Discouraged Artists’ Support Group

[Thetageist]

Hello!

I was seeing a lot of threads in this forum related to losing motivation, impostor syndrome, and feeling like you’re not enough as an artist. Considering that a lot of the original posters struggled with the same emotions, I wanted to create one place where all the artists who are struggling can talk to each other and see that they’re not alone in their problems, and the others who have come out the other side of those problems can offer advice to every artist, rather than repeating themselves across different threads.

So please, feel free to vent or to share your experiences and advice. You never know who’s going to need it.

[Thetageist]

Posted to add:

To start off (unless anyone else adds something first), I’m working on building a playlist on YouTube of videos related to mental health advice for creatives, like healthy ways to view your creative pursuits and work. I’ll post it here when I’ve gotten enough of them compiled.

[Eldritchsaxes]

I think this is a great idea for a thread. Hopefully this will help out some people, I know on my end I'll def give out some advice for anybody that needs it

[53xy83457]

At 9/6/23 11:25 AM, Thetageist wrote: Posted to add:
To start off (unless anyone else adds something first), I’m working on building a playlist on YouTube of videos related to mental health advice for creatives, like healthy ways to view your creative pursuits and work. I’ll post it here when I’ve gotten enough of them compiled.

"Healthy ways" you say. I was about to share how I find motivation when needed.

Basically this- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl3njub9fno&t=15s

Yeah, maybe I shouldn't post here. Also I'm not an artist.

[Thetageist]

At 9/6/23 02:30 PM, 53xy83457 wrote:

At 9/6/23 11:25 AM, Thetageist wrote: Posted to add:
To start off (unless anyone else adds something first), I’m working on building a playlist on YouTube of videos related to mental health advice for creatives, like healthy ways to view your creative pursuits and work. I’ll post it here when I’ve gotten enough of them compiled.

"Healthy ways" you say. I was about to share how I find motivation when needed.
Basically this- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl3njub9fno&t=15s
Yeah, maybe I shouldn't post here. Also I'm not an artist.

I mean, there’s certainly something to be said for doing things out of spite, as long as you don’t put that negative opinion on a pedestal and just take it as a fun challenge. Game dev and Youtuber Dani has a hate comment to thank for his ongoing game project, along with pretty much every other game he’s made recently. All because someone said he couldn’t make a 3D game!

[CarolineSparkle]

As someone who struggles with all of these things, sometimes one at a time or all at once, this is a really good forum to have.

[Thetageist]

At 9/6/23 07:28 PM, CarolineSparkle wrote: As someone who struggles with all of these things, sometimes one at a time or all at once, this is a really good forum to have.

I know the feeling.

[PH4NT0M117]

Imma be honest, i was stuck on stuff for a hot minute. That I had lost things, or that I wasn't doing the same stuff anymore. Let me tell you, theres more in art that a pencil or tablet. Go get a skateboard and record yourself and watch it back.

[Thetageist]

At 9/7/23 11:17 AM, PH4NT0M117 wrote: Imma be honest, i was stuck on stuff for a hot minute. That I had lost things, or that I wasn't doing the same stuff anymore. Let me tell you, theres more in art that a pencil or tablet. Go get a skateboard and record yourself and watch it back.

Good advice! Even something like a stunt routine or dance choreography can be considered performing art, even though it’s not something that fits in NG’s categories. Switching up the medium you use can be a means to clear your mind - that’s why I do coloring and jewelry making alongside my regular art!

[BastardFromBrooklyn]

I am so high, I can hear heaven

I am so high, I can hear heaven

Oh but heaven, no heaven don't hear me...

And they say that a hero can save us

I'm not gonna stand here and wait

I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles

Watch as we all fly away

Someone told me that love would all save us

But how can that be?

Look what love gave us

A world full of killing, and blood spilling, that

World never came

And they say that a hero can save us

I'm not gonna stand here and wait

I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles

Watch as we all fly away

Now that the world isn't ending, it's love that I'm sending to you

It isn't the love of a hero, that's why I fear it won't do

And they say that a hero can save us

I'm not gonna stand here and wait

I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles

Watch as we all fly away

And they're watching us (Watching us)

They're watching us (watching us) as we all fly away...

And they're watching us (Watching us)

They're watching us (watching us) as we all fly away...

