Allow yourself to become obsessed. Notice your natural interests and try to ignore what you think other people want you to be interested in. Once an interest gains strength inside you, pursue it aggressively and let it consume you.

But before Maya can create, she must collect—or, as she puts it, “I need to gather my ingredients and then I cook.” For her, research might include watching hundreds of “A Day in My Life” TikToks to inspire a project on vlogging.