Do most people get stuck with their creative work because they didn’t create momentum? Or do most people create momentum, but need more time to think out a breakthrough idea? Which direction sounds more correct to you?

To me, it’s very clear the first direction applies to more people. Most people’s creative ambitions die from a lack of momentum. They think they need more time. They think they don’t have any good ideas. They think they don’t deserve it. They think it’s not that important. They think, and think, and think…

My whole thesis with Creative Doing was the solution wasn’t more thinking. It’s more doing. More showing up, more making bad work, in order to get the good work.

My recent post on r-selection is deeply connected with this theme, which I’ve been considering for the past decade, the topic of quantity, practice, and making breakthroughs. 

My book is a great place to start. The following compilation of posts is another great place to sart. Curating them wasn’t easy—I’ve written a lot on the topic, and cut a bunch out:

Part 1:

• The jellyfish knows how to survive uncertain times
• Cold-blooded creative work
• Showing up vs. disappearing
• Top of mind
• Each work is a gamble
• Don’t make “Bad” the enemy of “Good”

Part 2:

• Why quantity should be your priority
• Why quantity should be your priority (redux)
• Printing lottery tickets
• What I learned from 9 years of studying quantity vs. quality
• Quantity as an unblocking and organizing force
• To make better creative work, aim for acceptable, not perfect

Part 3:

• No bad ideas, no good ideas
• 5 minutes
• Shrigley’s quantities
• Turner’s practice
• Your noise, my song
• Don’t be precious about promoting your work
• Publish everything, promote selectively
• Walking both paths