And they're watching us (Watching us)

They're watching us (watching us) as we all fly away

-Chad Kroger, Nickelback

[Thetageist]

At 9/8/23 04:01 PM, BastardFromBrooklyn wrote: I am so high, I can hear heaven
I am so high, I can hear heaven
Oh but heaven, no heaven don't hear me...
And they say that a hero can save us
I'm not gonna stand here and wait
I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles
Watch as we all fly away
Someone told me that love would all save us
But how can that be?
Look what love gave us
A world full of killing, and blood spilling, that
World never came
And they say that a hero can save us
I'm not gonna stand here and wait
I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles
Watch as we all fly away
Now that the world isn't ending, it's love that I'm sending to you
It isn't the love of a hero, that's why I fear it won't do
And they say that a hero can save us
I'm not gonna stand here and wait
I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles
Watch as we all fly away
And they're watching us (Watching us)
They're watching us (watching us) as we all fly away...
And they're watching us (Watching us)
They're watching us (watching us) as we all fly away...
And they're watching us (Watching us)
They're watching us (watching us) as we all fly away
-Chad Kroger, Nickelback

Pretty good lyrics. What does this song mean to you?

[PH4NT0M117]

At 9/8/23 03:19 PM, Thetageist wrote:

At 9/7/23 11:17 AM, PH4NT0M117 wrote: Imma be honest, i was stuck on stuff for a hot minute. That I had lost things, or that I wasn't doing the same stuff anymore. Let me tell you, theres more in art that a pencil or tablet. Go get a skateboard and record yourself and watch it back.

Good advice! Even something like a stunt routine or dance choreography can be considered performing art, even though it’s not something that fits in NG’s categories. Switching up the medium you use can be a means to clear your mind - that’s why I do coloring and jewelry making alongside my regular art!

I think NG could expand a little. The future of social media is data, yeah? I think it'd be really good for a place like this to allow for an "Artist's Exfoliation" of sorts. Own your shit, yknow? But like.... Make limits. Really hard limits. 480p, 20mbps, 4 minutes long, kek

[BastardFromBrooklyn]

At 9/8/23 04:30 PM, Thetageist wrote:

At 9/8/23 04:01 PM, BastardFromBrooklyn wrote: I am so high, I can hear heaven
I am so high, I can hear heaven
Oh but heaven, no heaven don't hear me...
And they say that a hero can save us
I'm not gonna stand here and wait
I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles
Watch as we all fly away
Someone told me that love would all save us
But how can that be?
Look what love gave us
A world full of killing, and blood spilling, that
World never came
And they say that a hero can save us
I'm not gonna stand here and wait
I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles
Watch as we all fly away
Now that the world isn't ending, it's love that I'm sending to you
It isn't the love of a hero, that's why I fear it won't do
And they say that a hero can save us
I'm not gonna stand here and wait
I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles
Watch as we all fly away
And they're watching us (Watching us)
They're watching us (watching us) as we all fly away...
And they're watching us (Watching us)
They're watching us (watching us) as we all fly away...
And they're watching us (Watching us)
They're watching us (watching us) as we all fly away
-Chad Kroger, Nickelback

Pretty good lyrics. What does this song mean to you?

Don't know, I just think the song's cool.

[PH4NT0M117]

At 9/8/23 04:30 PM, Thetageist wrote:

At 9/8/23 04:01 PM, BastardFromBrooklyn wrote: I am so high, I can hear heaven
I am so high, I can hear heaven
Oh but heaven, no heaven don't hear me...
And they say that a hero can save us
I'm not gonna stand here and wait
I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles
Watch as we all fly away
Someone told me that love would all save us
But how can that be?
Look what love gave us
A world full of killing, and blood spilling, that
World never came
And they say that a hero can save us
I'm not gonna stand here and wait
I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles
Watch as we all fly away
Now that the world isn't ending, it's love that I'm sending to you
It isn't the love of a hero, that's why I fear it won't do
And they say that a hero can save us
I'm not gonna stand here and wait
I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles
Watch as we all fly away
And they're watching us (Watching us)
They're watching us (watching us) as we all fly away...
And they're watching us (Watching us)
They're watching us (watching us) as we all fly away...
And they're watching us (Watching us)
They're watching us (watching us) as we all fly away
-Chad Kroger, Nickelback

Pretty good lyrics. What does this song mean to you?

You've come this close to the goalposts, then they moved.

Make your own goal, the goalposts are just that. Goalposts. They're at the END of the field, not the 0 yard line.

