Calvinball

Bill Watterson is the writer of Calvin and Hobbes - a comic strip I devoured as a kid and have been nostalgically revisiting. I've always admired serial writers like Watterson who practice consistent creativity - as Watterson puts it: "My job is essentially to come up with three hundred and sixty-five ideas a year." There's something romantic about a disciplined tradesman in their daily drafting room letting their mind play, refining what their mind and tools allow them to put on paper. Consistent, applied creativity while refining a skill.

I never felt Calvin and Hobbes insisted upon itself. It never had to signal to the reader that it was profound; the depth came from genuine consistent practice. I never felt the comic wavered to speak to any audience other than people trying to live playful lives.

Everything I've since learned about Watterson himself perfectly reflects how I felt about the comic strip and its characters. Watterson never sold the commercial rights for Calvin and Hobbes. He would rather his characters never be misrepresented or diluted for the sake of more money. This echoes a question I always ask myself: would you rather share more of yourself and have it misrepresented, or not share at all?.

Watterson delivered a wonderful commencement speech at his alma mater which spoke to the importance of play in life and in work. Here's a passage:

"As bright, creative people, you'll be called upon to generate ideas and solutions all your lives. Letting your mind play is the best way to solve problems ... A playful mind is inquisitive and learning is fun. If you indulge your natural curiosity and retain a sense of fun in new experience, I think you'll find it functions as a sort of shock absorber for the bumpy road ahead."

Full transcript: Invent Your Own Life's Meaning - Bill Watterson

Some of my favorite strips: