9 Things to STOP Doing if You Want to Create More Art
How to break through creative blocks and get yourself in a creative flow state so you can create more films, web series, and movies that are uniquely yours.
“I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets: ‘Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, magic, and power in it. Begin it now.’”
— STEVEN PRESSFIELD, THE WAR OF ART
In 2020, unemployed and isolated in my apartment, I somehow managed to write the most projects I’ve ever written. I credit this ability, this special gift of being able to escape into my creativity and bring to life new work even through hard times, to my chaotic childhood.
When I was a little girl enduring abusive and traumatic situations, it was artwork - my own and others - that saved my life. I spent endless days and nights curled up with a book or snuggled in front of a tv screen, reading and watching stories that transported me to other worlds and made me believe in better days. Art gave me strength and belief that I could endure my hardship, like the characters I loved endured their own. Art set me free in a time where I was captive to circumstances and situations that were beyond my control. Art helped me cope. It calmed my thoughts, helped me express my feelings, gave me something to laugh about, and taught me that I was not alone.
Art is made for times like these. Art is to be made for times like these. Creating in times of crisis is not a belittlement of the crisis. On the contrary, works made in times of crisis are critical to the survival of so many people. Myself included.
Here is a list of some of the things I had to stop doing in order to create more art, no matter the circumstances. I hope this list provides you with not only some encouragement, but manageable actions you can take if you are looking to connect to your creativity and your art more, even in times of chaos and uncertainty. Because whether you’re a writer, filmmaker, musician, or artist of any kind, one thing I know for sure is this: we need your story. We need your art. KEEP CREATING!
9 Things to STOP Doing if You Want to Create More
1. FEARING FAILURE.
Failing is how you learn. Anyone who has ever succeeded at anything has failed more times than you will probably ever know. Because the truth is, if you try anything at all, you will absolutely experience periods of failure, rejection, embarrassment, the works. It sucks at times, but it’s necessary. You literally cannot grow unless you put yourself way out of your comfort zone. Failing is like lifting weights. Man, it can hurt. You (and your ego) might be sore. But every time you show up at the gym, and push yourself to fail again, you are getting stronger and closer to your goal. One of the greatest gifts you can give yourself as an artist is permission to stop fearing failure. Welcome it with open arms. It’s going to be an inevitable part of the journey. It will inform the person you become, the perspective you gain and the art you create. Instead of viewing failure as something to overcome or defeat, view it as a necessary part of the process. An asset. Failure makes you better. Why fear that?
2. CARING ABOUT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK.
This one is easier said than done. We all have the tendency to cause ourselves stress or anxiety, filling our minds with near-constant worry about what other people might think of us or our creations. We fear someone is going to say something crushing, or confirm our greatest fears about ourselves - that we don’t know anything, we’re losers, and we don’t belong. Did you know that most of the time, people are too busy obsessing over themselves and their own insecurities to even pause to think about you for a second? It’s harsh but true. Any time spent anticipating someone’s reaction to you or your work is time that you could be creating instead. Ditch that worry and replace it with inspiration. Create for your own soul’s sake, and let your art be a reward in itself. Who cares what other people think. Say they think you’re annoying or your art is dumb. It’s only a matter of seconds before they start thinking about themselves again. Don’t let anyone else’s perception of you have any power over your life. It’s yours. Do what you love, with what you have, while you are here. Haters gonna hate, and you don’t need to waste any of your valuable time worrying about them. You’re an artist. You’re here to create.
3. DEMANDING PERFECTION.
Perfection is a MYTH. It does not exist. The end. Let it go. You’re human, you’re flawed, your work will be flawed, and that is more than okay. Wanna know the truth? Those are your assets. Your mistakes and missteps are what make you uniquely you, and what connects you to others. Being imperfect is inherently human. Humans want to see, interact with, and hear stories from other humans who own their flaws. Nobody wants to hear from someone who acts as if their shit doesn’t stink. Let go of the myth of perfection. Release yourself from that unattainable, elusive idea that there is such a thing as a “perfect” piece of art. That is a lie, and if you don’t check it, it can keep you paralyzed. Instead of hiding your gifts or your art because you fear they’re not good enough, embrace your imperfections and just make some moves, however sloppy they may be. Release the idea that you can control the outcome of your creation, perfecting it beyond fault or criticism. Dive into the messiness. It’s way more interesting and liberating that way. I guarantee it.
4. BEING IMPATIENT.
Oh man, this one is hard for me. I have had a lifelong tendency of wanting what I want when I want it and getting really frustrated that things don’t happen in real life the way they do in my fantasies. But we all know that’s not how life works. Nothing worthwhile was ever achieved in an instant. It takes consistent, daily effort to achieve greatness. There’s a quote from Gary Vee that goes like this - “Here’s the beautiful thing about becoming better: it’s just a matter of time.” We can all be susceptible to being harsh with ourselves if we aren’t progressing at the rapid pace we naively planned when we were younger. But most of the time, we are impatient because we are comparing our own lives to some false “American dream” timeline that we were sold in school. It’s all bullshit! There are no real rules, no real timelines, no guarantees that life or your art career will go your way, on your time. The best thing you can do is show up for yourself every day, and create what and how you want, knowing that if you build it, they will come. And as long as you’re alive, you have the precious gift of time. Don’t waste it. Enjoy the journey. Take in the views as you climb. Don’t waste your life wishing to be further along. Do what you can with what you have, right now. The rest will fall into place.
5. COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS.
It may sound cheesy or cliche, but it’s true. Comparison is the thief of joy. I don’t remember the exact quote, but I once listened to a podcast where Oprah said something along the lines of, “Stay in your movie.” The idea behind what she was saying is that most of us tend to look at celebrities or our more successful peers and think how amazing their lives must be. But we only think that because we are looking at their curated highlight reels, their photos from the award podium, the top of the mountain. We aren’t seeing the whole picture of their lives, the whole movie. Their lives could come crashing down in the next moment, or they might be experiencing some deep loss that no one knows about, with their podium or mountaintop photo being the only thing going their way at that moment. The point is, we don’t know the full picture of anyone else’s story. We don’t know what they are carrying or where they are going. So we shouldn’t waste time making ourselves feel worse because we aren’t them. Have gratitude for all you have where you are, and focus on the future you want to build. Stay in your movie. And make it a good one by prioritizing your own life instead of obsessing over how someone else is living theirs.
6. JUDGING YOURSELF.
We all do it. We all say things to ourselves that we would never allow a friend to say to themselves. We can all be our own harshest critics. It probably stems from our own specific childhood traumatic experiences, times we received harmful messaging and internalized it as truth. But if all you do is judge yourself, and never build yourself or your creativity up, you’re continuing the harmful cycle of judgment that was passed down to you. Stop the cycle of abuse. Make a choice to practice self-compassion. Start a journal and try daily exercises of speaking gratitude and appreciation over yourself. Pat yourself on the back for being alive, being creative, and not giving up. Speak to yourself like a friend. Build yourself up, don’t tear yourself down. You and your art deserve to be treated sacredly. And it all starts with how you speak to yourself. Speak kindly.
7. PROCRASTINATING.
The hardest part of any creative work is getting started. Just do it. It might suck at first, but what will suck more is never starting and never trying. So, try. Sit down and try. One word at a time. One daily goal at a time. There’s this great quote from one of my favorite books called THE WAR OF ART. It goes like this: “Resistance is directly proportional to love. If you're feeling massive Resistance, the good news is that it means there's tremendous love there too.” I believe we procrastinate, we resist, because we really care about creating. We care about our art. We want it to be good. To reflect our hearts in a way we can be proud of. Honor the immense care that you have for your work. And sit down to work every day. Don’t be afraid to begin, over and over again. Because to create anything, first, you have to show up. You have to sit down and do the work. Start with small, daily goals, and you’ll be surprised how far the momentum will take you. But first things first: START!
8. RESISTING REJECTION.
As much as I wish it wasn’t, rejection is essential to growth. To avoid the sting of rejection means to avoid life itself. The only way to experience connection, fulfillment, and success is to be brave enough to put yourself and your art out there. To risk being seen. Instead of viewing any rejection as a sign that you’re unworthy of success, try viewing rejection as essential to your journey. Take each “no” as a sign that you’re getting closer and closer to what you want. (Also, it’s okay to cry. I usually reserve myself one day/night to feel sorry for myself and nurse the feelings that come up with rejection. But then, I watch or listen to something that reminds me of the power of art, and I remember that the reason I am here is so much bigger and stronger than any email, casting director, festival, or letter that rejects me.) We all have a purpose. I am here to tell stories. Stories help people heal. What’s your purpose, what’s the reason you create? Remember that. Write it down and put it in a place you can see it. Remind yourself of your “why.” No rejection should stop you from your purpose. Feel it, trash it, and keep creating.
9. BEING A FUCKING CYNIC.
There are times we all want to throw in the towel. Sometimes our hopes get too high or we’ve been working at something for too many years and we’re not sure we can handle another rejection. Or maybe our former classmates or peers we admire seem to be climbing the ladder of success far faster than us, and it makes us feel slow and small. It’s so easy to get tired of all of the ups and downs that come with living an artist’s life. It’s easy to get down on yourself and cynical about your industry, your career, the world, etc. But as much as it might feel like a way to protect yourself from the hurt that you feel by having a cynical attitude, that kind of thinking and speaking won’t lead to anything useful for your life or career. The thoughts that we entertain and the words that we use are immensely powerful, and I believe that if you choose imagination and hope over cynicism and hopelessness, your life and art will be fuller, brighter, and richer. To be an artist is to see beyond what others can see. To create is to trust in the uncertainty, dive within, and take the risk of sharing what you found on the other side. As tempting as it might be, do not give in to doubt. Your art, your life, your dreams deserve your heartfelt belief. Don’t be a fucking cynic. Be a fucking dreamer. Believe in possibilities. Show up for yourself. Every day. You deserve it.
I hope this list proves helpful to you, wherever you might be on your creative journey. To close, here’s another quote from THE WAR OF ART. I hope it resonates with your soul the way it does with mine.
“Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It’s a gift to the world and every being in it. Don’t cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you’ve got.”
— STEVEN PRESSFIELD, THE WAR OF ART: WINNING THE INNER CREATIVE BATTLE
Thanks for reading! If you’re a creative looking for support, check out our BOB COLLECTIVE page on this site to learn more and apply to our mentorship program and community Brave Open Beings. And be sure to pick up a copy of THE WAR OF ART for even more inspiration on how to stop resisting and start creating your art, daily!
