Creative inspiration – Motivation to keep creating
Does it sometimes feel like you have nothing to create or don’t know what to do? Or you do know but don’t have the motivation to do it. Call it writer’s block, creative block, photographer’s block, or whatever.
Let me reignite that flame.
Do it for you
Challenge yourself every day with your craft. Do it for you. Allow others to see the results of you challenging yourself creatively.
How can you keep writing, taking photos, drawing, painting or play your instrument when you don’t feel like it?
Have fun with it. Create in silence. There’s no need to show it to anyone. That can remove some of the pressure to create something “perfect”. Try to remind yourself why you enjoy doing what you’re doing. Photograph, draw, write about the things you like. But keep the ball rolling. Dabble. Scribble. Keep the creative juices flowing.
Make sure you have a project that’s there to further your craft. Something outside of what you’re creating every day. A project with someone, an organisation or a brand. A project where you are taking a creative risk to push your limits to provide them with the best creative work you can produce.
Throw yourself into a situation where you have no idea what you’re doing or what you’re going to do. That’s where the magic happens. It gives you the opportunity to push your creative limits.
“Never let perfection get in the way of good enough.”
A system I found to be most helpful is to create a new article as soon as possible. To get words on paper immediately.
I’ll leave it and come back to it the next day with a fresh perspective. Then I tweak a few things from the previous day’s work and add to it. Two to three days before I publish, I have a friend or two read through it to give constructive criticism.
Then I begin to edit without mercy. If there is the slightest doubt about a sentence or message I’m trying to get across, it’s either changed or deleted. This process of elimination helps to keep it simple and removes most of the fluff, leaving only the most valuable information.
Do everything you can do, but then let it be. “Send your child to school“. Hit the publish button and allow it to do its thing. Now you can begin to receive feedback from your community to find out what worked and what didn’t. This gives you the opportunity to improve your next piece of work.
Do the best you can today. It might not be your overall best, but it’s the best you can do today. Tomorrow you can try again.
Discipline
Don’t wait until you “feel like it“. You might never feel like it.
Do a little bit every day. Don’t overwhelm yourself. Allow yourself to get into the creative flow. Create an opportunity for yourself to get into the creative flow by spending just a few minutes on what you want to do.
Continue to do.
Step by step. Not leap by leap.
Begin with a word, a brushstroke, a piano key, a press of a shutter button.
Allow time for the habit to form of being able to create a little bit every day.
If you don’t feel like creating, and you don’t create, that loop will keep going. On the contrary, if you are creating daily or weekly, it becomes easier to keep that up. If you learn the skill and habit of creating, even when you don’t feel like it, isn’t that what every artist wants?
Even if you don’t upload what you’ve created, you still created something. Something good or worth sharing might be born out of it. You never know, and that’s why it’s important to keep creating. When you reach into the unknown world of creativity, who knows what you’re going to pull out?
Stick to your discipline. Excercise on your passion, skill, and the love you have for your craft. Sometimes it isn’t just about creating with the intention of showing it to thousands of people. You can also create because you want to and enjoy doing it.
Now go and keep creating.
The last two lines are perfect, exactly what I need right now. Thanks.
Glad I could help! 😀
💓 I like what you wrote, I agree with all of it
I do just what you talked about & it helps & works.
That’s wonderful to hear! Good luck and have fun! 😀
That’s what it’s all about right? having fun
& learning new things & expressing things.
Absolutely! 🙂
So true, Keep on keeping on …..
Thank you for this important message. I agree with all you said. I have a daily post and can sometimes feel inadequate. But discipline, dabbling and mission will move me into the zone of creativity. I also find I need tamp down fear and ego. Thank you again.
It sounds like you’re already on the right path and know exactly what you need to do. Keep on keeping on 🙂
Thank you for the advice you’ve given in your excellent article about the way forward. No doubting yourself, just go with the flow, and see where it takes you in the end. I write because I like to put my imagination into words. If people like what I write is not all important. I’m trying anyway to get my stories across. 😊
That’s great to hear! You’ve already gotten out of your own way. Now you’re just creating because you enjoy it 🙂
Thanks for sharing your insights and motivation! Appreciate it!
