Reading this while juggling breakfast, a homework meltdown and a load of laundry hit differently. The part about “write in stolen moments” feels like guidance to create in the chaos instead of waiting for quiet that never comes. I can already see myself carving five minutes here and there to just spill ideas, like the ten-year-old version of me, without worrying if it’s perfect. Thank you Idris Elijah for this thoughtful newsletter about your writing journey and have a great weekend!!
I love that this issue got you thinking about taking those stolen moments to create. Definitely want to create in the chaos, and not wait for the calm, because as you said, it may never come. You’re most welcome btw, and thank you! Have a great weekend as well!! 🤗🤗🤗
As someone who writes music, this made me think about how I used to create before I knew what I was supposed to be doing. I’d just chase an idea and stay with it until it became something. No metrics. No audience in my head. Just repetition and obsession. I can hear the difference between songs I evaluated mid-creation and the ones I let run. This reminded me that momentum matters more than polish in the early stages. Really appreciated this perspective Idris Elijah and enjoy your weekend!
Yes! Momentum matters more than polish in the early stages. It’s like we have to get to end before we can truly judge something for what it is. You are also most welcome Brooke, thank you for sharing your perspective and please enjoy your weekend as well! 🤩🤩🤩
I love how this strips it down to something so obvious yet so challenging to do as an adult. That loop of input, output, play really made me pause. I’ve definitely been guilty overthinking everything at times, waiting to feel ready or inspired, when really I just need to write like the ten-year-old me would: messy, fast, without judgment. Thank you Idris for showing us what you’ve learned over the years and Happy Friday!
It’s my pleasure! Love these takeaways and you are so right, the input, output, play loop is something to take pause at. It’s remarkable even. Happy Friday, Brian!! 🤗🤗🤗
This one spoke to me as someone who makes visual work in addition to words. That early loop of experience feeding creation, creation feeding experience is exactly how I paint. Overthinking, waiting to know enough or chasing trends always kills my momentum. The idea that breadth of input fuels depth of output resonates so clearly. I want to go back to that raw, unfiltered way of working. Thank you for sharing your lessons with us Idris Elijah and Happy Friday to you!
Chasing trends, I’ve learned lately, is surely a way to kill momentum. Trends don’t come from doing what everyone else is doing. They come from doing something unique that everyone wants to hop on the bandwagon. So pleased you found a lot of value in this issue. Thank you!! And happy Friday to you too!!! 🤩🤩🤩
I often get caught up in craft, critique and deadlines and it kills my momentum every time. The reminder that connection and repetition matter more than talent or strategy is so freeing. I can see now how widening what I read and just producing something, no matter how rough, will feed everything else I want to do. You really captured what I’ve felt many times and I’m grateful for reading this one Idris Elijah! Have a great weekend!
I’m grateful you took so much away from this issue. And you are exactly right, it doesn’t matter rough, producing something is better than producing nothing. Have a great weekend as well!! 🤩🤩🤩
Reading this while juggling breakfast, a homework meltdown and a load of laundry hit differently. The part about “write in stolen moments” feels like guidance to create in the chaos instead of waiting for quiet that never comes. I can already see myself carving five minutes here and there to just spill ideas, like the ten-year-old version of me, without worrying if it’s perfect. Thank you Idris Elijah for this thoughtful newsletter about your writing journey and have a great weekend!!
I love that this issue got you thinking about taking those stolen moments to create. Definitely want to create in the chaos, and not wait for the calm, because as you said, it may never come. You’re most welcome btw, and thank you! Have a great weekend as well!! 🤗🤗🤗
As someone who writes music, this made me think about how I used to create before I knew what I was supposed to be doing. I’d just chase an idea and stay with it until it became something. No metrics. No audience in my head. Just repetition and obsession. I can hear the difference between songs I evaluated mid-creation and the ones I let run. This reminded me that momentum matters more than polish in the early stages. Really appreciated this perspective Idris Elijah and enjoy your weekend!
Yes! Momentum matters more than polish in the early stages. It’s like we have to get to end before we can truly judge something for what it is. You are also most welcome Brooke, thank you for sharing your perspective and please enjoy your weekend as well! 🤩🤩🤩
I love how this strips it down to something so obvious yet so challenging to do as an adult. That loop of input, output, play really made me pause. I’ve definitely been guilty overthinking everything at times, waiting to feel ready or inspired, when really I just need to write like the ten-year-old me would: messy, fast, without judgment. Thank you Idris for showing us what you’ve learned over the years and Happy Friday!
It’s my pleasure! Love these takeaways and you are so right, the input, output, play loop is something to take pause at. It’s remarkable even. Happy Friday, Brian!! 🤗🤗🤗
This one spoke to me as someone who makes visual work in addition to words. That early loop of experience feeding creation, creation feeding experience is exactly how I paint. Overthinking, waiting to know enough or chasing trends always kills my momentum. The idea that breadth of input fuels depth of output resonates so clearly. I want to go back to that raw, unfiltered way of working. Thank you for sharing your lessons with us Idris Elijah and Happy Friday to you!
Chasing trends, I’ve learned lately, is surely a way to kill momentum. Trends don’t come from doing what everyone else is doing. They come from doing something unique that everyone wants to hop on the bandwagon. So pleased you found a lot of value in this issue. Thank you!! And happy Friday to you too!!! 🤩🤩🤩
I often get caught up in craft, critique and deadlines and it kills my momentum every time. The reminder that connection and repetition matter more than talent or strategy is so freeing. I can see now how widening what I read and just producing something, no matter how rough, will feed everything else I want to do. You really captured what I’ve felt many times and I’m grateful for reading this one Idris Elijah! Have a great weekend!
I’m grateful you took so much away from this issue. And you are exactly right, it doesn’t matter rough, producing something is better than producing nothing. Have a great weekend as well!! 🤩🤩🤩