Welcome to Gutter Thoughts, where I share insights into my creative process and philosophy each week. From exploring big ideas to finding inspiration in comics, books, shows, and movies, this space is all about staying creative and grounded.
This Week’s Creative Focus
Whether diving into creative work or spending time learning and reflecting, here’s what’s been on my mind and plate this week:
How to Overcome Perfectionism So You Can Finish Projects (Even If They Don’t Feel ‘Good Enough’)
This week, I realized that to break free from the perfectionist trap and complete your projects, you're going to need a handful of key strategies.
Focus on these three things to overcome it:
1. Embrace the ‘Good Enough’ Mindset
First, you must let go of the idea that your work has to be perfect.
When you aim for good enough, you relieve the pressure to get it right the first time. This allows you to move forward and make progress instead of getting stuck. Focus on completion rather than perfection, and you will be successful. Set small, achievable goals and be okay sharing work you know you can improve on later.
2. Break It Down Into Manageable Steps
Next, you need to master the art of breaking projects into bite-sized chunks.
Perfectionism often stems from feeling overwhelmed by a project's size. Dividing it into smaller tasks reduces the pressure and makes the work feel achievable. Create a step-by-step plan and tackle each task one at a time. Don’t forget to celebrate small wins as you go.
3. Set Realistic Deadlines and Stick to Them
Finally, implement strict but realistic deadlines to keep yourself accountable.
Why is this important? Without deadlines, perfectionists will keep tweaking their work endlessly. When you set a deadline, you create a sense of urgency that forces you to move on. Be firm with your timeline, and once the deadline hits, consider the project done— even if it feels like you could keep improving.
Try these strategies, and watch as you overcome perfectionism and get your projects across the finish line, even when they don't feel 'perfect.'
Keep moving forward!
This Week’s Creative Sparks
Here are the shows, books, movies, comics, and more that have sparked my creativity this week:
Video Game: Clair Obscur Expedition 33- Cast Reveal Trailer
One thing I love about video games is how artful they can be. Many of them are interactive masterpieces. And this upcoming game is one of them. It’s visually stunning, the music seems epic, and with the cast reveal this week, I am excited about the story.
Music: St. Chroma by Tyler the Creator
Whenever Tyler releases new music, it’s exciting. The music will be outstanding, and we know some great visuals will accompany it. Check out the new music video/teaser for his upcoming album.
Video Essay: Adult Swim- The History of A Television Empire
This week, I explained the beauty of Adult Swim to a friend. Sharing this wonderful curation with him reminded me of this excellent video essay by Kaptain Kristian explaining the history and cultural impact of Adult Swim. It is a reminder that good curation is essential.
Animation: Burning Rubber
After going down the Adult Swim rabbit hole, I remember this dope animation from last year. A friend started making motion comics about handball a few years back and had the opportunity to turn them into anime at Max. I find the black-and-white with hints of color to make it feel more like a moving manga. Most importantly, I love the references to New York City culture. If you haven’t checked this gem out on Max yet, I highly recommend you do.
Book: Aiduels Sin by Daniel T. Jackson
After Daniel T. Jackson announced the release date of his third book, Gatebound, I realized I hadn’t finished the second book in the series, Aiduel’s Son. If you’re looking for a great fantasy read or want to try fantasy out, I highly recommend this Illborn Saga. What’s so cool is that Daniel publishes this all on his own. I hope I can interview him one day.
Comic of the Week
Batman & Robin: Year One
By Mark Waid and Chris Samnee
The creative duo that brought you the incredible runs on Daredevil, Captain America, and Black Widow (my favorite) teams up to bring you the beginnings of Batman and Robin. The first issue dropped this past Wednesday, and it was amazing. When writers and artists work so well together, it’s golden. These two remind me of Jeph Loeb and the great late Tim Sale.
Grab your copy at your local comic book store, here at midtowncomics.com, or your digital copy here.
And if you love what you read, I highly encourage you to pick up the previous books.
The Stoic Quote of the Week
A Stoic quote to inspire and motivate, helping to stay grounded in the creative process.
“When the standards have been set, things are tested and weighed. And the work of philosophy is just this, to examine and uphold the standards, but the work of a truly good person is in using those standards when they know them.”
—EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 2.11.23–25
Set the standard for yourself in your daily activities. But most importantly, hold yourself to that standard.
That’s a wrap for this week’s Gutter Thoughts. Thanks for joining me on this creative journey—hopefully, something here sparked an idea or inspired your own work. Until next time, stay grounded, stay creative, and keep pushing forward.