It’s such a pleasure! 🙂
Thanks so much. This is exactly what I need to hear right now. I really appreciate
I’m so glad it meant something to you! 🙂
I am so glad I slowed down my day long enough to read this because it’s what’s going to take me into 2022 with much added motivation and inspiration to just DO IT — all those things that I creatively want to do and all those things I simply want to experience. Loved This and Thank you for the motivation!
Haha! I’m going to check up on you next year this time! Go and do it for you! 🙂
So true, doing your passion and keep on doing each and everyday create in us joy beyond reach. So well said and very motivational post .Great sharing!
So glad you liked it! 🙂
Yes, you’ve written it so well.😍
Thanks for the reminder. I am a writer of stories and singer who too often gets side tracked by time eating administrative “to dos” before I get around to doing what I love….and then I am exhausted. This was a reminder that setting aside time to create and not feeling guilty about saying “no” to other requests for my attention will turn the key to another realm.
Perfect motivation for the days I don’t feel like working on a project. Thanks.
I gave my self a one liner or in this case one word. Consistency. Being consistent avalanches!
That’s very true!
My business coach pointed this out. I worked with her for several years about the business end of art. Learning how to be an art entrepreneur. It is important to have such a person and have them understand art, or photography even. Same thing. For an artist it should not be just all studio, selling what you do needs to happen! Or art will just sit there. I am working on this part of Anisette Studios. Websites are important, and courting patrons is.
That’s also very true. Artists need to eat. Not many artists are good at sales, hence working with someone who can fill that gap can be extremely beneficial.
I was lucky to run across Catherine Orer. She is doing pod cast now and these are great!
Thank you for telling me about her! I’ll have a look at her work 🙂
To Every Thing There IS A Season, and All Rivers RunTo the Sea I ijus love having these words to trigger my own thoughts. They inspire.me, Her words ar as I would day them. Mary Chrisnass Christmas!
What beautiful words of encouragement! I needed this! Thank you, Hannes!
It’s my pleasure, Karla! I’m glad I could help 🙂
☺️
This is excellent. It seems to be really easy to get stuck on that ‘wheel’ of expectations of the why’s of creating things, thus the “do it for you.” can really hit home. I also like the part about create in silence. To me, that says, cut the noise and get to the heart of things. The idea of step by step is really great, too.
I’m so glad it resonated with you 🙂
Bang on 👊🙌
I love the message! Thank you for this. This is so inspiring 🌸
It’s such a pleasure!
Aw yis. ‘Just do it’ could be one of the best slogans ever made, because so often we need to push ourselves to do what’s important to us, instead of just relying on motivation. Anyway, thanks for this post!
Absolutely! My pleasure. Glad you enjoyed it 😀
Great Work !
Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Inspiring and motivating energy in this post! It is truly a blessing to see the fruits harvested from our own creations.
The points are informative and interesting. I feel like sometimes my mind goes blank and won’t let me to get any ideas. Thank you
Keeping the Creative Flow going!! I 💯 agree. Stopping has always gotten me nowhere! Stopping usually means ‘perfection’ kicks in. Thanks for the wonderful reminder!
This is❤️
<3
Awesome! Fabulous. Thank you so much for this motivational post. Keep posting. This post inspires me to keep writing.
I’m so glad to hear that! 🙂
Dr. BJ Fogg says it best “High levels of motivation are both scattershot and unsustainable.” I read his book and wrote a review after years of beating myself up about not being motivated. A creative professional will do much better work if they make habits and rituals. This is also the basis of Steven Pressfield’s book “The War of Art”.
Needed this! Artist blocks are no joke.
what’s the best way to stay consistent according to you…
Best way to stay consistent? Discipline.
Coincidentally, I’m in a writer’s block moment right now, though it’s been happening more of late as well. I’m on revision 3 of a blog (I start with revision zero which is a very free flow of what’s on my mind). I’ve noticed the more revisions, the more writer’s block. But thanks for the words of encouragement for everyone out there – and now I’ll get back to writing.
