The Creative Process Unpacked

Why Do I Create? Is There a Method to My Madness?

Sometimes, I wonder if creativity is a gift or a curse—not in that stereotypical “tortured artist in a dimly lit room” kind of way, but in the way that I simply can’t not create. Ideas come at the most inconvenient times—whether in the shower, mid-conversation, or right as I’m about to fall asleep. I feel restless if I’m not making something.

The Need to Make Something Out of Nothing

Some create for the outcome: for recognition, sales, or a polished final product. I create because something inside me demands it.

• I might not always know why I create.
• I might not know where it’s headed.
• Sometimes, I don’t even know if it’s good.

There’s a persistent pull—a feeling that if I don’t let it out, it will consume me. I’ve learned that creativity isn’t about logic. It’s not driven by a formula, strategy, or roadmap. It’s about trusting the mess. Real creativity often comes from chaos, from unanswered questions, and from things that don’t make sense until they do.

The Madness of Making

I’ll be honest: I don’t follow a structured process. I don’t rise at 5 a.m. with a vision board and a detailed plan. I create like I breathe—without overthinking or seeking permission. Sometimes I’m in a rush, sometimes I work in fragments:

• Staring at a wall.
• Scribbling nonsense in a notebook.
• Rearranging objects on my desk in hopes of unlocking some hidden genius.

And yet, something always emerges. Perhaps the secret is simple: you don’t need to know where it’s going; you just need to start.

What If the Process Is the Point?

We often get so caught up in what our work is supposed to be that we forget the magic of what it is:

• What if creativity isn’t about perfect execution but about allowing yourself to be fully immersed in the process?
• What if the pieces that never make it to the world—the failed attempts, the abandoned projects—are just as important as those that do?
• What if the act of creating is valuable, even if no one ever sees it?

I don’t think creativity is meant to be tamed. It doesn’t want to be dissected or systemized into a neat, linear process. I believe it wants to be wild, unruly, and free. Maybe the method to my madness is simply letting it be mad.

Do I Need to Know?

Perhaps the real question isn’t why do I create? but why do I feel the need to explain it? Maybe the mystery is part of the magic.

To every artist, writer, thinker, and maker out there: if you’ve ever felt the pressure to justify your creative process, remember—sometimes, you just need to create. And that might be enough.