Keep Going Summary

Creativity is not about being great; it’s about showing up every day and doing the work.

1. Build a Creative Routine

Establishing a consistent routine is vital for creative work. Your creativity will naturally ebb and flow over time, but the key is to show up, regardless of how inspired you feel. A routine is not about stifling freedom but about carving out regular time to focus on your passions without distractions.

Many famous creatives followed this principle. Sylvia Plath wrote in the early mornings before her kids woke up, while Franz Kafka wrote late at night. John Steinbeck sharpened dozens of pencils before beginning work, and Goethe found inspiration in the smell of rotten apples. They all had unique routines tailored to their likes and schedules, proving that there's no single path to creativity.

Your routine should align with your preferences and available time. Whether you're most creative in the morning or late at night, creating a ritual can help you start on the right note. Protect this time from external interruptions and make it sacred for your work.

Examples

• Sylvia Plath’s early morning writing before her kids woke.
• Franz Kafka's late-night creativity sessions.
• Steinbeck’s quirky pencil-sharpening ritual before he wrote.

2. Create a Bliss Station

A Bliss Station is a sacred time or place for undisturbed creative work. In today’s noisy, interconnected world, finding space to think and create is more challenging than ever. Whether it’s a physical location or a specific time of day, this “station” allows you to focus solely on your work without external interruptions.

Joseph Campbell coined the term Bliss Station, urging creatives to dedicate a calm, quiet place to their craft. It might be a special room, a garage, or just your kitchen table during the hours when no one else is home. What’s most important is treating this space or time as inviolable—free of news, social media, or other distractions.

Disconnecting is essential for your creative flow. If you can’t avoid modern-life intrusions completely, using tactics like airplane mode on your phone or setting strict “no-news” periods, particularly in the morning, can help.

Examples

• Joseph Campbell’s Bliss Station concept for fostering creativity.
• Letting your phone go on airplane mode.
• Avoiding the news first thing in the morning to start with fresh, positive energy.

3. Tidy, Organize, and Let Your Brain Rest

Your environment directly impacts your creative output. A balance between order and chaos can inspire creativity. Too much clutter can overwhelm you, but a workspace that is too sterile may stifle those spontaneous ideas. Organizing your tools without over-sanitizing your space can strike the perfect harmony.

Tidying itself can become a helpful outlet when you’re feeling stuck. For instance, slowly and mindfully organizing your area can trigger fresh thoughts or even unearth forgotten projects that lead to new ideas. Likewise, naps play a remarkable role in refreshing the brain. Famous creatives like Salvador Dalí used naps strategically to recharge and spark fresh insights.

You can also make lists to order your thoughts. David Shrigley keeps a list of illustrations he wants to create, while creative band The Wire defined their vision through a list of things they wanted to avoid. These small practices keep inspiration at bay for when you’ll need it most.

Examples

• Salvador Dalí’s affinity for naps to recharge his creativity.
• David Shrigley’s list of potential illustration ideas.
• Organizing tools while leaving creative materials loose for spontaneity.

4. Beware of Monetizing Your Passion

Earning from your craft can be fulfilling, but making it your sole source of income might ruin the joy it brings you. Financial pressures can turn your passion into just another job, leading to burn-out or resentment. It’s okay to have a day job while keeping your creative practice separate.

For instance, the author suggests setting aside time for work that you do purely for love and not for profit. Balancing paid work with passion-driven projects ensures that your creativity doesn't feel drained or forced. Similarly, chasing viral success and social media engagement can be just as toxic, as you'll end up creating for numbers rather than meaning.

Reframing creative work as a gift can help keep the joy intact. Whether it’s writing a story for your child as J.R.R. Tolkien did with The Hobbit or making a small craft for a loved one, this generosity can remind you why you create.

Examples

• J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit starting as a story for his family.
• Avoiding the temptation of constantly checking social media metrics.
• Setting aside personal, unpaid passion projects for your creative satisfaction.