Haha. No worries. This article has 25 revisions. As I mentioned in the article, I begin by getting as many words and ideas on paper as possible. I allow the “right-brain” to take complete control and allow the creativity to flow without any judgement from myself or what I think other people will think.
After I’ve done that, then I begin to revise, over and over again. Until I’ve fine-tuned it the best I can 🙂
I enjoyed your post. There are words of wisdom here, and I am going to refer back to this post when I need a little personal “cheerleading”. My first book was ready almost six motnhs before I submitted the copyright, simply because I culdn’t just let it be. And even now, eight months after I submitted, i am still finding things that could be better. I think it is a curse, actually, this inability to let things proceed as they will. Anyway, great post! Liked and followed!
Don’t think like that. It’s not a curse. You’re blessed. I think Dory from Finding Nemo said it best, “If life gets you down do you know what you got to do? Just keep swimming.” 🙂
lol I like that. Just bummed a bit right now. I published with Ingram Spark, and they produced a well-printed paperback, got me listed with virtually every online seller (except Target), and now, a noth later, I haven’t made any new sales at all. Im have been marketing on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc, and have had zero results. Oh, I retweeted your blog post on Twitter. I hope you don’t mind, I just thought other people could benefit from that advice.
Try to keep in mind that we don’t deserve anything. Sometimes we get things through hard work or as a gift, which we usually refer to as luck.
I don’t mind at all. I appreciate the share! 🙂
Great share. Especially the last two lines are so beautiful and perfect. Thanks for sharing it out.
Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
🙂🙂
This is actually effective to get out of a rut !
<3
Much needed.. Thank you for writing this piece.
Glad I could help Sonia! 🙂
Thank you for these tips!
Such a pleasure!
So true❤️
<3
Thank you for providing me with some much needed inspiration!
It’s such a pleasure!
Worth reading ❣🌸
<3
“Never let perfection get in the way of good enough.”
I’ve had such a problem with this while writing and creating. I’ve got two books in the works and I feel like it has to be perfect the first draft when I know that’s not the case. Thank you so much for this post and the inspiration to just create 🙂
It’s such a pleasure. I’m so glad I could help Jonathon! Best of luck!
I needed to here a LOT of what you mention. Thank you.
So glad I could help! 🙂
Wonderful words… This is what most people need, a nudge of hope to get started. Very enlightening!
<3
I often create drafts and build from them before I post. Very good advice. ☺️
That’s a great method 🙂
I learnt some of this the hard way but then we learn everyday in different ways so I’m ma keep doing it so far its good and what I want.
Thank you.
I’m new here though
That’s great to hear! Keep pushing and learning every day. With time I’ll share more of what I’ve learned over the years.
I hope to Learn from those experienceS
This was a pleasure to read. So many blogs get bogged down by wordiness when they try to motivate, many times just repeating twenty times the same thing in different ways. I’m going to take your advice to heart
I’m so glad you received value from it!
“Do the best you can today. It might not be your overall best, but it’s the best you can do today. Tomorrow you can try again.” This really hit a certain spot in my heart 😻
I’m so glad to hear that! 🙂
“Never let perfection get in the way of good enough.”
Amen, I’m starting a NEW project this winter where
I’m redesigning my goldfish pond outdoors & the other
pond for a guppy pond & both tanks are 110 gal tanks.
I’ve gotten some cool ideas jotted down on what I have
in mind & how I need to do them both it’s going to be
WILD once I get them done & take videos of them.
That sounds fun! Good luck and enjoy your new project! 🙂
👍 thank you, I just got done redoing
the filter to the 110 gal stock tank &
got it going & videoed how it was done.
It turned out pretty good video wise
but the filter turned out AWESOME
I just got done with both the filter &
the video, I’m sitting here watching
it to see how it looks & sounds B-4
I download it on you tube.
This was helpful. Thanks!!
I’m so glad to hear that!
