How to create when stuff threatens to get in the way
aka how to continue to be creative even when the world is in fire
Welcome to the inaugural issue of Creative Constructs, a newsletter that shares systems, tools, and strategies for creative thinkers. (Here’s what Creative Constructs is all about.)
Let’s face it: The world is a total dumpster fire at the moment, with all kinds of things happening ranging from the petty and ridiculous to the devastating and downright evil.
And I’m guessing I’m not the only one who’s found it hard to focus on creative work while trying to keep track of which pieces of our rapidly crumbling democracy are still being chipped away at by the powers that be and which have already been reduced to charcoal in the insatiable firey pits of greed and selfishness from whence said powers came.
Tempting as it may sound to retreat to a remote cabin in the woods or swear off news entirely, none of this will actually help you achieve focus and get creatively unstuck.
Not for long, anyway.
Because even when insecure billionaire clowns aren’t actively rallying behind a tyrannical narcissist to stage a fascist takeover of the nation (which, to be clear, they totally are), there’s always going to be some sort of stuff that’s trying to get in the way of you making things.
Sometimes the stuff is competing demands on your time and attention, like your friend’s wedding, a stressful move, a sick kid home from school, or a pile of looming writing deadlines so tall it threatens to bury you alive.
Other stuff is interpersonal like a nitpicky client constantly interrupting your flow, a micromanaging boss breathing down your neck, or that one person who still hasn’t replied to your message from last week, leaving you worried that they suddenly hate you (they probably don’t) or are dead in a ditch somewhere (they probably aren’t).
Your stuff might be physical too: a pounding headache, wicked cramps, your three-year-old’s sleep regression, or any one of the veritable cornucopia of flu strains that 2025 has to offer.
And since stuff is going to keep on happening, your best chance at being creative is not trying to escape the stuff, but learning to create in spite of the stuff, by practicing creativity in less than ideal conditions.
What to do when Stuff threatens your creativity
Explicitly Acknowledge The Stuff: If everybody knows about the stuff, there’s no real point in trying to avoid it. Your struggle to avoid referencing the stuff will likely be a barrier to the type of thinking required for good creative work. Besides, if you’re thinking about it, your audience probably is too, so find a way to acknowledge it in the context of the creative work you’re doing, sort of like how I did in the introduction to this issue.
This method often works best when you’re creating something where you have a decent amount of control, for a few reasons:
Sometimes you’ll have to change the topic to make space for the stuff
Sometimes you’ll have to adjust timing to allow for the integration of the stuff
If there are other stakeholders involved, they may not be down to talk about the stuff
Incorporate The Stuff Indirectly: Even if you’re not in a position to tackle the stuff head-on, you don’t have to ignore the reality of what’s on your audience’s mind by focusing on the broad themes or effects of the stuff, rather than the specifics.
Scroll back up for a moment, and imagine that this piece started instead at the bolded line: “There’s always going to be some kind of stuff that tries to get in the way of you making things...”
Without all the preceding specific mentions of tyrannical clowns and flaming freedoms, the broader theme of “how to focus on creative work when life gets crazy” is suddenly less controversial and more evergreen, while still feeling timely and relevant to those who are steeped in the stuff.
Find Fuel Within The Stuff: Sometimes you can’t bring the stuff into your creative work directly or indirectly, either because you don’t have the authority to do it or because it’s personal stuff rather than universal stuff.
When that’s the case, it can be helpful to think about which emotions are being brought to the surface by the stuff, and then try to consciously redirect those emotions to fuel the work rather than impede it.
Feeling lonely? Think of your creative work as a means of connection and as a tool for making your audience feel seen, heard, and less alone, too.
Feeling anxious? Remind yourself that creative work is familiar to you and try to view your continued consistent creation as a way to provide stability and routine for yourself.
Feeling angry? Trying using that energy to complete the work in less time than normal, or writing your first draft IN ALL CAPS SO IT FEELS LIKE YELLING. (Just don’t forget to fix it before you launch it.)
Give the Stuff Somewhere Else To Go: So what if the stuff can’t be incorporated into your work at all, but it’s still plopped there at the front of the mental queue, clogging up the creative pipes and refusing to move until it’s been addressed?
Since we know we can’t just ignore or overcome the stuff by sheer force of will, consider just finding some other place to put it for a little while you do your creative work, even if only temporarily.
If you’re a verbal processor, call up an ally and talk about the stuff, or set a timer for 2-5 minutes and give yourself permission to rant about the stuff out loud
If you’re more of a written processor, use the stuff as a journaling prompt or write out a rant in the body of an email addressed to yourself.
If you’re a visual thinker, express the stuff in some visual artwork like a drawing, painting, or collage
If you’re feeling the stuff in your body, engage in some sort of physical activity where you can expend the pent-up energy (exercise, dance, punch a pillow, scream into the void… whatever floats your boat)
Creative Sparks:
“The Mess of Your Creative Process Isn't a Problem—It's the Most Important Part,“ by
. If you ever find yourself bemoaning the struggle that comes with creative work, this one’s for you. Tbh, Jay’s work is always a joy to read, regardless of the topic, so you’re welcome.“The Creative Thinker’s Toolkit” from The Great Courses, taught by Gerrard Puccio. I just finished my latest of several listens to this 12ish hour audio course, which is a super structured look at creative processes. I listened on Audible but it appears to be available elsewhere too, including to watch on Prime Video or directly through The Great Courses+.
“On Negative Thought Patterns,” by
. This is a long read, but one worth browsing and bookmarking if today’s topic resonated with you. It walks through 28 specific negative thought patterns, offering up a sample thought to help identify it, as well as useful reframing tactics and related skills it engages.“How Writing Daily Changed Everything (And Unleashed A Creative Flood),” by
. If you’re looking for inspiration to commit to a daily writing practice, this artists testimony ought to do the trick.
More From Me:
I was interviewed on The Seed podcast: “Mastering Content Strategy: Storytelling, Trust, and AI with Melanie Deziel”
I also appeared as a guest on a recent episode of the
Podcast with & Matt Lowry. We talked about my love of Martha Stewart’s creative mind and how relatable I find her as an autistic person. (Listen here)Did You Know: I narrated both of my own books as audiobooks! Each one required 4-8 hours in the studio. You can listen to me share my ideas on Audible and wherever else you listen.
Keep quelling creative chaos,
Melanie
The Creative Constructs newsletter is a labor of love supported by paid subscribers and occasional affiliate links, which offer me a small commission on sales of products I already love and would recommend anyway. Thank you for your ongoing support.
Melanie, appreciate the shout out and fantastic post!
We can always do something despite adversity. Maybe not what we originally intended but reframing, pivoting, and general resilience can allow us to execute despite resistance.
Looking forward to reading more of your work!