5. Focus on the Process, Not the Title

Creativity thrives when you value the act of creating more than the labels associated with it. Many people obsess over becoming a “writer” or a “painter” but do so at the expense of doing the actual work. Focus on painting, writing, or dancing—the verbs—not the nouns.

When you aim to “arrive” as a creative professional, the goal becomes elusive. Even once you’ve earned recognition, you’ll face the same daily task: starting something new. By embracing the circular, ongoing nature of creativity, you keep yourself free from artificial deadlines of success.

For established artists and amateurs alike, the blank canvas or page is the great equalizer. Each new project requires showing up and doing the work regardless of your “title.

Examples

• Painters focusing on painting rather than calling themselves “artists.”
• Writers who restart the process with each blank page.
• Letting go of the aim of “arrival” to enjoy the ongoing journey.

6. Play Like a Child

Children approach creativity with curiosity, joy, and the freedom to fail, making them natural role models for any artist. Watch a child lose themselves in play, and you'll see that their creative process is entirely about doing, with no regard for the outcome or others' opinions.

The author shares that his son Jules loved the act of drawing but didn’t care about keeping his work—it was the act itself that mattered to him. By metaphorically (or actually) destroying your creative products, you too can foster this sense of playfulness.

Play also helps detach from "good" or "bad" evaluations, which often restrict adult creativity. Feel free to experiment: make the worst possible art, then lose yourself in the process.

Examples

• Jules’ indifference to keeping his completed artworks.
• Experiment with intentionally making “bad” art.
• Use actual building blocks as a playful outlet for breaking mental blocks.

7. Find Magic in the Ordinary

You don’t need a glamorous life to create extraordinary work. From mundane surroundings to routine tasks, everyday life is rich with inspiration if you take the time to observe it. Your current environment holds plenty of creative material.

Harvey Pekar, for example, worked a routine clerical job but used those experiences to write compelling comic books. For the art critic Peter Clothier, spending time closely studying an object can reveal details often missed.

A great exercise is to slow down and draw or study an everyday object. Inspiration can emerge from even the smallest, most unassuming details.

Examples

• Harvey Pekar’s use of his hospital file clerk job for creative content.
• Peter Clothier’s recommendation to spend hours closely observing and drawing.
• Capturing the essence of mundane life as a source of originality.

8. Know When to Walk Away

Creativity should enrich your life, not drain it. The myth of the tortured artist often glorifies suffering for the sake of art, but the author emphasizes that creative practice should not come at the cost of your happiness or those around you.

Sacrificing your well-being or relationships for your work is a sign to reevaluate. If your art becomes a source of misery, stepping away isn't failure—it’s self-care. Rediscovering balance will help reignite passion when you're ready to return.

True creative greatness lies in spreading joy, not in nurturing unhappiness. Don’t hesitate to recalibrate or shift focus if needed.

Examples

• The myth of the tortured artist often leading to burnout.
• Taking breaks when creative work negatively affects relationships.
• Artists who balance creativity with self-care and joy.

9. The Power of Simple Practices

Small actions can refresh both your creativity and perspective. Making lists can organize thoughts and spark ideas. Tidying your brain through naps clears mental clutter, while taking a stroll can open new horizons.

Many respected figures, from Beethoven to Bob Dylan, found fresh creative clarity in walks. By stepping outside, you shift focus from digital distractions to physical surroundings, connecting to the sights and sounds of the world.

These practices don’t require special conditions; they integrate easily into everyday life, making creativity more accessible regardless of circumstances.

Examples

• Beethoven’s brisk walks as part of his creative process.
• Bob Dylan’s habit of reconnecting to the world through outdoor strolls.
• Using naps as a way to detoxify and refresh the brain.

Takeaways

1. Create a daily creative ritual tailored to your schedule and needs. Start small and make it consistent.
2. Dedicate time or space for undisturbed, focus-driven creativity—a Bliss Station—and safeguard it from distractions.
3. Reconnect with simple joys and activities like taking a walk or playing, which can reignite your creative spark.