thoughts about writing 

all of the forest and any tree in the video scenes are compressed to the 9th layer of hell and back

Mom: why are you doing things again? Me: The RU-vid man came back and told me to get my shit together again

"We are very clever animals, and very stupid super beings..." Damn, that's just great

I couldn’t remember your channel name so i looked up depression turtle

When you mentioned how "2001: A Space Odyssey" defined your childhood, suddenly the channel made sense to me

"I would strongly urge you to find out how artists you respect made their stuff" That's... why I'm here lol

“Keep it simple” ~ The guy who wrote about consciousness being the 5th state of matter

Exurb1a: "keep it simple" Also exurb1a: "not too long ago I purchased a non-inexpensive bed for my feline life companionship"

“You don’t choose where the cat sleeps” My cat literally sleeps in his own litter-box, and wakes up with shit stains on his back

“Please stop procrastinating now” (Goes and watches the next two Exurb1a videos)

Community:Thinks he's dead/quit Exurb1a: *oh, I pulled a sneaky on ya*

“You can acquire a cat, you don’t get to choose where it sleeps” *Uncertainty Principle intensifies

When you wrote a novella four years ago and deleted the entire thing and meant to start rewriting it 2 years ago when you realise it was actually a good idea but you're still on the first chapter and now the RU-vid man is convincing you to start it up again

Exurb1a: "Please stop procrastinating. Now." Me: **Looks at the draft of the story I've been meaning to start writing for a couple months now** **Looks at the next 2 exurb1a videos** Me: "Ehh..."

Reasons why I'm subscribed: 1: amazingly calming voice 2: good humor 3: everything sound extremely clever 4: everything is extremely well made 5: procrastination

"I'm bored, and you must be too if you clicked on this." Nope, just procrastinating.

Holy cow the amount of knowledge dropped in this video is astounding

*when exurb1a finally uploads but it isn’t about a existential crisis*

I wish you had a podcast. Your voice is basically perfect.

I would really like to just sit down and get a cup of coffee with you

"stop procrastinating now" okay I'll stop procrastinating later

There is nobody else who can both kill and create dreams as much as you can.

That was the most aggressive and depression inducing “I love you”

A word on cats: they like to relax in places that conceal their presence (like a cardboard box). If you've spent 5 minutes online watching cats, you'll see that carboard boxes are a cat's favourite past time. If your cat bed had high sides (or it was placed in a tall carboard box), I think your cat would use it more. Also: no, I won't stop procrastinating.

10:08 “Art is our only escape from the horrors of existence.” ~Backbone prologue This is one of my favs of yours so far. Thanks exurb1a.

"If you've seen it, it was the one about the old woman and the snake on the mountain. Whatever." Just casually dropping one of your best stories like its nothing.

I've been working on a story in my head for 14 years. Are you saying I should put words on paper? Madness!!! Other people will see them and it's not ready yet.

Those 4 months of the snake on the mountain is one of the best things I’ve ever watched.

you still exist and i find that epic

"isn't way more impressive to say a complex thing in a simple way, than a simple thing in a complex way"

This was so amazing. I feel like he was fully able to read my thoughts when I am struggling with writing. Writing then rewriting and then realizing you have no idea what people are going to like or dislike.

"If you're having creative problems, I would recommend being as simple as you can, and no simpler."

*Sees exurbia notification* Oh, This just became a good day. *Sees that there are actually 3 new exurbia videos* *Screams*

the one about the old woman and the snake on the mountain is among my favourite videos on the internet and i'm so very happy you went through the process to make it

exurb1a's - thoughts about writing 1. Devise a personal science - recreate best conditions for creation (getting in a flow state) 2. Look at stuff others made (orient yourself, copy, transform) 3. Learn about how people created (background, behind the scenes) 4. No shame in making simple stuff 5. Don't trick people - be honest 6. Refine your skill or creation mercilessly (everyone starts at 0 and needs to learn) 7. You can't choose how the audience will react (don't have expectations about your success)

You've got some untouched hatred for Portsmouth, and that's okay.

Him : if you've seen it, it's the video of the old woman and the snake on the mountain, or whatever. Me : oh, you mean, one of the best thing I've ever heard and seen in my whole life ? One of the most beautiful video on the whole of Internet ? One of the most fascinating stories I've ever heard ? That one ? Sheesh, don't know what you're talking about. Also, your cat is gorgeous.

“Misread a line of text or mishear something in conversation” is honestly the main source of any unique idea I’ve had

6:17 - Actually, this probably my most favourited video of yours.

