# The Creative Mind

Nothing is certain, so why not take the risk and be as bold or unusual or as personal as we want to be in whatever we are creating?

This article is long overdue in so many ways both literal and metaphorical, but it’s here now so shut your figgy pudding hole and enjoy this airing of grievances.

It’s scary to walk on the mat for the first time against an opponent taller and larger than you. And it’s scary to show people a story you’ve been obsessed with for weeks, months, and years on end.

Remember, everything you learn and do becomes fuel for your writing.

What’s the best music to mainline to your brain to propel you into that mental space?

Fear of change, fear of failure, fear of … success. All of it paralyzes emotional growth—and wastes time.

"You don't have to stay in a place that doesn't love all of you."

It’s about being an artist, being a human, and being alive.

In fact, mistakes are actually tools that lead you to where you need to be.

The countdown of my life was ticking louder and louder each day.

Forget pressure—it felt taboo to dislike anything.

The half-written page in front of my eyes turns to black and mocks me like a childhood bully who knows just the right pairing of words to scar me for an entire summer.

For the briefest of moments, I thought I’d made it. I was so proud of my achievements. Of course, the joy didn’t last forever.

It’s endless. And constant. You hear "No" way more than "Yes."

Erica Davis spills the beans on the quick and dirty hacks that help her focus when writing.