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Brooke Carver's avatar

This really hit me as a musician because it mirrors what I feel every time I sit down to write. There’s always that urge to start playing or layering right away, but the piece about containing the idea first really resonates. It’s like the melody or lyric is fragile and needs space to breathe before it’s forced into a draft. I’ve definitely lost the spark by rushing in and reading this reminded me that slowing down isn’t wasted time; it’s the part where the song actually decides what it wants to be. Thank you Idris Elijah for another enjoyable read and Happy New Year to you!

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Chloe Lawson's avatar

This newsletter helped me see why rushing into writing pages so often backfires. I’ve had ideas that felt strong at the start, only to lose their shape once I tried to expand them too quickly. Treating the premise as something to sit with, something small but sturdy, feels like a smarter way to give the story a real center before anything else gets built. Thank you Idris Elijah for these grounded and practical tips and Happy 2026!

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Brian Robert's avatar

What I appreciated most in this issue is how permission-based this felt. Permission to pause, to not rush into action, to let something exist as an idea without immediately forcing it into a finished shape. That’s not how we’re taught to operate, but it explains why the things that last tend to feel more balanced and intentional. Thank you Idris for helping writers and all creators with this topic and hope you are having a great start to the new year!

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Jody Freedman's avatar

I loved the part about letting things sit long enough for patterns to reveal themselves. That’s exactly how it works for me visually. I’ll think I’m just experimenting and then suddenly I notice the same mood or shape showing up again and again. This helped reframe that moment as information, not confusion. Sometimes the work knows what it wants before I do.Thank you for this valuable perspective to start 2026 Idris Elijah and Happy New Year to you!

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