It's nice how this video is one of those videos you can just let play while your literally seconds away from falling asleep and to lazy to hold your phone and understand what is happening in the video 😂

6:18 "Then we'll be okay" IS MY FAVORITE STORY OF ALL TIME NOW. IT WAS WELLLL WORTH THE FOUR MONTHS MATE

At this point, I do not think it's worth commending your intellectual prowess, you're clearly a lyrical genius. I'll instead revel in the cuteness of your awesome cat.

"It was ridiculous and it didn't work." -The perpetual state of my existential condition

"Isn't it way more impressive to say the complex thing in a simple way, than saying simple thing in a complex way?" This is something I desperately needed, thank you very much.

This reminds me of the experiment that fed pigeons at random intervals. The pigeons started repeating whatever they were doing when they were first fed in the hopes that it was somehow connected.

Am I seeing this correctly? Not 1, not 2, but THREE new videos of exurb1a?! God bless. My faith in humanity is restored.

This will be a tangent, but on the off chance anyone sees this, I felt like sharing a bit about my life. I am becoming a chemistry major, and because of that people are consistently surprised when I say that I am a writer, and I have been working on a book for nearly two years. Reading has always been a particular passion of mine, and at first this was because of the intrigue of stories themselves. Percy Jackson and the Olympians made me laugh, terrified me, and everything in between. The feelings you get from absorbing something you truly love are all the more potent, and no matter how much I reread my favorite novels, I still feel all the same emotions, remembering the person I used to be. Later, I loved the written word, the style and intonation and pattern scheme of books. Words are an art form we so rarely appreciate in the same way we do portraits and music compositions, and yet words are that much more commonplace and integral to everyday life. When appreciating words was no longer enough, I started the world's shittiest fanfiction account. I was horrid for years, but then I became decidedly not terrible, and I wanted to write originally. The fight to find a story took another several years of long word documents, started and stopped. It wasn't until I had an idea that would not leave me alone - a rom-com novel that made fun of rom-coms by displacing the characters' reactions to all obvious tropes - that I was able to begin writing a true, long story that begged to be finnished. I wrote it because I wanted to make something that I personally would have found funny, that my mother who loves cheesy chick-flicks would get a kick out of. Finally, I had a passion that was entirely mine and done for its own sake. All the chapters are outlandish and ridiculous, and all of it skips around entirely too much. I prize perfection above most else, and progress suffers due to that, but today I have roughly 125,000 words. This will not be a worldshaking or influential novel. It will not change hearts or minds. But it will be something that was labored over with the intent of brightening someone's day, making them smile, and perhaps that's all the meaning required from it. This book will have my name on it when it's published, and someone who has never met me might get a chance to know me, even if by proxy. Exurbia, I just wanted you to know that I deeply appreciate hearing about people like me, struggling with the same problems and succeeding despite complications (namely rewrites, reformating, nerves, and all the other enlightening issues that come with sharing an intensely personal idea with others). Although it likely means little coming from a total, know that I sincerely love your content and believe in your capacity to create something great. If anyone has gotten this far, please continue to work hard and to encourage your own aspirations. Have a great day!

When I started this video, I was wondering 'I want to make a Dwarf Fortress channel like Kruggsmash!' At the end of the video, I paused at the last 10 seconds and fired the game up, to make a new world and start drawing my own first land. I eventually unpaused the video. "Stop procrastinating." "Now" A second after he said Now, the Dwarf Fortress title theme began playing. It was so fitting... I know what to do now. Thank you, Exurb1a, Thank you so much.

"I love 2001: A Space Oddysey." WE CAN TELL YA GIT--

“You don’t get to chose how your audience reacts”. That sentence. I have no idea why. But it was as if a tension in my brain was just lifted and whatever it was is now gone. It must’ve been something I was subconsciously always thinking about when making art perhaps. Idk tbh.

And here I am, watching it a 100th time, realizing, I need to watch it a hundred times more. For no reason at all. I just love it. Thank you.

"and then we'll be okay" has been my favorite story to listen to since I first heard it. The fact that it was inspired by a Hindu deity makes it even better.

Upsilon dies backwards is an incredible piece of writing, good job publishing it as proof of concept after this video

Three uploads at once? _Am I dreaming?_ Don't wake me up. I'm having the best dream ever!

I doubt you’ll ever see this, but “the one with the old woman and the snake on the mountain” is probably my favorite video on RU-vid, maybe the internet. Thank you for not giving up

Christ there's a lot of clever knowledge and wise information in this video, I also realize that this is me mentally at the end of any of Exurbia's videos but this one's got a spark of something different in it.

