarity and direction along that path. My niche is more general than I’d imagined, but it fits well for my outlook, and it’s still a niche.

Regardless of the subjects I explore, I’m on a mission to promote curiosity as a superpower while I’m on the adventure.

The second half of March helped me build my vision moving forward. April allowed me to work on my setup. For May and onwards, the Ongoing Network pushes out with curiosity…framed around curiosity.

The journey is ongoing. I want to use this platform to help others, to bridge gaps, and to build the Ongoing Network into a passionate and purposeful place. All without need for big controversy, even when looking at chewy subjects.

In other words, yes, I’d still like to tackle more about art and AI among everything else. :)

There! I’ve brought you up to speed on the Ongoing Network. I’m all in!

Are you?

There’s lots of space…and I’ll budge up more if needs be. 😄