How to Finally Make Something

July 2023

If you collected lists of techniques for doing great work in a lot of different fields, what would the intersection look like? I decided to find out by making it.

Partly my goal was to create a guide that could be used by someone working in any field. But I was also curious about the shape of the intersection. And one thing this exercise sh... See more

"The seven categories of creative work If you arrange your creative work according to these seven categories, you can ease creative insights through the four stages of control. You can avoid getting blocked, and avoid getting distracted or burnt out. 1. Prioritize: To have the space for creative work, you need to have a clear picture of what you’re... See more

Like with baking, you build intuition around the creative process. You watch your half-completed ideas rot in folders no one ever sees, and you start to realize that you usually only have one shot at making something (when the inspiration appears). You start to get familiar with the pang of guilt and frustration at what “could have been” if you jus... See more

When you experience someone else’s genius work, a little part of you feels, “That’s what I could have, would have, and should have done!”

Someone else did it. You didn’t.

They fought the resistance. You gave in to distractions.

They made it top priority. You said you’d get to it some day.

They took the time. You meant to.

When this happens, you can... See more