I'll stop procrastinating tomorrow; I've got some sleep to catch before

*call from the president* Me: it's okay now, he's still alive, cancel the search

I love you so much, I can always relate to you because you are in constant existential crisis and self doubt and confidence. You make my life a little better every time I watch your videos ♡♡♡

I wish he was my English teacher

Exurbia: *IS DEAD FOR 2 MONTHS STRAIGHT* Exurbia on 24.7.: *UPLOADING 3 GREAT VIDEOS AT THE SAME TIME*

He remembered his password again. That must explain the 3 videos in a day thing.

This totally worked! I had to come back cause the first NOW didn't do the trick but left me wandering and by the second one I just closed the explorer and opened my abandoned project. Thank you.

I recently watched this video and I wanted to thank you for the insights in not watching the ether for ideas. I just today had an (hopefully) original idea about human attraction based on a meme posted on the philosophy memes subreddit and another video of yours talking about why good stories are good. Thanks for the insights you have provided by sharing your thoughts, ideas and perspective. I hope to enjoy your videos for many more years to come.

3 uploads in a day TIME TO BINGE WATCH THE WHOLE CHANNEL AGAIN WHOOP WHOOP

exurb1a: Tells us to stop procrastinating. also exurb1a: Uploads two more videos.

The video of the old woman and the snake was one of the first that introduced me to you. I absolutely loved the story telling and the goosebumps it gave me after hearing the message at the end. Hearing that you struggled so much with it and the idea that you couldn’t get out of your head resonated with me. I love writing but I tend to lose courage after being put down a lot. Hearing you talk about these things and struggling with a story that I loved really helped me. Thank you

I forgot the name of the channel, I found it by searching "sad space turtle" and it worked

“Please stop procrastinating Now.” Is my new favorite quote from you.

Me: there’s nothing good on RU-vid anymore Exurb1a: hold my thoughts

I feel like every video you make like this that is somewhat motivational is exactly what I need to hear. Without fail

Here an ego protein for you: Your writing is great

That "I love you" warmed my cold, cold heart. Kudos for 1 million! ❤

Oh shit, I love the heroes journey of the snake on the mountain. Its interesting to know how much reworking that went through

This is probably the first comment I’ve written on this platform in 11 yrs . I found your channel an hr ago. I appreciate your cheer, your work, and the visuals. It’s all medicine to me. Also, Thank you for the triggers to laugh with the simplicity of being yourself. I was soothed more and more with each laugh and resonance. Softening the grip of my “so serious and so important” life. And quite frankly, I’ve let go of offering my cat the best comfy beds as well. Cheers and Love from NYC, brother.

Thank you for creating not sure the words best describe your gift and if they do I wouldn't be able to articulate them but you do have a gift because you used it as such and you share and for that thank you for tying chaos to itself that it might calm down... As well as the vast amounts of inspiration that I have taken from each and every one of your videos that I have watched

3 vids all at once what a blessed day

“And then we will be okay” is my favorite one of your videos and I’m glad to hear you didn’t give up on it, the inspiration you said for it is quite interesting too.

I found your channel only a few days ago and I've been watching all your videos. I connect to them more than I have any other content. The humor, the philosophy, the optimism that pushes through doubt and insecurity, the existential crisis that is so unavoidable that it doesn't even matter (because if nothing matters why not live life to the fullest?). Man, I love this channel.

Dear Exurb1a I have listened to one of your videos for the past year, every morning of every day when I have to get to school and it helped me get through the days for a whole year straight. For the past month, I’ve been listening to this video every morning and it is the sole reason I got back to a hobby of mine which I thought I never could get back into ever. Thank you for this. You made me reconsider my studies to something I now deeply enjoy and got me through a lot of hard times with these videos. I honestly wish you the best of times and once again thank you.

Exurb1a: says anything. Me: Wow dude.

the snake on the mountain is my favourite short story

Thanks, man. This made me kinda way more emotional than I expected. You're one of the content creators I admire most - because your stuff never fails to ignite some kind of passion or curiosity or wonder in me. And hey, that's all that being a human being is about pretty much. In a time where I look around and it seems everyone is sorta talking about nothing at all, it's immensely relieving and joy-inducing to see how many people share this same sense of wonder and desire to create and communicate cool, meaningful stuff. I hope to meet as many passionate individuals as I can, and I hope I can get to share what's in my mind in a remarkable way too. I'll work for it. Thank you again - both for the advice and for sharing the stuff you make. It's meaningful, it's worth it, see you next vid!