[Thetageist]

At 9/8/23 04:32 PM, PH4NT0M117 wrote:

At 9/8/23 03:19 PM, Thetageist wrote:

At 9/7/23 11:17 AM, PH4NT0M117 wrote: Imma be honest, i was stuck on stuff for a hot minute. That I had lost things, or that I wasn't doing the same stuff anymore. Let me tell you, theres more in art that a pencil or tablet. Go get a skateboard and record yourself and watch it back.

Good advice! Even something like a stunt routine or dance choreography can be considered performing art, even though it’s not something that fits in NG’s categories. Switching up the medium you use can be a means to clear your mind - that’s why I do coloring and jewelry making alongside my regular art!

I think NG could expand a little. The future of social media is data, yeah? I think it'd be really good for a place like this to allow for an "Artist's Exfoliation" of sorts. Own your shit, yknow? But like.... Make limits. Really hard limits. 480p, 20mbps, 4 minutes long, kek

What kind of media would be in the new sections?

[Thetageist]

At 9/8/23 04:35 PM, BastardFromBrooklyn wrote:

At 9/8/23 04:30 PM, Thetageist wrote:

At 9/8/23 04:01 PM, BastardFromBrooklyn wrote: I am so high, I can hear heaven
I am so high, I can hear heaven
Oh but heaven, no heaven don't hear me...
And they say that a hero can save us
I'm not gonna stand here and wait
I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles
Watch as we all fly away
Someone told me that love would all save us
But how can that be?
Look what love gave us
A world full of killing, and blood spilling, that
World never came
And they say that a hero can save us
I'm not gonna stand here and wait
I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles
Watch as we all fly away
Now that the world isn't ending, it's love that I'm sending to you
It isn't the love of a hero, that's why I fear it won't do
And they say that a hero can save us
I'm not gonna stand here and wait
I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles
Watch as we all fly away
And they're watching us (Watching us)
They're watching us (watching us) as we all fly away...
And they're watching us (Watching us)
They're watching us (watching us) as we all fly away...
And they're watching us (Watching us)
They're watching us (watching us) as we all fly away
-Chad Kroger, Nickelback

Pretty good lyrics. What does this song mean to you?

Don't know, I just think the song's cool.

I guess I can try to translate into advice for artists.

Don’t waste time waiting for something perfect to finally show up - the perfect art mentor or “hero”, the perfect solution to your art problems, the perfect spark of inspiration. Do it yourself. Try things. Experiment. Take those chances. The worst that can happen is you have an artwork you’ll redo later when you’ve learned more. But if you just wait around, you’re going to only feel more and more entrenched in your own fatalism, and nothing will ever feel like it’s going to work. It’s not a fun mentality to be in. Just draw stuff.

[CarolineSparkle]

I have advice related to coming up with ideas, and how it worked for me.

Say you have art block, writers block, whatever block. The idea isn't coming as easily. DON'T try to force the idea to come to you. Don't wrap your head or do mental gymnastics to get something down, it just makes you stressed and the "idea" that comes with it... well, from my experience 7 times out of time wasn't all that good.

Anytime I'd try to force myself to have an idea, or get my motivation back, it usually wouldn't work and I'd get frustrated with whatever I'd end up making.

So instead: try to get up from your chair, listen to music, go outside, chat with the family, anything you want. Then the ideas, inspiration or motivation will come on their own. Let them come to you naturally, instead of making your brain hurt for trying to force them.

This is MY experience and what worked for ME, though. So, take this with a grain of salt.

[BastardFromBrooklyn]

At 9/8/23 06:44 PM, Thetageist wrote:

At 9/8/23 04:35 PM, BastardFromBrooklyn wrote:

At 9/8/23 04:30 PM, Thetageist wrote:

At 9/8/23 04:01 PM, BastardFromBrooklyn wrote: I am so high, I can hear heaven
I am so high, I can hear heaven
Oh but heaven, no heaven don't hear me...
And they say that a hero can save us
I'm not gonna stand here and wait
I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles
Watch as we all fly away
Someone told me that love would all save us
But how can that be?
Look what love gave us
A world full of killing, and blood spilling, that
World never came
And they say that a hero can save us
I'm not gonna stand here and wait
I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles
Watch as we all fly away
Now that the world isn't ending, it's love that I'm sending to you
It isn't the love of a hero, that's why I fear it won't do
And they say that a hero can save us
I'm not gonna stand here and wait
I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles
Watch as we all fly away
And they're watching us (Watching us)
They're watching us (watching us) as we all fly away...
And they're watching us (Watching us)
They're watching us (watching us) as we all fly away...
And they're watching us (Watching us)
They're watching us (watching us) as we all fly away
-Chad Kroger, Nickelback

Pretty good lyrics. What does this song mean to you?

