Thanks for writing this. I have been storing story ideas away for a while, waiting till I was ready to write. It’s over 6 months and I have not drafted a single one. This morning I woke up, ready to force myself to write something. In a final act of procrastination, I opened my email and there was your newsletter waiting with the words I needed to hear 🤣
Even though this doesn't feel especially profound to you, this article is very powerful in that it allows for so many others to push through their creative blocks to create and share their own things, and that is important!
I've been thinking in these same terms for years! And it was helpful to see them reflected back, in another voice, in a shared experience. The weight of open loops cripples me. And, particularly with creativity, there does seem to be a drying up of the inspiration and will to create when they accumulate. Some of my more woo friends have said the universe stops entrusting you with ideas when you don't appreciate and act on them.
I have a creative colleague who is constantly in action CREATING but has a lot of difficulty with the finishing touches and ultimately publishing- there is always another work to be written, riff to get on the page, demo to make.
In this rhythm, nothing or very little actually gets taken across the finish line and is published. & Though the creating itself is rewarding and leads to certain positive outcomes (fodder for other projects, wood shedding, skills development) I fear their growing backlog of half finished works & curbed output may be translating to guilt, self doubt, and diminished self worth.
Beautifully written & so articulates my struggle, too. I am quick to think, plan, and come up with ideas, and often far too slow to act on them. Just showing up and doing the thing, however imperfectly, is key! Thanks for the reminder!
actually really enjoyed this more than you might have predicted others to! struggle with this as well, it was comforting to hear what i feel often articulated so well :)
My unpublished folder of half-written drafts and ideas is swelling larger and larger.
I heard a great quote on this topic which is giving me some ease, I know eventually those half-written drafts will be published:
”In my experience, here’s how essays form: You get all these bits of data that stick in your head… file drawers in your head. At a certain point you realize one of the drawers is now full, and you might have an essay.” - Tim Kreider on The Artist at Midlife
Beginning the process often leads to more ideas and a flow state. Ive been guilty of being overwhelmed, wanting to flesh out ideas but not being able to simply because i just don't start doing it. ❤️
As a writer and procrastinator, this hit home.
Thanks for writing this. I have been storing story ideas away for a while, waiting till I was ready to write. It’s over 6 months and I have not drafted a single one. This morning I woke up, ready to force myself to write something. In a final act of procrastination, I opened my email and there was your newsletter waiting with the words I needed to hear 🤣
Even though this doesn't feel especially profound to you, this article is very powerful in that it allows for so many others to push through their creative blocks to create and share their own things, and that is important!
Oof. That hit home, and it made me actually put pen to paper this morning, which is saying something - thank you.
https://thinkingthingsthrough.substack.com/p/in-praise-of-soft-edged-ideas
I've been thinking in these same terms for years! And it was helpful to see them reflected back, in another voice, in a shared experience. The weight of open loops cripples me. And, particularly with creativity, there does seem to be a drying up of the inspiration and will to create when they accumulate. Some of my more woo friends have said the universe stops entrusting you with ideas when you don't appreciate and act on them.
Thoughtful piece- Appreciated this very much!
I have a creative colleague who is constantly in action CREATING but has a lot of difficulty with the finishing touches and ultimately publishing- there is always another work to be written, riff to get on the page, demo to make.
In this rhythm, nothing or very little actually gets taken across the finish line and is published. & Though the creating itself is rewarding and leads to certain positive outcomes (fodder for other projects, wood shedding, skills development) I fear their growing backlog of half finished works & curbed output may be translating to guilt, self doubt, and diminished self worth.
What do you recommend for this individual?
Beautifully written & so articulates my struggle, too. I am quick to think, plan, and come up with ideas, and often far too slow to act on them. Just showing up and doing the thing, however imperfectly, is key! Thanks for the reminder!
actually really enjoyed this more than you might have predicted others to! struggle with this as well, it was comforting to hear what i feel often articulated so well :)
My unpublished folder of half-written drafts and ideas is swelling larger and larger.
I heard a great quote on this topic which is giving me some ease, I know eventually those half-written drafts will be published:
”In my experience, here’s how essays form: You get all these bits of data that stick in your head… file drawers in your head. At a certain point you realize one of the drawers is now full, and you might have an essay.” - Tim Kreider on The Artist at Midlife
"Just show up" is such a simple and yet impactful phrase. I love reading the comment section, look how many people you've ignited. I am inspired!
Beginning the process often leads to more ideas and a flow state. Ive been guilty of being overwhelmed, wanting to flesh out ideas but not being able to simply because i just don't start doing it. ❤️