This week, I have a smorgasbord of random thoughts and observations. None of them make up an entire blog, so I thought I'd toss them all into the mix. (This may or may not be how I tend to cook food... to varying degrees of success.)

Always Follow Up

I've gotten to meet some awesome people over the course of my career thus far. From playwrights, to actors, to designers, I've gotten to meet some of my heroes and have discovered new heroes and collaborators. After a big project or a meeting, I've learned how important it is to follow up, to continue to grow that relationship and friendship.

This is something I'm still getting better at. While I do follow up any meetings I've had with emails and thank yous, I still need to construct my list of people I'd love to keep updated about my work (in a non-spammy way). Growing friendships and professional relationships requires upkeep. You never know when someone could offer you a job down the road - or even better, when you could offer someone else a job.

Ask and You May Receive

I recently finished a big project through my school with a cool company owned by a certain mouse. It was definitely a rare opportunity just to get to work on this project. At the end, I sent an email expressing my thanks - and also asked if there were any further work opportunities. I didn't expect anything to come of it, as it seemed extremely unlikely - but lo and behold, I received an email back from our mentor in the company saying there are some possibilities, and a meeting will be set up! It's not a job yet by any means, but another door is now opening, simply because I asked.

Asking is sometimes the scariest prospect, but as a wise person once reminded me, "the worst they can do is say no." Go for the ask! You never know when they might just say "yes."

Listen to NPR

This American Life, Radio Lab, Prarie Home Companion, All Things Considered, even the news. NPR has so much amazing programming that tell amazing stories or introduces you to things that you wouldn't otherwise encounter in your day to day. I've so often been inspired with an idea for a new play, or gotten inspiration for the seeds of a topic I want to research more, while listening to NPR. They also often have actor and director interviews that are fantastic. Sometimes it's fun even just to listen and pick up dialects, voices, and strong voice performances. If you don't, you gotta start listening.

Travel As Much As You Can

If you're lucky enough to still be in school, take advantage of any study abroad program your school has to offer. If you're working, save up money to travel - even if it's just vacation. It can be as simple as a road trip to another state.

Every time I got to travel to a place outside my home and comfort zone, I learned and grew so much as an artist and person. The chance to encounter new people, new cultures, and even just the change of pace always served to jolt my creative muscles and energize me.

Tomorrow I'll get to go to Washington DC for the Kennedy Center's American College Theater Festival to receive the Paul Stephen Lim playwriting award. Last year I went and had an amazing time. I met so many new playwrights, heard fantastic new plays, and was hugely inspired. In fact, many of my summer opportunities last year came from that travel - and the play I'm going to be taking to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year came out of inspiration from that trip!

Plan for the Long Term, Work in the Short

It's important to look out into the future at where you'd like to be in 1, 3, 5 years. Long term planning is helpful in guiding your career and your goals, so you can move towards the big things you want to accomplish.

It's also important to realize that those goals will change a LOT. That unexpected opportunities and road blocks and just changes in life will take you to different places.

Plan for the long term, but work in the here and now. Take it one project and opportunity at a time. I know that when I first got started in theater and acting, I was hugely intimidated by how far away all of my dreams seemed to be. I looked around at other theater artists with their impressive resumes and lists of accomplishments, and I looked at the big projects and movies and festivals, and it felt like I'd never be able to get there.

Today, I look around and realize how far I've come. When I say the things I've accomplished out loud, it actually does sound impressive. And perhaps the most exciting observation: when I look at the big projects and festivals, and artists whose careers I admire, I can recognize I've taken the first steps on those paths. I'm closer now than I was before, and big dreams seem closer to being in reach. And I got here not by just staring at the wistful dreams on the horizon, but by simply putting one foot in front of the other and taking it one show, one project, one play to write at a time.