Don't know, I just think the song's cool.

I guess I can try to translate into advice for artists.

Don’t waste time waiting for something perfect to finally show up - the perfect art mentor or “hero”, the perfect solution to your art problems, the perfect spark of inspiration. Do it yourself. Try things. Experiment. Take those chances. The worst that can happen is you have an artwork you’ll redo later when you’ve learned more. But if you just wait around, you’re going to only feel more and more entrenched in your own fatalism, and nothing will ever feel like it’s going to work. It’s not a fun mentality to be in. Just draw stuff.

holy crap lois..

[UmbrellaMuffin]

I feel like I'll never be able to do proper dynamic poses and bodies that don't look flat.

[Thetageist]

At 9/8/23 11:51 PM, UmbrellaMuffin wrote: I feel like I'll never be able to do proper dynamic poses and bodies that don't look flat.

Idea: You may need to trace your poses from free stock references for a while, it’s what I’ve been doing to help me learn. I know some good websites if you’d like to take a look.

[PH4NT0M117]

At 9/8/23 11:51 PM, UmbrellaMuffin wrote: I feel like I'll never be able to do proper dynamic poses and bodies that don't look flat.

I was convinced of that but then I learned the reason I wasn't getting the results I wanted was purely shading. Its a trick on your eyes.

[PH4NT0M117]

At 9/8/23 06:27 PM, Thetageist wrote:

At 9/8/23 04:32 PM, PH4NT0M117 wrote:

At 9/8/23 03:19 PM, Thetageist wrote:

At 9/7/23 11:17 AM, PH4NT0M117 wrote: Imma be honest, i was stuck on stuff for a hot minute. That I had lost things, or that I wasn't doing the same stuff anymore. Let me tell you, theres more in art that a pencil or tablet. Go get a skateboard and record yourself and watch it back.

Good advice! Even something like a stunt routine or dance choreography can be considered performing art, even though it’s not something that fits in NG’s categories. Switching up the medium you use can be a means to clear your mind - that’s why I do coloring and jewelry making alongside my regular art!

I think NG could expand a little. The future of social media is data, yeah? I think it'd be really good for a place like this to allow for an "Artist's Exfoliation" of sorts. Own your shit, yknow? But like.... Make limits. Really hard limits. 480p, 20mbps, 4 minutes long, kek

What kind of media would be in the new sections?

I wanna post skateboard videos somewhere that isn't a corporate media garbage hole. I have all sorts of documentation I'd like to work on. There could be a short form video area, a tech / research forum (members), and actually I bet NG could make up their own "YT Shorts" sorta thing, but you draw the next animation frame.

IDK. I got lotsa ideas and nowhere to put them rly. Drives me crazy.

[PH4NT0M117]

At 9/9/23 04:18 AM, PH4NT0M117 wrote:

At 9/8/23 11:51 PM, UmbrellaMuffin wrote: I feel like I'll never be able to do proper dynamic poses and bodies that don't look flat.

I was convinced of that but then I learned the reason I wasn't getting the results I wanted was purely shading. Its a trick on your eyes.

Other advice:

Step 1: Before anything, get a milk crate, and a 17 inch CRT. Specifically 17, as you can take printer paper and fit it edge to edge on the top and bottom. Get an emachines CRT as it'll be flat and will have low glass static, most of the time at least.

Step 2: Grab a skateboard, bike, stick, something that will make you move, and a camera. Maybe your phone. Go in your camera app, set your FPS high, and take a slow mo video of you doing stuff in front of the camera. Do a kickflip, turn on your bike in a tight circle, throw a basketball, etc.

Step 3: Offload your video file, fullscreen VLC or whatever, if you can zoom into the video dope, freeze on frames that look like what you want to practice. This is why you run Slomo on your camera app.

Notes:

Use a CRT, you won't break it by drawing a line.

DO NOT USE A TABLET OR OTHER LCD, GORILLA GLASS OR OTHERWISE (you will cut the LCD thru the glass)

Using a DV / CD age camera makes an image thats easier to follow via shading, but doesn't have the detail a newer camera will have. Similarly, a newer camera will give you all the details, but won't give you the shading blur you want for just practice. Unless of course you have an actual camera. Likely you have a phone though.