I’m new to blogging and this is the inspiration that I need to keep going ✨💛
I hope you enjoy your journey! 🙂
Wow. Love this just what I needed to see today… God truly moves in mysterious ways.. 🤭
nice one
I find that most people are afraid to suck at something. Like somehow we pop out into the world good at something. I really enjoy the book “Steal Like An Artist”. But this piece of writing really resonates with the book “The Practice” by Seth Godin. I bought it when it first came out but I just picked it up a few weeks ago. I highly recommend it.
I haven’t read that one yet. I’m definitely adding it to my TBR. His books are always so insightful.
So needed to hear that! That ogre of perfection often gets in my way, next to the ogre of busyness…
So glad I could help! 🙂
very good read! Really loved when you said, create in silence. That was powerful for me.
I’m so glad to hear that! Good luck with your creative journey 🙂
Good advice for all kinds of creative projects.
I definitely hope so! 🙂
Thanks very much
My pleasure 🙂
I love this! I like that every writer has imposter syndrome at some point or wants to be perfect. But, unfortunately, there are times where I forget that I need to pull up my lady pants and write like a boss.
Thank you for reminding me of that! 🙂
That’s very true and a good way to put it. It’s so important to have confidence in yourself and your creative work and, like you said, pull up your lady pants and just completely own it.
Have a great day Rachel! 🙂
I love this. Thank you for sharing! ♥
I’m so glad you like it! <3
great advice, I jot down blog post ideas as they hit my brain, either on my phone, on a piece of paper etc
I’m glad you have an effective system as well 🙂
Thanks for the very enlightening hints. Almost all writers have those phases of inactivity but as brought out- just “do it”.
Wish you the best
It’s my pleasure 🙂 That’s absolutely true.
Thank you. To you as well!
Now I write my dorky poems, just because they make me happy!
xo
Wendy
That should be priority number one! 🙂
Hi! your article does hit a sweet spot in my brain! To get the creative flow and to try and modify my perfectionist brain, i want to write daily without judgment and see where that brings me in the next week, month, … so thanks 🙂
I’m so glad you resonated with it 🙂 Good luck and have fun! 🙂
‘Never let perfection get in the way of good enough.’ That made me stop. There is wisdom there. Many of my posts have not made the cut for me to hit ‘publish.’ But writing them fed my soul!
That’s all that matters – personal growth. When you feel comfortable enough to share it with the world, they might also learn from it and grow with you 🙂
Yes. Maybe 😊
I definitely needed to read something like this here recently! Going to finish up the project I’m working on now and then find something that makes me happy to work on.
I’m so glad to hear that! Enjoy and have fun on your new project 🙂
Motivation & discipline’s what keeps me going. Thanks for sharing this amazing post.
Discipline is so important! Keep at it 🙂
This is exactly what I needed, because some days I just don’t feel like creating, I use to think I have to be in this perfect mindset to create but now I understand that discipline goes a long way.
Good luck with your creative journey! 🙂
Have a look at the digital artist Mike Winkelmann aka Beeple. His story might inspire you 🙂
It is a constant struggle but you are right, baby steps is the key. If I don’t feel like it, I’ll set a timer to 15 minutes. Very rarely do I get up after 15 minutes as I have usually found a way in by then.
That is such a clever idea!
Or, as Jill Lublin says and I continue to live by in my writing life, “Done is better than perfect.”
I’ve seen that quote floating around among artists. It’s also something I live by 🙂
I love this! I do the same thing with my drafts. Something about seeing something unfinished inspires me to finish it and makes it easier to think of ideas!
That’s great to hear! I’m glad you also have a system that works for you 🙂
Bravo! I write about creativity all the time. You’ve said it all.
<3
Thank you–I needed to read this!
So glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for sharing this helpful article. I’m feeling motivated to be more creative 😊
I’m so glad to hear that! Have fun 🙂
I have been reading some books recommended by my co-worker and you said basically what the book was saying. Motivation is also discipline and habits…. 🙂
Great, practical and ultimately reward advice.
I’m glad you found it helpful 🙂
Thank you for this beautiful post✨✨
I’m so glad you liked it! 🙂
Comprehensive and excellently written. Thank youo.
