How Many Gurus Does it Take to Start a Creative Project?
On how the next inspiring TikTok Clip will be the one to get you creating your art
There's some guy, on Tiktok, who says that you absolutely must have a 10mm lense before you shoot your next film.
And there's a woman on YouTube who says you shouldn't start writing a screenplay until you have your seven key plot points mapped out.
And there's a former movie star on Twitter who says if you buy her course, it'll transform you into the creative mind you've always wanted to be.
And you listen to these people and the advice feels good, it feels inspiring. You feel a little jolt of recognition and you promise yourself you'll start your new project tomorrow.
But tomorrow comes and you have a cold and your sister is nagging you to help with the IKEA furniture and maybe today is not the day to get started.
But then you get inspired by the guy on TikTok who shares his wisdom on "How to Start a Production Company." And some guys on X say they've found the secret to you being the next Taylor Swift. And there's another Tim Ferris podcast where he interviewed the guy who made ten billion pounds in a single weekend using only his mobile phone. And you're inspired and you're inspired and you're inspired AND you're almost ready to start your project.
You're planning to start your new piece of art but you've gotten a bit older and lost some of your youthful swagger. So you listen to a podcast about how to overcome your inner-critic, and you read a psychology book about finding creativity in later life. You literally pick up a pen to start writing your novel but then you worry, what if it isn't any good?
Maybe you need more advice. More wisdom. Maybe you can start your own podcast where you find people who will give you all the best tips and knowledge! Then maybe you can write a fictional novel based on your own podcast.
Maybe.
But the idea isn't quite ready yet. First you need to finally do that trip to Thailand you've been considering. You saw a YouTuber explain how Thailand made them more creative. And you saw a guru on Substack explain how travelling frees the soul, allowing creative inspiration and wealth to finally enter your life through a thing called the 'ether.'
You're in Thailand and you're about to start writing your song, but you think maybe it's best to just enjoy the trip, you'll start when you get back home.
You listen to a podcast called "How to Start a New Project When you Come Home from a Trip to Thailand," but when you listen to it you find out that the interviewee is related by marriage to Tom Cruise. The nepotism! No wonder they've made it and you haven't.
But don't worry, you will 'make it', as soon as you feel ready to start your new project.
Which is soon.
You promise yourself it's soon.
Just like you did, back when you were 23.
You're nearly ready.
Any day now.