I wanted to share one of the most powerful creativity practices I’ve ever discovered. No matter how serious an artist you are or which medium you practice, this can help.
Make a creativity diary.
What Is a Creativity Diary?
A creativity diary is a way of documenting your projects and progress over time. How you do this is up to you—get creative with it! Finding a way to keep track of what you’re working on, notice patterns, watch your progress, and celebrate where you’ve been will reward you over and over again.
Create a System That Works for You
Your creativity diary will vary depending on what you’re into, and it can evolve with you over time. If you’re a painter, maybe you photograph all your paintings and keep them in a folder you can access easily. If you’re a musician, you might record voice memos or save ideas directly into a digital audio workstation like Pro Tools or GarageBand.
In the digital age, using some form of technology may make the most sense. You can organize your work chronologically or by color, theme, subject, or project. Let the system develop naturally, but don’t overcomplicate it. It is for you, not for anyone else. You can also keep a written journal or log, whether you’re a writer, illustrator, or creator of any kind.
For me, I prefer recording video on my computer for every song I write. I used to keep only audio recordings, but I find that video tells me more—it captures how I played it that day. I can also watch the progression of a piece as it travels from inspiration through my hands and voice into the world.
Document More Than Just the Finished Work
Have a way to make notes to yourself. You may want to explain something to your future self when revisiting a drawing or poem—why you chose a particular word or intentionally left something out. This works especially well if you plan on revising your work. It can help you reconnect with the creative state you were in when you first made it.
Learn From Your Creative Process
Watching your art unfold can reveal your creative process. It can teach you about yourself—where your strengths are, what words or themes you naturally gravitate toward, and even the areas where you still have room to grow.
Record Your Moments of Doubt
I’ve also used these notes to be vulnerable with myself when I was feeling discouraged about my art, something every artist experiences. I call them Moments of Doubt (MODs). Sometimes simply expressing your fears—preferably out loud—can free you from them. Being a great artist isn’t about being fearless; it’s about being brave. We have to acknowledge where the fear is and be willing to sit with it. Maybe we even move toward it. Maybe, when we do, it vanishes.
Celebrate Your Creative Wins
Just as importantly, celebrate your victories. Go back and recognize the moments of brilliance or craftsmanship in your earlier work. Maybe it wasn’t perfect—no art is—but you created it. All great art is authentic. It carries a perspective that only you can offer, a unique shade of your color.
Cheering yourself on and honestly recognizing when you’ve done something well—or even exceptionally well—builds resilience and will help you continue making art for years to come. It also reconnects you with your heart, which ultimately nourishes your work.
Your Creativity Diary Becomes Part of the Art
So make a creativity diary. Do it for yourself. Whether no one else ever sees it or you eventually share it with your adoring fans after becoming a household name, it will become a treasured companion throughout your creative evolution.
Many Blessings,
tyler