Glad you liked it 🙂
Beautiful words.. “Don’t wait until you “feel like it“. You might never feel like it.” . .
I have been there and people have Really gone to lengths to push me.. I salute you.. 😊
I’m so glad you resonated with it 🙂 Keep going!
Sometimes it’s just a matter of starting. Once you get started, it can start to flow, even if you weren’t feeling it before.
You’re absolutely right. Getting started is 50% of the process in my experience 🙂
Loved the information inspiring! thank you !
I’m so glad you liked it 🙂
Beautifully written! 🙂
I needed to find your words today…thanks! bva
I’m so glad it meant something to you 🙂
Thanks, I really liked “Never let perfection get in the way of good enough.”
Or as James Thurber once said, “Don’t get it right, just get it written.”
What a great quote!
Lovely
edit, edit, edit – great advice. And a nice motivational piece – thank you.
Excellent suggestions. Took the pressure off me, thanks!
Glad I could help, Effie! 🙂
It’s such a helpful post! I especially love the “Do it for yourself” part
I’m glad you resonated with it 🙂
This article came at the best time.
I’m so glad to hear that! 🙂
Allow Flow to happen when it happens. Seize it and run with it. Following it down whatever path it takes.
OK…that was what I needed to hear as I have started to blog with my own photos. It fits my process of mulling things over. And, it helps me relax a bit about my perfectionistic tendency. Thanks.
I’m so glad I could help and that you resonated with it. Have fun blogging! 🙂
Wow, this is just what I needed today, to stir my creativity once again. I really needed this today and thank you for it.
I’m so glad you resonated with it, Harley! 🙂
Words of appreciative and practical wisdom. Thank you.
Amazing. Thanks. Haven’t written a sentence in nearly two years. Today I started. And I couldn’t stop.
I’m so glad you’re writing again! I hope you keep enjoying it! 🙂
I agree, there are times I don’t think I have anything to write about, and I will just sit down and add a word or two, before I know it I have written down a blog.
It sounds like you already have a good system in place for your writing journey 🙂
Thanks for this. I am not a writer by profession but do have this urge to write. Problem is i am erratic about it. Your post has encouraged me to do more. Thanks.
I’m glad the article encouraged you. Good luck with your creative journey.
This is excellent advice. Thank you very much.
I’m glad you found it helpful!
Great post I love it.
I’m glad you resonated with it 🙂
Love the quote “Never let perfection get in the way of good enough”
This is so great, so inspiring! You’re a great writer!!
I’m so glad it meant something to you! 🙂
Just what I needed! Love this post.
I’m so glad to hear that!
Great Post. Helping creators get disciplined with the habit of creating. Thank you.
I’m glad you found it useful 🙂
I really needed to read this, thank you very much!
I’m glad you resonated with it! 🙂
Inspiring and informational. I really liked “Do everything you can do, but then let it be. Send your child to school.”
Powerful words! Thank you!
I like the advice about creating for yourself and also creating even when you don’t feel like it. Great article!
“Throw yourself into a situation where you have no idea what you’re doing or what you’re going to do. That’s where the magic happens. “
THAT PART! 💕
A very encouraging article! 🙂
I’m glad you found it helpful 🙂
Great blog! It’s true that action leads to more action. It’s so important to show up.
You’re absolutely right!
This is excellent. It is everything I know is true but could never articulate or put into context. Now that you’ve done it for me, though, what a relief! I’m bookmarking this because I know I will need to be reminded often.
I’m glad you found it helpful! 🙂
What a great post! Very motivating. It’s motivating me!
I’m so glad to hear that Cathy!
WOW!! It’s a great post. Need to be posted everywhere.
I’m glad you found it helpful! 🙂
I enjoyed your post. I am having difficulty beginning my new novel so have decided to write my blog and enter short story competitions to keep my hand in.
What a great idea! Good luck!
Great post! It’s so hard to keep creating at times, so a little push such as this is worth so much!
