from the book:
If you’re standing in an airport bookseller’s, wondering if this is the book you want to buy before you hop that flight to Denver, then here’s the Airport Version: a one-page description of the Introduction, the Framework, and each Precept in very basic terms. If you never read anything else, you’ll have the basic structure of Lichtenbergianism.
Introduction
A bunch of guys got together about [fifteen] years ago to discuss creativity. They formed the Lichtenbergian Society, named after the 18th-century German physicist Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, who was famous for his procrastination.
Several years later they discovered they were being more productive, even though their motto was Cras melior est: Tomorrow is better.
They developed Nine Precepts to explain their dilemma.
Framework
All human beings are creative: all humans are born to Make the Thing That Is Not.
That means you, too.
1. Task Avoidance
Cras melior est: Tomorrow is better.
You can be more productive through procrastination by avoiding one project while working on another.
2. Waste Books
Always have a way to write down everything. Come back to it later.
3. Abortive Attempts
Don’t wait until you can do something perfectly before you begin.
Write “Abortive Attempts” at the top of your page to let the universe know that it cannot stop you from producing crap.
Produce crap.
Fix it later.
4. Gestalt
Gestalt means “shape” in German.
Once you’ve started your Abortive Attempt, step back and see what shape it’s in. What’s missing?
5. Successive Approximation
Once you’ve assessed your project’s Gestalt, tweak the project. Move it closer to being finished.
6. Ritual
Have a way to get your brain/soul/ear/eye/hand into working mode.
Create your time and space to create, then protect it.
7. Steal from the Best
Use the past.
Reverse engineer the artists you admire.
8. Audience
You have two Audiences:
1. Those people out there
2. Those people right here
(And 3. Yourself)
9. Abandonment
Three kinds:
1. You can come back to it later.
2. It’s ready for an audience.
3. Failure is always an option.
