Yancey Strickler’s Nine Creative Meditations

To me or to the mean - Focus on what makes your work strange or unique rather than trying to fit in with what everyone else is doing.

You are your audience - Create work that satisfies your own desires and interests rather than trying to please an imagined mass audience.
Small is more rewarding than big - Value the early stages of projects when you have freedom and authenticity, rather than rushing toward scale and success.
Practices and cathedral - Decide whether to work openly and iteratively (practice) or build something perfect behind the scenes (cathedral).
Use world-building for creative resilience - Create an internal logic or persona that gives you permission to make bold creative choices.
Don't chase the inner ring - Avoid seeking acceptance from gatekeepers and tastemakers; instead, focus on craft to naturally find your tribe.
Take breaks to find breakthroughs - Schedule regular pauses from intense work periods, as new ideas often emerge during rest and reflection.
In groups we become stronger - Collaborate with like-minded creators under a shared identity/meta-label to amplify each other's work and impact.
Be part of a constellation, not just a star - Shift from individual competition to collective cooperation, finding strength through community rather than isolation.

Practices and cathedrals

Year Two