Creative Projects

[Sahil Pandit]

What has your experience been with creative projects?

Are you working on some right now? 

What motivates you to do so? 

What is a creative project you have been itching to start but are struggling with? 

[XYZ]

I can dive right into a creative project if its something I can just do right away, without being concerned with technical skills, popularity or profitability. Most creative projects I've engaged in are through writing, in my personal blog, forum posts such as this one, or emailing with friends to share ideas with each other. I am very motivated to write because it helps sort out my thoughts in ways that are often not possible just thinking about them, leave a record of important things I'd otherwise neglect to be mindful of later one, and also get important feedback from others, which helps me expand my awareness and consider other perspectives I may have been blind to.

A creative project I have been itching to start over the last few years is running a YouTube channel. This is because of many reasons. Easiest to address is to stop procrastinating on learning some basic video editing skills and learning how to set up the microphone I bought 3 years ago and sat in a drawer. Also been very indecisive as to what I'd want the channel to be about and whether to show my face making videos, or just record audio accompanied by images, as lots of channels I listen to do. What I really struggle with though is the fear of recording things in my own voice that I look back on as cringeworthy and regrettable. I clearly remember how in August 2015 I wanted to make a MGTOW themed YT channel where I discuss all manner of armchair psychology topics. Lots of videos I scripted in my head, some even drafted on paper felt like low-consciousness inane drivel, and I'm glad I didn't take action.

There is also the fear of success, or popularity. I honestly believe that I could invest in some high quality video making equipment, make videos about topics like happiness, self-esteem, overcoming loneliness, introversion-extroversion etc. I wouldn't try to monetize the project at all at first, since that would be a distraction to the creative process, just produce content, and popularize it throughout the internet, share it with self-help communities, market the shit out of it on social media, etc. But then, I fear that such popularity would make me too public, too well known, would have so much unwanted attention online and in real life. I also desire to spend less and less time sedentary, more time being active, and unfortunately the only creative outlets I have access to involve long hours sitting at the computer.