Blog
Articles on finishing self-generated work and building expertise-based creative businesses, with the Creative Engine, Ground Truth, and Capacity frameworks.
should monster
The Should Monster: Your inner critic is trying to protect you (it’s just bad at it)
Trying to silence your inner critic is literally why it won’t shut up. But you can stop the inner critic from stealing your creative time when you know how to figure out what it’s actually trying to tell you, so you can finally calm it down.
Happiness and Productivity: You need to treat yourself like a dog
If we all agree that punishment and cruelty don’t work on others, why are they your go-tos when it comes to changing your own less-than optimal behaviors?
Perfectionism 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 you? I’ll tell you what it’s NOT. It’s not “perfectionism.” Perfectionism implies that you just have really high standards for yourself. Calling your problem perfectionism makes you feel as if you are being virtuous and discerning. That is not what’s going on here. Yes, obviously you want your work to be great. But you know—at least on an intellectual level—that the process of becoming great…
Growing 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.