How to Get Unstuck

On frazzles, feelings, creative frosts, and beginning again.

Q: What’s the cure for a maker-of-things who feels stuck, blocked, or uninspired to make the things?

A: JUST START MAKING A THING

Writers and artists of all stripes say it, and I'm here this week to say it to you directly—and remind myself. Like just about everything I teach and rhapsodize about, it's a lesson I'm constantly learning, too. Practicing, practicing. . .

As fantastic as it feels when it happens, if we wait around for that sparkly bolt of inspiration to hit us before we get down to the business of making our things (whatever they are), we end up spending a whole lot of time waiting instead of making. It's frustrating, discouraging, frazzling, and unproductive. Not to mention those feelings have a way of nosing into the rest of our experience, souring the vibe.

If we're feeling precious about the process, let's just knock it off and get on with it already. Much of it will be scrap, and that's fine. In fact, it's necessary! Gems dig up from a whole lot of dirt; the dirt is an essential component of their creation. And we all know that regardless what we're digging up, it feels so much better to stop fucking around and just take action—begin again. And why on earth do we resist it? Beginnings are the best part! Again and again and again. (This is the Zen of creative work! More on this later for sure.)

There's a simple line about working in one of Elizabeth Gilbert's books (Big Magic, I think it was—great read) that really stuck with me when I came across it, and the sentiment resonates here. It's one of those that just comes randomly skipping through my head from time to time:

"I sit at my desk and I work like a farmer."

A farmer! Sunny, rainy, spectacular hot pink sunrise, half the orchard blasted by an early frost, doesn't matter. You get out there and you get to work.

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An experiment:

MAKING STUFF IS WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO MAKE STUFF! It's weird, right? But you know it’s true! And it’s actually kind of magical. I know I say that a lot but seriously, if this isn't magic, what is? You’re the one who controls the inspiration spigot. Instead of tapping it bashfully, going “is this thing on?”, just TURN. IT. ON. Pick a time today (you're already here—how about now?), get in your overalls, grab the keys to the getaway tractor and get the hell outta here. It only goes 7 miles per hour! That's cool—just fire it up and hit the gas. Bye!

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Love and light from the margins,

ali ✨

Star in the Margin is free and open to all, but does require lots of time, love, and energy! If you’re into the vibe and want to cheer me on. . .