creative focus workshop
There is no gatekeeper. There is no gate.
A few weeks ago, I assigned my art students a fun project, a “forgery” of an artist they admire and want to learn from. One student picked Michelangelo. (I talked her down from trying a fresco—in two weeks—to imitating his red chalk studies.) She copied his work in her sketchbook every day. She went to…
Read MoreWant out of the scarcity trap? Stop working so hard.
If I want to invent a new future, one where I can do more by doing less, where I can make smart choices that allow me to have more impact in the world, building in margin is the only way to get there.
Read More5 steps to Creative Focus, in sickness and in health
Writer Jennie Spotila says, “I thought my disability was a barrier to writing my book when, in fact, my disability just presented me with harder choices. Making art is part of you, and when you are sick, you need to remember who you are.”
Read MoreFocus + accountability = massively improved creative productivity…now that’s math anyone can love
Coni felt like she should be making progress on all of these goals, that she should be able to hit her deadlines on five things at once.
This is on top of her job, mind you.
Now she’s actually getting things done. What’s her secret?
Read MorePerfectionism is not your real problem.
Have you published your essay online? Have you sent your book to reviewers? Have you submitted your comic to that anthology you love? Is your website up? Have you actually told anyone it’s up? Have you shown your new work to… anybody? Have you even let yourself spend time on your new work? No? What’s stopping…
Read MoreWhat happens when you let your demons run loose (spoiler: good things)
You should be making your creative work every day. You should be spending more time with your family and friends. You should spend a lot more time in selling your work. You shouldn’t have to sell anything: your work should speak for itself. You should be much further along in your career. You should give…
Read MoreThis is why you’re procrastinating, and how to stop
I know you’re serious about your creative work. Whether or not that work is your job, your self-generated projects are the key to your future self. Which is why it’s so crazy that when you sit down to face that work (if you even get that far), you squirm and end up on social media…
Read MoreGrowing Gills: How to Find Creative Focus When You’re Drowning in Your Daily Life
Go from overwhelmed, anxious, and stuck, to consistent, clear, and in control of your creative life.
Read MoreYou’re working hard, but have you set the right goals?
When you are trying to reach your life goals, getting the work done is not the key problem. The problem is, WHICH work?
Read MoreThe value of simple goals
Obviously, one can be overburdened with things that need doing, and that can make getting creative work done very difficult.
But it’s not actually freedom from all the things that makes the work possible.