When you're stuck, go outside and throw a rock at a tree. Aim it too, make your mind get completely focused on hitting that tree, hit it, take a deep breath, then go back. Complete mental reset.

[MetalSlayer69]

At 9/8/23 11:51 PM, UmbrellaMuffin wrote: I feel like I'll never be able to do proper dynamic poses and bodies that don't look flat.

gesture drawing is where it's at. Look up the instructor Glenn Vilppu

[Thetageist]

At 9/9/23 04:22 AM, PH4NT0M117 wrote:

At 9/8/23 06:27 PM, Thetageist wrote:

At 9/8/23 04:32 PM, PH4NT0M117 wrote:

At 9/8/23 03:19 PM, Thetageist wrote:

At 9/7/23 11:17 AM, PH4NT0M117 wrote: Imma be honest, i was stuck on stuff for a hot minute. That I had lost things, or that I wasn't doing the same stuff anymore. Let me tell you, theres more in art that a pencil or tablet. Go get a skateboard and record yourself and watch it back.

Good advice! Even something like a stunt routine or dance choreography can be considered performing art, even though it’s not something that fits in NG’s categories. Switching up the medium you use can be a means to clear your mind - that’s why I do coloring and jewelry making alongside my regular art!

I think NG could expand a little. The future of social media is data, yeah? I think it'd be really good for a place like this to allow for an "Artist's Exfoliation" of sorts. Own your shit, yknow? But like.... Make limits. Really hard limits. 480p, 20mbps, 4 minutes long, kek

What kind of media would be in the new sections?

I wanna post skateboard videos somewhere that isn't a corporate media garbage hole. I have all sorts of documentation I'd like to work on. There could be a short form video area, a tech / research forum (members), and actually I bet NG could make up their own "YT Shorts" sorta thing, but you draw the next animation frame.

IDK. I got lotsa ideas and nowhere to put them rly. Drives me crazy.

Wonder if your option now is to sign up on Weebly or similar and start your own website to host all that. It could be a blog of sorts, or a site to categorize everything you’ve been working on so that people can benefit from it.

[MondoBilby]

I'm having a bit of trouble getting myself to work on a comic I really want to make. I've been having ideas and making plans for it for maybe a couple years now, and I really want to get started on making it, but I'm scared to commit to something I'm not even sure will work out. I'm worried it won't be well written enough or have bad pacing or that after a few days I'll start to dislike it, and I know that these things are perfectly normal and bound to happen for a first comic, but I get so embarrassed when I make mistakes and I don't want people to think I'm incompetent at what I'm doing. I love getting constructive critisism, but at the same time I'm scared to share the comic to people if I do make it because I don't know if anyone will like it.

Anyone have any tips on how to overcome these feelings?

[PH4NT0M117]

At 9/9/23 07:53 AM, Thetageist wrote:

At 9/9/23 04:22 AM, PH4NT0M117 wrote:

At 9/8/23 06:27 PM, Thetageist wrote:

At 9/8/23 04:32 PM, PH4NT0M117 wrote:

At 9/8/23 03:19 PM, Thetageist wrote:

At 9/7/23 11:17 AM, PH4NT0M117 wrote: Imma be honest, i was stuck on stuff for a hot minute. That I had lost things, or that I wasn't doing the same stuff anymore. Let me tell you, theres more in art that a pencil or tablet. Go get a skateboard and record yourself and watch it back.

Good advice! Even something like a stunt routine or dance choreography can be considered performing art, even though it’s not something that fits in NG’s categories. Switching up the medium you use can be a means to clear your mind - that’s why I do coloring and jewelry making alongside my regular art!

I think NG could expand a little. The future of social media is data, yeah? I think it'd be really good for a place like this to allow for an "Artist's Exfoliation" of sorts. Own your shit, yknow? But like.... Make limits. Really hard limits. 480p, 20mbps, 4 minutes long, kek

What kind of media would be in the new sections?

I wanna post skateboard videos somewhere that isn't a corporate media garbage hole. I have all sorts of documentation I'd like to work on. There could be a short form video area, a tech / research forum (members), and actually I bet NG could make up their own "YT Shorts" sorta thing, but you draw the next animation frame.

IDK. I got lotsa ideas and nowhere to put them rly. Drives me crazy.

