Beginning any new project, it’s a good idea to ask your artist a few simple questions. These questions will help remove common bugaboos standing between your artist and the work. These same questions, asked when work grows difficult or bogs down, usually act to clear the obstructed flow.

1. List any resentments (anger) you have in connection with this project. It does not matter how petty, picky, or irrational these resentments may appear to your adult self. To your artist child they are real big deals: grudges.

Some examples: I resent being the second artist asked, not the first. (I am too the best.) ... I resent this editor, she just nitpicks. She never says anything nice.... I resent doing work for this idiot; he never pays me on time.

2. Ask your artist to list any and all fears about the projected piece of work and/or anyone connected to it. Again, these fears can be as dumb as any two-year-old’s. It does not matter that they are groundless to your adult’s eye. What matters it that they are big scary monsters to your artist

Some examples: I’m afraid the work will be rotten and I won’t know it.... I’m afraid the work will be good and they won’t know it.... I’m afraid all my ideas are hackneyed and outdated.... I’m afraid my ideas are ahead of their time.... I’m afraid I’ll starve.... I’m afraid I’ll never finish.... I’m afraid I’ll never start.... I’m afraid I will be embarrassed (I’m already embarrassed).... The list goes on.

3. Ask yourself if that is all. Have you left out any itsy fear? Have you suppressed any “stupid” anger? Get it on the page.

4. Ask yourself what you stand to gain by not doing this piece of work.

Some examples: If I don’t write the piece, no one can hate it.... If I don’t write the piece, my jerk editor will worry.... If I don’t paint, sculpt, act, sing, dance, I can criticize others, knowing I could do better.

Music is your own experience, your thoughts, your wisdom. If you don’t live it, it won’t come out your horn. -Charlie Parker

5. Make your deal. The deal is: “Okay, Creative Force, you take care of the quality, I’ll take care of the quantity.”
Sign your deal and post it.

A word of warning: this is a very powerful exercise; it can do fatal damage to a creative block.