What happens when you publish a book, but can't write?
You make a blank book, and watch your brain turn it into a Big Deal
I texted my Dad the other day: “I just published a book!”
Dad: “What? How? Congrats!”
Me: “Amazon KDP. Also it was a blank journal.”
Dad: “Oh. Great…!” Yeah, it’s not that big a deal…
But it IS my first digital product. And I can’t stress enough what it has done for my energy, to be able to say “I’ve created something.”
Nevermind that I’m only getting about $2.50 each for any of them that sell (if they sell). Truth is, I don’t know anyone else in my family who can say they’ve created a digital product.
The night I hit Publish, I dreamed of going through some family heirlooms that I’d inherited, and was deciding what to keep and what to toss. It seems my programming, the unspoken cues in my upbringing, are all being called into question.
Something in my head has shifted. Subtly, magically.
All I think about now is 2 things. 1 - everybody asking how I did it. 2 - all I want to do now, is create more things.
You don’t need more stuff. You need a shift.
Most people like me are stuck in the role of the consumer: scrolling, buying, watching, reacting. They think their life will change when they get the right product, the right course, the right gadget.
It won’t.
This kind of living keeps us broke, tired, and dependent. Not just financially: mentally and emotionally too.
It seems to me: the people who rise, are the ones who create.
They’re not better than us. They’re just doing something different with the same 24 hours.
Here are some of the changes I’ve made that have helped.
Step 1: Quit feeding the beast
Consumption isn’t the problem. Overconsumption is.
If your day starts and ends with phone time, if you're always “just checking” TikTok, Instagram, Amazon, STAAAAAHP. You’re training your brain to wait for ideas instead of make them.
Here’s what to do:
Turn off all notifications.
Move your most-used apps off your home screen.
Set screen limits. Actually obey them.
Replace “scroll time” with “sketch time,” “journal time,” or “sit-and-stare-at-the-wall-until-an-idea-hits” time.
Example: Instead of watching a YouTube video on productivity, open a Google Doc and write five sentences about what you want to build this year. Doesn’t matter how messy. Just write.
Consume less. Create more.
Step 2: Build a daily output habit
I’m up at 6 AM daily now, because before I start work I’m actually buzzing with ideas of things I’d like to do that day. (It’s when I start work, that I slowly lose the will to live.)
The fastest way to stop feeling stuck is to make something every day. Not “something big.” Just something. Anything.
A paragraph. A sketch. A voice memo idea. A blog draft. A recipe. A dance routine. An outline for a workshop you might lead someday.
Start tiny, but do it daily.
Here’s a dead-simple routine:
Set a 30-minute timer (you turned your notifications off, right?).
Open a blank page.
Make something, even if it sucks.
That’s it. No expectations. No editing. No sharing yet. Just make.
Over time, those 30-minute bursts stack up. What feels small today becomes your creative foundation later.
Step 3: Don’t wait for “your thing”. Experiment! Play!
When I got into the book creator tool, all my favorite hobbies fell to the floor next to me. There were so many other things I could create, even if I didn’t know how to do it yet.
Waiting to “find our passion” is a trap. Creators don’t find our thing and then start creating. We start creating and then notice what clicks.
Here’s how to start exploring:
Write 5 headlines for a post you could write.
Try drawing your dream day, badly.
Make a list of what you’ve taught others (this is a goldmine).
Record yourself talking through a problem you solved last year.
Look for energy: Where do you feel alive? Curious? Where do you lose track of time?
That’s your compass.
Step 4: Turn consumption into input
Consuming content isn’t bad. It’s just usually passive.
Instead, flip the script. Make consumption fuel your creativity.
Here’s how:
Read books with a pen in hand. Underline. Annotate.
Watch a TED talk? Pause every 2 minutes and jot notes or reactions.
Listen to a podcast? Pull one idea and turn it into a tweet, a sketch, or a quote graphic.
This changes your relationship with content. You stop being a passive sponge and become an active thinking filter.
Example: After reading a book chapter, write down one thing you disagree with. Turn that hot take into a social post or email.
Creation starts with response.
Step 5: Embrace “good enough to ship”
One of my nearest and dearest likes to tell me: “Don’t let the perfect stand in the way of the good.”
Most people wait too long to share.
They tweak. They polish. They second-guess. Then they delete it anyway.
Creators share early and often. They know done is better than perfect.
To get over the fear of being seen:
Post a rough draft.
Publish an “unfinished” idea and ask for feedback.
Share a behind-the-scenes shot of something mid-process.
You’ll feel exposed at first. Vulnerable. Maybe even a little ridiculous. Good!
Step 6: Create a repeatable container
This newsletter, is an excellent container. A daily art journal, perhaps.
A “container” is a system that helps you show up. It reduces decision fatigue and makes creativity automatic.
Example: A weekly newsletter. A monthly workshop. A daily 90-second video.
Here’s how to build yours:
Pick a format you enjoy (writing, speaking, drawing, etc.)
Choose a realistic frequency.
Stick to it for 30 days.
Don't overthink the topic. Think about your past self: what do you wish someone had told you? Start there.
Over time, this container becomes your creative engine. It’s not about going viral. It’s about building muscle.
Step 7: Build in public (even if it’s ugly)
Sharing what you’re working on is terrifying at first. Do it anyway.
Post your drafts. Talk about what you’re learning. Share screenshots of your Notion board. Invite feedback.
Don’t wait until it’s “ready.” It never is.
Here’s why building in public works:
You get feedback fast. (“I bought this, then gave it away. Better luck next time.”)
You attract people who care about your topic.
You build confidence in real time.
You also get used to showing up—even when it’s messy.
Step 8: Stop looking for permission
No one’s coming to tell us we’re ready. But if you need someone to do it, I’ll do it:
You are the publisher now. The platform. The gatekeeper. The green light.
Want to make a podcast? Record one on your phone today.
Want to write a blog? Open Substack and start typing.
Want to launch a product? Try creating a tracker journal, or a whole a** app (if you’re technically inclined).
If it feels scary, that’s a good sign. Fear is just the residue of unused talent.
We’re not too late: we’re just getting started!
Now let’s go make something.
***Leave a comment and let me know what YOU’RE working on!***