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.
Weekly Creative Focus
Whether diving into creative work or spending time learning and reflecting, here’s what’s been on the mind and plate this week.
The 3-Step Process for Creating When You’re Overwhelmed
Being overwhelmed can kill your creativity. When life piles on stress, deadlines, and expectations, making time to create feels impossible. But creativity isn’t extra—it’s essential. It’s how you process, recharge, and reconnect with yourself.
At the start of this year, I struggled to publish consistently. I felt stuck—like I had hit a creative wall. I found myself avoiding the work altogether. But then I leaned into this simple three-step process. It helped me cut through the noise, reset, and slowly return to writing again.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, this process might help you too.
Step 1: Make Time for Yourself (Set Boundaries, Schedule Breaks)
Block off 30 minutes a day—non-negotiable.
Put it on your calendar.
Add it to your to-do list.
Leave your phone in another room.
Make yourself a cup of coffee or tea, and disconnect. This time is for you.
Start with something grounding—meditation, reading, journaling, or walking. Or sit in silence. The goal is to give your mind space to breathe.
This small but significant act creates a boundary between you and the chaos around you. By stepping away from distractions, you allow yourself to reset mentally and emotionally, making it easier to return to your work with a fresh perspective.
Personal Story:
After the 2025 inauguration, my stress was at an all-time high. Every morning, the news reminded me how fragile democracy is. But I had promised myself to lean into Stoicism. So, I stopped checking the news first thing. Instead, I read The Daily Stoic and spent 30 minutes with a book from my TBR list and doing something creative. Some days, I swapped creative time for a walk. That small change gave me clarity and control over my mornings.
Step 2: Engage in Art That Sparks Joy (No Pressure, Just Fun)
Once you’ve carved out time, dive into art that makes you feel something—without worrying about being productive.
Now that you’ve set aside space for yourself, it’s time to fill it with something that excites you. Not everything you do has to serve a goal or be productive. Sometimes, the best way to fuel creativity is to simply enjoy art for the sake of it.
You should always aim to create more than you consume, but sometimes, consuming art is precisely what you need. Skip social media. Instead:
Watch a movie
Browse a bookstore
Reread a favorite comic
Binge an anime
Play an album that never fails to make you smile
Joy sparks creativity. Taking in art that moves you reminds you why you love creating in the first place.
Personal Story:
At the start of the year, I felt stuck on my comic series, Boom Kid. I was unmotivated and questioned everything. So, one day, I texted my girlfriend and asked if she wanted to see a movie. We decided to watch One of Those Days after she got off work. We laughed the entire time. That experience reminded me why I love storytelling. That art should be raw, authentic, and funny. I left the theater inspired, ready to explore humor in my work.
Step 3: Tap Into Nostalgia (Old Favorites, Past Works)
Revisit your past creative work and childhood favorites.
Sometimes, the best way to move forward is to look back. Your past creative work and early inspirations hold valuable clues about what drives you as an artist. Tapping into nostalgia can be the spark you need to reignite your passion when you're feeling stuck.
Go through:
Old sketches
Unfinished drafts
Childhood shows, books, and music that shaped you
Ask yourself:
Why did I love this?
What emotions did it spark?
Does it still resonate today?
Nostalgia is a powerful creative fuel.
Personal Story:
Recently, my dad visited and brought 300 pounds of my old comics and magazines. As I sorted through them, I found comics I had drawn in college. It was like seeing my younger self on the page. I noticed how much I had improved as a storyteller and artist, but I also saw the raw excitement I had back then. It reminded me why I started and pushed me to keep going.
Final Thought
Creativity isn’t always easy.
Some days, ideas will flow effortlessly. Other days, you’ll feel stuck. But if you make time for yourself, embrace joy in art, and reconnect with what first inspired you, you’ll always find a way back to your creative flow.
This Week’s Creative Sparks
Here are the shows, books, movies, comics, and more that have sparked my creativity this week:
Animation Show Spark: Common Side Effects
From the moment I saw the trailer, I knew I had to watch this—and it still blew past my expectations. A mushroom that can heal all? The fight to keep it out of the hands of Big Pharma? Every 23-minute episode packs in sharp character development, tight plotting, and a perfect balance of humor and tension. It’s a reminder that bold, creative storytelling is still alive and well. You can watch the first episode on YouTube (click the link above) and catch the rest of the series on Max.
Animation Show Spark: Invincible Season 3
I grew up reading Invincible—for nearly two decades, it was my favorite superhero comic. While DC and Marvel played it safe, Invincible pushed boundaries, proving epic stories didn’t need endless events. When it ended, I was both heartbroken and satisfied. Now, with Season 3 of the animated series, the story is alive again and somehow even better, adding depth the comics only had 24 pages to explore. If you haven’t read or watched it yet, now’s the time.
Music Spark: Hope Handwritten by Hope Tala
For the past two years, All My Girls Like to Fight has been on repeat for me. The music video hooked me—the lyrics, the sound, the melody—it was clear Hope Tala paints visuals with her voice. Her new album just dropped, and from the singles to the full tracklist, she continues to prove she’s a masterful storyteller, using music as her canvas.
When I Lay My Vengeance Upon Thee
Writer: Gus Moreno
Illustrator: Jakub Rebelka
I love a good Catholic drama, and this one feels like True Detective meets The Exorcist. I’m not usually into demon possession stories, but the cover art caught my eye, and I couldn’t resist. What hooked me wasn’t just the horror—it was Gus’s storytelling, the rich character work, and the blurred lines between good and evil. By the end of the first issue, I was all in. I’ll be picking up the next one, and you should too. Grab yourself a copy here over at Midtown Comics or your local comic book shop.
The Stoic Quote of the Week
A Stoic quote to inspire and motivate, helping to stay grounded in the creative process.
“The mind that is untroubled and tranquil has the power to roam into all the parts of its life; but the minds of the engrossed, just as if weighted by a yoke, cannot turn and look behind.”
—Seneca , On The Shortness of Life
Now more than ever, it's easy to feel weighed down—by work, politics, grief, or stress. When our minds are burdened, it's like wearing a yoke (a wooden harness placed on oxen to keep them pulling in a straight line), limiting our perspective and keeping us stuck. But by cultivating tranquility, we free ourselves to reflect, learn from the past, and move forward with clarity.
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.
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