This reframes the whole creative process in a way that actually feels helpful—most advice pushes productivity, but treating ideas as fragile and giving them space to clarify before drafting flips that. The Hobbit example really clarifies it: home versus courage isn't plot, it's the engine underneath everything else. I've watched projects fall apart because I mistook activity for progress, and the "faster you write, the more you undo" line kinda nails why that happens. Restraint as a creative tool rather than a limitation feelslike something I wish I'd internalized way earlier.
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!
I love this! I was just telling my best friends the other day that the stories I write tend to take shape without much intervention from the artist. Sometimes the work knows what it wants. You’re most welcome, Jody! Happy New Year! 🎊🎉
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!
Right! Permission to pause. Here in America we’re all work work work, and work does include taking moments during work to pause and examine instead of acting upon idea immediately. Asking things like, what do I have here? Or what if…? Thank you Brian for sharing and happy new year! 🎊
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!
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!
Right, it’s like we want to get across the finish line of having created something without first feeling out and shaping what’s already in front of us. No need to run from the fragile melody or lyric. Slowing down is so important. You’re most welcome Brooke, thanks for sharing! Happy New Year 🎊🎉
This reframes the whole creative process in a way that actually feels helpful—most advice pushes productivity, but treating ideas as fragile and giving them space to clarify before drafting flips that. The Hobbit example really clarifies it: home versus courage isn't plot, it's the engine underneath everything else. I've watched projects fall apart because I mistook activity for progress, and the "faster you write, the more you undo" line kinda nails why that happens. Restraint as a creative tool rather than a limitation feelslike something I wish I'd internalized way earlier.
Love these takeaways! Spot on if you ask me!! Know that you have the information tho, you are not as you were. 😉🎉🎊
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!
I love this! I was just telling my best friends the other day that the stories I write tend to take shape without much intervention from the artist. Sometimes the work knows what it wants. You’re most welcome, Jody! Happy New Year! 🎊🎉
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!
Right! Permission to pause. Here in America we’re all work work work, and work does include taking moments during work to pause and examine instead of acting upon idea immediately. Asking things like, what do I have here? Or what if…? Thank you Brian for sharing and happy new year! 🎊
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!
Yeah, we should sit with our ideas more. And you clearly get it. Happy New Year Chloe! 🎉🎊
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!
Right, it’s like we want to get across the finish line of having created something without first feeling out and shaping what’s already in front of us. No need to run from the fragile melody or lyric. Slowing down is so important. You’re most welcome Brooke, thanks for sharing! Happy New Year 🎊🎉