Acknowledge that creative work involves repeated attempts and failures; expect to make multiple versions of a project, learning and improving with each iteration.
Shift focus from achieving a single goal to finding happiness in moment-to-moment experiences, actively trying to be present and appreciative of things you might otherwise overlook.
Seek out and work with incredibly talented people whose opinions you trust and with whom you are comfortable being vulnerable and embarrassed, as this is essential for the challenging early stages of creation.
Recognize that first drafts or early versions of work will often appear ’lousy’; develop the experience to see the worthwhile core and resist the urge to judge and dismiss it prematurely.
When forming new habits like meditation, start with a smaller, less ambitious commitment (e.g., three to five minutes instead of 30) to make it easier to maintain consistency and prevent giving up.
Challenge the narrative that missing a few days means losing a habit; instead, view it as common and simply restart, understanding that the habit is still ‘always there’ and can be resumed.
Choose creative projects that genuinely intrigue you as a person and that you would personally want to engage with, as this deep interest will sustain you through the long commitment required for major works.
Approach storytelling as a process of discovery rather than strict construction, learning from attempts and allowing the narrative to evolve through experimentation and testing.
During the initial creative phase, put on ‘blinders’ to external judgment and write as rawly as possible, deferring worries about how people will react or misread your work until later stages.
Engage in walking to generate ideas and deepen thought, as it helps avoid distractions common at a computer; carry a pen and paper to capture insights that arise.
Regularly disconnect from distractions like podcasts during activities such as walking, forcing yourself to be more aware and engaged with your immediate environment.
Use drawing or sketching as a practice to observe things more deeply, as the act of rendering an object forces a focus on form and interaction that imprints it in your brain.
Recognize meditation and prayer as essential practices for mental well-being and personal growth, even if habit formation is a struggle.
As you age, reduce the need to label beliefs as ‘right’ or ‘wrong,’ instead becoming more open to and energized by ideas from various traditions and understandings.
Understand that your personal beliefs and understanding of complex concepts are not static but are constantly shifting, growing, and deepening over time.
Be prepared to discard sequences or scenes that, while interesting, do not actively further the main story or character journey.
When building a fictional world, allow the practical needs of the story’s mechanics (e.g., how characters move from point A to point B) to influence and shape the world’s design and metaphors.
Utilize research, including consulting experts and diverse traditions, not only to avoid offense but also to gain insights that are crucial for developing and enriching your story.
Even when creating fictional worlds, strive for the emotional statement of your work to represent the world in a semi-accurate and truthful way, avoiding artificial happy endings if they don’t feel genuine.
Acknowledge that any creative endeavor involves a significant amount of disciplined, hard work that may not always be fun, and be prepared to show up and make progress consistently.
If possible, reduce the pressure to constantly generate the ’next big idea’ by having other fulfilling responsibilities or by reframing new ideas as ‘gravy’ to be filed away without immediate expectation.