Just watching this a year late but one of the only reasons I graduated high school was from a little inspiration from watching the old woman on the mountain video. It’s killing to hear how you struggled making it and the finished result is what helped me push through the struggle and get to where I am now.

"You're going back to Portsmouth" "I love you" Yea... I think not, Portsmouth is a heckhole,

This guy is literally just incredible...every video just entertains indefinitely

"and then we'll be okay" is personally my favourite video of yours, and I believe I've watched it 20-30 times man im glad you worked on it for so long and ended up finishing it! keep at it man

I love your words, ideas and your voice. Please continue learning, trying, refining and releasing new stuff. Thanks

Me: Trying to fall asleep at 1:10 AM exurba1a: Stop procrastinating... now. Me: 😦

"Your subconscious is smarter than you are!" I know *that* - I just wish the beggar was better at communicating it to Mr Ego here.

Love you dude. You writings touch my soul. 🤗 Be strong, they are worth it in the end. If only to see how far they go.

I've had the drive to write for years. This may just have been the video I needed to see to finally convince me to start, and for that I thank you. For myself, and I'm sure the countless others of your ~500,000 views, that you have convinced to begin, or continue their creative journeys

Dude, idk why, but whenever i listen to you i see you like some kind of almost demi-god and the way you treat subjects gives me goos-bumps. Thank you so much for beeing here and telling us all to get out colective shit together, and start doing art if thats what we wish. Love ya dude A fellow artist :)

"That is probably the main function of art; to lie as truthfully as possible and to capture some aspects of our condition that we all suffer with but haven't addressed together yet." Words of true *chef kiss* wisdom.

I just want to thank the algorithm for recommending your videos to me. Watching your videos has been surreal. It feels like you are some sort of ascended being who has reached a different level of consciousness and is trying to educate us and helping us reach that same level. Your videos are possibly the best on RU-vid (atleast on a philosophical level) and I really enjoy watching them. I really think about binging your videos but I just cannot do it because I know I will come down with a headache.. Sorry for the rant... Love your content and you made this quarantine epic

'And then we'll be ok' is BY FAR the Best video I have ever seen on this platform, and likely any other. It is just pure, beautiful art! Thank you so much for sharing it with us. It was the very first of your videos I had ever seen, I was blown away, speechless! I am buying your books and cannot wait to read 'The Fifth Science.'

I was actually thinking the other day, “where the turtle dude go”

I have two ways I achieve creation of stuff: 1. Pure chance & multitude of highspeed-trains of thought going through my brain: I use this on occasion when I don't know what to make, but *want* to make something (quickly); either as a form of doodling or for a purpose (this can be drawing, writing or composing, and can either be for myself, the internet or for a school project). Depending on the medium of art, I use different ways, but it all boils down to me, using pure chance as limiter and inspirer, and my always-racing multitrack mind to form an idea out of what is in front of me. Ex. for drawing: I take a canvas (paper, tablet, etc), close my eyes, and just wiggle with a pencil. I make loops, big ones, small ones, sometimes I stop mid-stroke and move to another corner, until I feel I did enough, and open my eyes. I then proceed to just stare at the mess and try to make out shapes. Sometimes, I squint my eyes to make my vision a bit blurry, or I turn around the paper, or decide to close my eyes again and squiggle some more. Then, when I see a thing I want to work with, I take a sharpie, or fineliner or whatever, and start contouring that shape. Last step would be what exurb1a called 'refinement'. Just add details, etc. Ex. for writing: I have many ways to leave what I'll write about up to chance. One of them is asking people for prompts as my 'limiters'. Another one would be writing them down and putting them in a hat (or a program that does the drawing for me), then draw limiters until I just... get an idea. Just leaving it up to chance, and my brain, to make an idea appear. 2. Have an idea and expound on it through drafts, or *find* an idea and just keep on molding it until my brain says 'yes, with *this* I can work': Sometimes I do something (draw something, write a paper, write fiction, etc.) simply because I'm told to do it (especially with writing papers for uni, or when I want to make a *really* specific fanfic that has to incorporate certain elements). I am either instantly inspired and only need to finish a few drafts before I'm satisfied. Or, when I really have no idea where to start, I start with a Mindmap to make connections *outside* of my brain; I'm basically using the Mindmap as my unconscious mind and inspiration-soundboard. This last one can also easily be accomplished by talking with someone about it ;) I hope that I could help some of you with my personal experience

I love this goddamn voice that just keeps me sane and comeback at the perfect time , thank you for your work

THIS IS AMAZING YOU'RE AMAZING For some reason, I've been thinking a LOTTTT about working on my novel again for the past 3 days and this was the epic leap.