You Need to Create
How to stop procrastinating your creative work
you don’t need to read more books about creating.
you don’t need to watch more videos about creating.
you don’t need to listen to more podcasts about creating.
you don’t need to scroll through more content about creating.
you don’t need to think more about creating.
you need to create.If you’re anything like me, procrastination is your worst vice.
Personally, I will do just about anything to avoid the things on my to-do list.
If I know I should be sitting down and working on my writing, I will instead read articles, blogs, and books about writing. I’ll watch YouTube videos and listen to podcasts/audiobooks that discuss writing.
All the while, convincing myself that this is making me a better writer. A writer worthy of sitting down and doing the work.
What I fail to realize in this moment, is that I am actually neglecting the one thing that will help me become a better writer: Writing.
Sure, those other things are great. They are great works of art themselves, as well as very helpful tools that can help improve creative skills.
Yet, nothing will teach you better than simply doing the thing you are trying to learn.
My wife’s grandpa told us a story a few years ago that has stuck with me since. We were on his sailboat, taking in the view of Lake Tahoe and the mountains that surround her. My wife looked over at him and with beaming eyes asked, “Grandpa, how did you learn to sail?” He chuckled and said matter-of-factly, “I bought a boat.”
All the same:
If you want to be a better artist, you need to create art.
While they are beautiful things, books, YouTube, podcasts, etc. will only get you so far.
So stop procrastinating and go create what inspires you.