Wonder if your option now is to sign up on Weebly or similar and start your own website to host all that. It could be a blog of sorts, or a site to categorize everything you’ve been working on so that people can benefit from it.

Nah. I don't need to be background noise.

[vlsrb]

At 9/9/23 09:20 AM, MondoBilby wrote: I'm having a bit of trouble getting myself to work on a comic I really want to make. I've been having ideas and making plans for it for maybe a couple years now, and I really want to get started on making it, but I'm scared to commit to something I'm not even sure will work out. I'm worried it won't be well written enough or have bad pacing or that after a few days I'll start to dislike it, and I know that these things are perfectly normal and bound to happen for a first comic, but I get so embarrassed when I make mistakes and I don't want people to think I'm incompetent at what I'm doing. I love getting constructive critisism, but at the same time I'm scared to share the comic to people if I do make it because I don't know if anyone will like it.
Anyone have any tips on how to overcome these feelings?

Honestly, I could have written this. I very frequently struggle with a lot of the things you mentioned here.

Don't know if it's going to be helpful, but a piece of advice I could give you (and that I should really start following myself) is: just do it. The only way your story is going to be brought into existence is if you draw it, page after page after page - no other sequence of events will lead to that outcome. Is it going to be perfect? No, you've said as much yourself. But nothing is ever perfect, not even published graphic novels by professional artists. Better to put in the effort to have your imperfect ideas actually exist in the real world than to cultivate an unobtainable platonic ideal stuck in your head, never to be seen by anyone.

I'm reminded of something I read a long time ago in, of all things, a Cracked article. To paraphrase: imagine two writers who both have a similar idea, but writer A pumps out 1000 words a day and writer B just endlessly thinks about their story and waits for the "perfect" moment to start working on it. One year later, A has the first draft of a novel and B has nothing.

Hope this was even remotely of use!

[PH4NT0M117]

At 9/9/23 12:28 PM, vlsrb wrote:

At 9/9/23 09:20 AM, MondoBilby wrote: I'm having a bit of trouble getting myself to work on a comic I really want to make. I've been having ideas and making plans for it for maybe a couple years now, and I really want to get started on making it, but I'm scared to commit to something I'm not even sure will work out. I'm worried it won't be well written enough or have bad pacing or that after a few days I'll start to dislike it, and I know that these things are perfectly normal and bound to happen for a first comic, but I get so embarrassed when I make mistakes and I don't want people to think I'm incompetent at what I'm doing. I love getting constructive critisism, but at the same time I'm scared to share the comic to people if I do make it because I don't know if anyone will like it.
Anyone have any tips on how to overcome these feelings?

Honestly, I could have written this. I very frequently struggle with a lot of the things you mentioned here.

Don't know if it's going to be helpful, but a piece of advice I could give you (and that I should really start following myself) is: just do it. The only way your story is going to be brought into existence is if you draw it, page after page after page - no other sequence of events will lead to that outcome. Is it going to be perfect? No, you've said as much yourself. But nothing is ever perfect, not even published graphic novels by professional artists. Better to put in the effort to have your imperfect ideas actually exist in the real world than to cultivate an unobtainable platonic ideal stuck in your head, never to be seen by anyone.

I'm reminded of something I read a long time ago in, of all things, a Cracked article. To paraphrase: imagine two writers who both have a similar idea, but writer A pumps out 1000 words a day and writer B just endlessly thinks about their story and waits for the "perfect" moment to start working on it. One year later, A has the first draft of a novel and B has nothing.

Hope this was even remotely of use!

applause

[Chris]

I know how this feels. I had about a 15 year gap where I wasn't really creating anything. It was like a massive creative block. I then got myself into this place where I felt like whatever I made next had to be special otherwise it would seem weird that I came back to make something really shit. I'd also find myself really over inflating my project ideas so they were just to large to handle.

I finally got out of that mind set this year by setting myself a couple ground rules:

1. I would aim to make very small proejcts that I could manage in a short space of time. This would prevent me from getting to bored with it and scrapping it. Or thinking of something else i want to work on and letting the project get forgotten as I focus on something else entirely.
2. I would make what I want and if it sucks and everyone hates it then I wouldn't care. This allowed me to be more creative as I wasn't worried about what I SHOULD do or what everyone else is doing.

Thinking like this I've now made 5 games this year and am working on my 6th.

Everyone is different but the approach above helped me get out of a 15 year rut so maybe it'll be helpful for you guys too.