I’m so glad to hear that! Good luck and have fun! 🙂
Thank you for writing this part, “Challenge yourself every day with your craft. Do it for you. Allow others to see the results of you challenging yourself creatively.” I needed to read it this year. ^_^
I’m so glad it meant something to you. Have a wonderful year! 🙂
It is true that artists and other creative folk benefit from discipline and a plan as much as anyone else does. Thank you!
“Do it for you.” Truer words . . .
Great post, especially about the editing! I think is spend more time editing than I do writing!
That definitely makes two of us!
Thanks for the encouragement to keep creating.
I’m so glad you received value from it! 🙂
Such an inspiring post. Would perhaps read it many more times to keep me motivated. 👍
I’m so glad you found it useful 🙂
All perfectly true, let’s keep pushing through the barriers, we never know who we may be encouraging, strengthening on the way.
The omicron surge has led to the decision to try to avoid exposure. I am not sure whether self-imposed isolation is a blessing or a curse! I enjoyed reading this post about being productive. You certainly share a lot to think about! 🙂
I’m glad I give you something to ponder 🙂
One motivator is to see just what you’ve accomplished. A collection of your artworks or writings looks more impressive than you thought it would – just because you keep creating. Don’t judge the early stuff by your present capabilities, either. Thanks again for the good words!
Well said! That’s very true! 🙂
I love this! Thanks for the inspiration.
Love this! Thank you for sharing your words of motivation. Last week, I committed to starting a writing habit. The best thing that happened was that on the day I absolutely didn’t have time to write, I missed it. What you wrote gives me the push I need to find space in this day to create. Thank you!
That’s so wonderful to hear! Keep going. Advice I found to be quite helpful is to never miss twice. It’s okay if you miss one day, but don’t miss two.
I never thought about this when I started making daft engines but hey! you have inspired me to more regular workshop time!
Thanks
Bernie B
I’m so glad to hear that, Bernie!
Owen Waters has his new book “Spiritual Metaphysics”.
Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I’ll definitely give it a look.
Very inspirational. I like to write too.
Most helpful. Thank you. And thank you for your support. – will
It’s amazing how just starting to write can stimulate ideas. Like improvised dancing, you don’t know what moves you’re going to make until you start.
Definitely needed this advice – thank you 🙏
step by step. not leap by leap.
love it!!
That’s awesome advice! For me that passion that craft is the Art of Genealogy and I practice it with zeal! 🙂
Thank you brother keep going
Great website love the photos thanks for the feedback
Such a great reminder to take small bites daily. Overwhelm I so palpable these days. Thanks for the inspiration.
Amazing post! I can see myself referring back to this post whenever I’m in a slump.
🙂
I’m glad I could help 🙂
“…remind yourself why you enjoy doing what you’re doing” Thank you – these words are really important to me in my processes. I’m really enjoying this article (and your whole blog).
I’m so glad to hear that 🙂
🌏🌏
Great inspiration from this. Totally with you on the small steps.
Love it!
Woosa!
Yes! Perfection gets in the way far too often. Thx much.
Totally agree.
Just sent this post to a friend. Think it might be good encouragement
I hope it helps 🙂
“… edit without mercy …” Amen to that. Kill your darlings.
I will share this on my blog 🌼🕊️
Inspiring words! Step by step, no stress, just do what you love with no burdens. It’s a great reminder just on time. Thanks you!
Very motivative and inspiring article 👏
Wise and useful suggestions!
Glad you found them helpful!
Thank you for this! It’s what I needed to hear right now. 🙂
I’m glad you found it valuable 🙂
Love your post. Inspiring and encouraging.
So glad you resonated with it, Gabriela 🙂
This was so helpful and timely – I’ve carved out some time to write next week and I so often get caught up doing other stuff instead. I need to read this daily!
I’m so glad to hear that! Keep going!
Burnout causes me to become demotivated and complacent with my writing. I tend to deviate from my daily writing schedule due to distractions. This post is an excellent pick-me-up, and it kicks procrastination to the curb!
I’m so glad to hear I was able to provide some value, Charlene. Good luck with your future writing!