Creative Process in Photos pt. 1
The process of composing literary work, documented in photos.
Progress Gallery
How FreeSense Evolved
A visual record of milestones, revisions, and finished details.
Milestone Title 01
The ideation phase. I started brainstorm & outlining what I wanted to write about.
Milestone Title 02
I’d spend roughly 3-4 hours (per session) at Pier 62 drafting sample passages: free writing.
Milestone Title 03
Sharpening my skills through literary exercises/challenges. For example, writing an entire passage in cursive. I titled the collection of each passage, “FreeSense.”
Milestone Title 04
Following each written passage, I would create a 20–30-minute video expounding on each topic. The series was also titled, “FreeSense.” I posted each video on my Instagram account, six total.
Milestone Title 05
FreeSense was supplementary writing. The first manuscript that I wrote was titled “Beautiful Trash.” This is the notebook I used; everything was handwritten.
Milestone Title 06
FreeSense are themes that center around young adulthood/early career. Beautiful Trash focuses on my childhood into young adulthood in Seattle. I have the manuscript on my hard drive, and I’m willing to rewrite/submit to a publisher.
Milestone Title 07
I churned through notebooks. I’m surprised that I did not develop carpel tunnel…
Milestone Title 08
At 19 years old – I was in the newsroom using steno pads. My degree is in English Literature. I blend AP-style with creative writing. There is nuance with everything that I compose. This is some of my personal collection.
Milestone Title 09
Appearance wise: I let myself go during the creative process. It wasn’t intentional, but it wasn’t a focus either. Mentally & creatively, I was as sharp as ever. I didn’t care how people saw me. I was confident in what I was creating.
Milestone Title 10
I created a website to showcase my FreeSense work. I also developed a writing persona called StandPat. I allowed people to read my content in its rawest form. Before I ever considered compiling these into an anthology, I didn’t charge to read my work. Hence the entendre of FREEsense.
Milestone Title 11
My tragic first attempt to create an e-book cover. For about thirty seconds I thought I was doing it… I don’t even remember what app I used to create this.
Milestone Title 12
Eight days later and 80-100+ hours later, I reworked the book. Then, I designed the e-book (which was much harder than copying & pasting the text) and officially self-published the FreeSense e-book on 10/26/22. ISBN:9798218098827
Milestone Title 13
This was just boredom. More of my personal writing collection.
Milestone Title 14
More boredom. It was an anticlimactic feeling officially publishing FreeSense. Without a formal deal/distribution or widespread audience; only a small handful of people purchased. However, that wasn’t the intent, it was more imperative to have the content on record.
Milestone Title 15
I spent much of my time writing at KEXP Gathering Space, Sugar Bakery, Mrytle Edwards Park, Pier 62, and my studio in Lower Queen Anne, Seattle.
Milestone Title 16
One of the few things that I contracted out; the hardcover. I worked with an illustrator/book designer (Baris Sehri) who I contracted via Reedsy. Similar to the e-book, I designed the physical book interior and printed 200 copies via AlphaGraphics. I used a soft-touch high quality material. Republished in 2024.
Milestone Title 17
Brief caption describing what changed in this stage.
Milestone Title 18
The final photo with my locs. An 8-year journey. The creative process was complete.
Milestone Title 19
Professional Pat. I needed to refocus on what pays the bills. And, I advise to always prioritize what pays the bills.
Milestone Title 20
I’m no voice actor but I thought it was important to add my narration to my words. Pictured in the studio while working with some good folks. You can listen to some of the chapters from FreeSense on this website. To be continued…
Second Thoughts
It’s been a six-plus year process while taking substantial breaks. I didn’t start writing because of COVID-19 or due to quarantine. However, those unfortunate circumstances provided more space to prioritize this project, but I’ve never stopped writing. As an English major at the University of Washington, I made sure to enroll in courses with professors who challenged me intellectually. When I decided that journalism was not a career path that I wanted to persue long-term, I still priortized Communication professors who truly valued scholarship, not just those who were going to grant easy grades. I took challenging courses on purpose.
In college, I was a student researcher for an academic textbook, I worked on honor thesis, I studied abroad, I founded a mullticultural student organization (w/members who were rockstars in the academic department). All of which precipitated my career path. It led me towards college access, career services, and currently workforce development. I’m not being hyperbolic when I say that I’ve worked with thousands of people throughout the state of Washington; corner-to-corner. I’ve coached youth sports and I’ve mentored so many more. I’ve worked with community leaders, higher education leaders, industry leaders, political leaders, and those in the streets. I never felt a need to have a social media presence. I’ll walk into a room in Seattle, and someone will go, “Thats Pat…”
The creative process took it’s toll on me. My greatest creative flaw is that I am profectionist. Every line must have significance. Each word must have significance. So, I absolutely choose my words wisely. The substantial breaks derive from the notion that if I can leave something for a while, then return back with fresh eyes, and I’m still enamored with it – that’s ART. Hell, this website tells a story just through using colors.
With my background and experience, I’m not meant to be self-published. I should 100% be published under an inprint. But quite frankly, I didn’t have the patience back then, so I figured that I would just teach myself the process.
Career-wise, I’ve been playing 4-D chess for years. I’ve accomplished quite a bit; however, if I were an individual who said yes to everything… I’d have more. But I’m not complaining. I’m thankful for what I’ve worked for.
I wrote a chapter in FreeSense called “Clearing da’ Cache”. For me, it symbolizes leaving those behind who are in your ‘”corner” for nefarious reasons. I’ve never been niave to believe that everyone who smiles and laughs with you truly cares about you. It’s more people than you think, but it’s also less people than you think. Ultimately – what perturbed me was that certain individuals actually thought I believe that. However, it must be a testiment to how I was raised, to always be respecful of others.
The expectations of me within the community weighed deeply on my soul. I’ve heard how composed, chill, laid-back that I am for my entire life. But I grew up tough and I was raised with an iron fist. Fortunately, so many people poured postivitity into me to the point some people thought I grew up sheltered; and I wish that were the case because I don’t want to flex struggle & hardship. That isn’t cute.
What I learned in my creative writing classes is there are creative people with phenomial imaginations. I used to continually ask myself, “how did they come up with that trope?” Until I realized that often times it was not grounded in reality. It was like a uptopic, mythical world… My brain won’t permit me to think that abstract, unless I do some kind of ayahuasca drug.
What I can do is write about human interactions because I’ve dealt with a lot of humans… Many of whom have confided in me. Hundreds of individuals who shared their stories with me. My lord is that shit heavy. The challenges, the burdens, and the trauma that people of all walks of life carry with them on a daily basis.
It burnt me out.
So, I had to take the space and sit with it. I had to ask myself, how am I going to navigate the rest of my life because this way is not healthy.
So, I systhensized my experience. I began writing about my life first with Beautiful Trash, and in that process, I expounded on the message to connect with others. This became the FreeSense series. It’s An Anthology of Sh*t I WROTE. Hell, even the subtext is ART, especially when you consider the age of artificial intelligence with original content.
As I transition from StandPat back to PatchyP (or Patchy), I leave resentment and dissapointment in the past. I understood that most people would not understand what I was working towards (altough I was transparent), so it helped me clear-the-cache. Patchyp moves forward with the people held me down. Those who privetely critqued me, those who advised me, those who supported me, but more importatly, those who stood by my side.
Pictures don’t do the creative process justice. It’s just a snapshot.