Making stuff is hard.

In fact, when I sat down to write this month’s Kwikspell article, I had a really difficult time convincing myself to do it. I put it off for a few weeks, then wrote a few paragraphs while I was alone in the woods, and then my friendly neighborhood ‘Pedia editor helped keep me on task so that I could finish it. It took a variety of approaches and it’s still far from my favorite thing I’ve written, but I’ve finished it and put it out there so other people can get what they want from it. So today we’re going to talk about ways to keep making stuff when it feels really challenging to do so – how to push through that block or find other ways to keep creating.

Try Something New

Sometimes the inspiration or the energy just isn’t there. Some people work well by forcing themselves to keep their attention on it, working towards a solution they can’t quite see. Other people are better off distracting themselves, going for a walk or taking a break to do something else and letting the ideas flow without pressure. My advice here is a bit challenging: the next time you find yourself feeling stuck, try the path that feels less instinctive for you. If normally you’d take a break when the going gets tough, try sticking it out! There’s no one-size-fits-all solution here, so try some different tactics every now and then. You might surprise yourself by finding a new workflow that suits you.

Working on a different but related project is another great way to help yourself get un-stuck. Maybe creating a brand new beat will lead you to the creation of an amazing new song! If you go back and revisit your original project, that’s great, but sometimes abandoning ship and moving on to something else can be just as useful. But again, if you feel yourself always abandoning projects around the same spot (for example: I hate writing second verses, they’re my least favorite part to write in any song) then use that knowledge and work on ways to better navigate those trouble spots. Now that I know I hate writing second verses, I often try out different song structures so that I don’t fall back on my old standby of just writing terrible filler lyrics and then keeping them forever. There was a better way to deal with my problem, I just had to find it.

Find (Or Be) A Cheerleader

Encouragement is what keeps a lot of people creating. Some people can provide that encouragement for themselves, can spur themselves on by recognizing what cool stuff they’ve done so far. That’s great! If you have that superpower, definitely use it when you’re having a hard time. But if you don’t have that skill polished up yet, reach out to somebody else and tell them you’re looking for somebody to build you up and cheer you on. Sometimes, just presenting a problem to someone else will help you understand it differently or see things in a new light. It can be scary to reach out, but trusted friends are on your side and will often have just the right words to help you keep on going. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need!

Set a Deadline

Sometimes the best way to finish a project is to add a little pressure. You can set an arbitrary deadline for yourself – I’m going to release this album on December 1st! – or you can find a project that will hold you accountable. Last month I finished writing a song for Transfiguration: A Comp for Trans Rights. I knew that if I didn’t finish writing the song quickly, I wouldn’t have enough time to record it. They set a deadline and if I missed it, my song wouldn’t get to be included. That external motivation helped me to push through the harder and more boring parts of songwriting. If I hadn’t had a deadline to adhere to, I might not have finished the song at all and would have just left it as an unfinished chorus in my song-reference graveyard. Even though nobody would have ever known or been mad at me if I’d missed the deadline, it was enough of a goal to work towards that it helped keep me on track. If deadlines help you create, look for those projects around you (like the Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Jam, which gives gives you one month to respond to a prompt) or invent your own.

Adjust Your Expectations

Not everything will turn out just like you imagined, especially when you’re translating an idea from your brain into something tangible. Give yourself the freedom to change and grow away from that original vision. Even if what you’re making seems to be falling short of what you’d hoped for, don’t give up on it. Think of other ways you can reach for that dream version – find an online tutorial to help get that beat closer to what you wanted, or try asking a friend to provide a skillset you lack. If you’re terrible at piano, you can either work to get better at piano, find somebody who can do it for you, or go without it altogether. All options will lead you somewhere new and interesting!

It’s a simple fact that few things in life turn out perfect. You have to learn to be proud of what you’ve achieved, even if it’s not entirely what you wanted. It’s fine to strive to be better, but don’t let that ambition rob you of seeing the good in what you’ve already made. There’s always something good in there, even if it’s just a few cool lyrics or a really nice chord progression. If you can teach yourself to see value in the small things, you’ll feel less discouraged when you go to make more.

Trust Yourself, and Trust Your Audience

Sometimes it can be hard to put the stuff you’ve made out into the world where other people can see it. The things you make are personal, and it can make even the most confident person feel vulnerable to put their art out there. You can make things and keep them all to yourself – there’s something magical about creating something just to make it, and not worrying about putting it on display or sharing it with others. But a lot of times we get scared to display something we really do want others to see. It can be nervous-making to leave something online and just hope that people will see it and like it. But if you feel this way, know that you’re not alone – a lot of people feel insecure about things they create. Almost everyone who makes things has felt this way at some point, maybe even at every point. There’s a risk-taking element in sharing things you make, but I think it’s usually worth it, especially in this community.

When you’re debating sharing something, take a minute to recognize what it is you’re nervous about. Are you worried no one will listen? Afraid no one will like it? Is it a fear that people will judge you for it or say unkind things? Looking your fears in the face can be scary, but it’s often worthwhile (as long as you don’t give them extra power). Some fears you can mitigate with simple steps – if you’re afraid of negative commentary, you can just say when you post that you’re only looking for positive feedback or you can disable comments altogether. You can share your work with only like-minded groups (like The Wizard Rock Revival) to maximize the chance that your creation is seen and celebrated. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need, even if what you need is validation or reassurance that you made something good.

Somtimes, despite all of that, things still won’t go your way. It’s okay to be disappointed if something you made wasn’t received in the way you hoped for – maybe nobody left you glowing comments, or you’re not sure anyone even listened to your demo. Acknowledge that disappointment but don’t let it discourage you – there are so many other factors in how people react to art that you can have no control over and no responsibility for.

Remember Why You Do This

Not every idea will be finished, and not every finished idea will be amazing. But that’s totally okay! The most important thing is that you get something out of the creation process – that you enjoy the challenge, or thrill in the creative release, or find contentment in exploring new ideas. It’s enough to just enjoy a few moments of making something. 

Maybe you make a thing to share with a friend that makes both of you smile or laugh. That’s huge value – that’s a brilliant creation. Not every piece of art has to make it out of your house and into the wide world. Everyone wants their work to be liked and loved, but it’s hard to know when that happens online. Not everybody will tell you they liked your song or even that they listened to it, but somebody ten years from now may very well still have the lyrics memorized, might sing it to themself while driving to work. It’s impossible to ever see or feel the true scope of your legacy, so – at the risk of giving really biased advice here – don’t worry about it. Just make things because you enjoy making things, because you like the way they make you feel. 

Don’t get caught up in the long-term dreams or the fears; those things are down the line, and they will come and go as fears and dreams do. But for the moment you can make something new. You can make something you like and it can make you feel good. Maybe ten people see it, maybe thousands, or maybe only you. But it’s good enough. The things you make are beautiful, moving, and magical. Or maybe they’re small, silly, and mediocre. Those things are good too. They often have worth beyond what you can see. And I really and truly believe that the world is better for the things you make, and say, and do. So acknowledge your fears and then keep creating anyway.