5 Rules for Collaborating with Yourself

A manifesto

I was recently asked to participate in a collaborative zine called Rules to Live By. The whole thing was organized and risograph printed by Carolyn Yoo. It’s incredible she was able to make this happen.

I was honored to be asked to contribute and then floored when I saw who else was included (click their name to see their stuff): Coleen Baik, Dan Blank, Anna Brones, Lian Cho, Kristen Drozdowski, Kelcey Ervick, Petya K. Grady, amelia hruby, Nishant Jain, Adam Ming, Jenna Park, Meera Lee Patel, Michelle Pellizzon Lipsitz, Beth Spencer, Nina Veteto, and Seth Werkheiser.

Here’s my page:

5 Rules for Collaborating with Yourself

1. Document your ideas and watch patterns emerge.

2. Create wildly. Edit ruthlessly. But never at the same time.

3. Try out new things (techniques, technology, trends) with curiosity and skepticism. Then report back to yourself with your findings.

4. When you’re stuck just move on. Let the rest of yourself figure it out while you’re distracted.

5. Remember you are at least three different people: creator, editor, cheerleader.

---

You can buy a limited edition risograph zine or a digital copy and 50% of proceeds will be donated to Corita Art Center.

Learn more about how this project came together.

---

---

In other news…

We’re moving! We found a house on the other side of town that’s perfect for us. It’s very exciting, but it’s going to be a ton of work.

So I’m going to stop sending out this newsletter for awhile.

I’ve had this little note on my desk for a long time:

It’s helped me make decisions, figure out my priorities, and keep moving in the right direction. Different things are necessary in different seasons. Unfortunately, this newsletter is no longer on the list.

This newsletter will become necessary again, I’m just not sure when. My guess is I’ll pick it back up in the fall.

---

A couple notes before I go:

• If you’re a paying subscriber, feel free to cancel.

• Buy a zine! Here’s our online shop.

• Hire me? I do graphic design stuff professionally. Maybe your friend is starting a business and needs a logo and branding. I love working with people and companies that are just getting started.

• Please share the Rules to Live By project with your friends.

Okay bye! See ya later.

---

“I’ll take my ice cream first then I’ll have dinner and then I’ll have some ice cream again.”

This newsletter is lovingly made by Mitchell and patiently edited by Carly. Knox and Olive are around here somewhere. We do not use AI.

Thank for being here. If you want to support my work you can become a paid subscriber (I’ll occasionally send you things in the mail), buy a zine, share this post with a friend, or hire me to make stuff for you.