Gutter Thoughts 026: The Best Time to Create Was Yesterday. The Second Best is Today
What Ben Stiller, Seth Rogen, and My Indoor Plant Taught Me About Overcoming Perfection
The Stoic Quote of the Week
"It is said that if you would have peace of mind, busy yourself with little. But wouldn't a better saying be do what you must and as required of a rational being created for public life? For this brings not only the peace of mind of doing few things, but the greater peace of doing them well. Since the vast majority of our words and actions are unnecessary, corralling them will create an abundance of leisure and tranquility. As a result, we shouldn't forget at each moment to ask, is this one of the unnecessary things? But we must corral not only unnecessary actions but unnecessary thoughts, too, so needless acts don't tag along after them."
— Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 4.24
Hey there!
Nine years ago, I made eight pages of a comic called Boom Kid. Those pages got me hired at Apple.
But here's what happened next. I stopped creating. I kept telling myself I needed perfect tools, skills, and timing to create anything. I waited. And waited. And waited some more.
This thinking kills creativity in three ways:
You cling to old methods that worked once
You hoard new skills instead of using them
You wait for the "right moment" that never comes
The cost? Nine years of creative paralysis.
Today I'll show you how to break free from each trap.
Let's start.
Trap 1: You worship your old success.
When Boom Kid worked, I thought I'd found the secret formula.
Same brushes. Same software. Same everything. I was scared to change anything. What if I lost the magic?
But here's what I missed: my success didn't come from the tools. It came from trying new things. I experimented with everything back then. Digital brushes. Analog techniques. Different lettering. Wild color choices.
The willingness to experiment made the work good. Not the specific tool I used.
Nine years later, I still use the same old brushes. Why? Fear dressed up as loyalty.
A houseplant teaches a better lesson. When it outgrows its pot, you don't keep it cramped. You give it space. New soil. Room to grow.
Do this instead:
List your current tools and methods
Ask: which ones do I keep from habit, not results?
Pick one to change this month
Remember: the tool that got you here won't get you there
Stop worshipping your past. Start building your future.
Trap 2: You collect skills like trophies.
Since Boom Kid, I've learned tons. New brushes in ClipStudio Paint. Templates from Halftone Hospital and Johnkillink. Better lettering techniques.
But I never used them.
I told myself I'd try everything "when I finish the whole comic." I was hoarding improvements like a creative pack rat. Waiting for the perfect moment to use them all.
Last week I saw Ben Stiller and Seth Rogen talk about their work on the Happy Sad Confused with Josh Horowitz podcast.
Both comedy legends said the same thing: they become beginners with every project. They don't wait for perfect readiness. They show up and learn while doing.
Seth was so nervous directing Martin Scorsese that he went to crazy lengths not to look stupid. But he still showed up. He still directed.
Skills rot when you don't use them. Like fruit in a drawer.
Try this:
Pick one new skill you've been saving
Test it this week on something small
Use new techniques on pieces of projects, not whole ones
Focus on progress, not perfection
Stop hoarding skills. Start spending them.
Trap 3: You wait for tomorrow.
The biggest trap is believing in perfect timing.
For nine years, I told myself I'd embrace new tools "when the time is right." When I felt ready. When everything lined up.
Perfect timing is a myth.
There's a popular saying: "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now." Same with creativity.
I created Boom Kid when I had nothing to lose. No reputation. No brand. No pressure to be perfect. That freedom made the work shine.
Now I have all these imaginary standards to protect. But protection kills creativity.
Your houseplant doesn't wait for the perfect season to grow. It grows when you give it what it needs. Water. Light. Space.
Your creativity works the same way.
Do this now:
Pick one creative choice you've been delaying
Set a deadline for this week
Start a small side project where mess is welcome
Remember: you already did the hard part when you started
Perfect moments don't exist. Productive moments do.
How to repot your creativity.
Ready to stop letting fear kill your progress? Here's what to do:
This week:
Check one tool you keep from habit
Test one new skill on something small
Set a deadline for one choice you've been avoiding
This month:
Replace one outdated part of your process
Use one technique you've been saving
Start a messy experiment project
This quarter:
Let yourself outgrow past success
Embrace being bad at new things
Focus on moving forward, not being perfect
Remember
Your creativity is like a plant. Keep it in the same small pot and it will stunt forever.
The hardest part isn't learning new skills or finding better tools.
The hardest part is letting go of what got you here to make room for what will get you to where you're going.
What's one thing you've been meaning to try but keep avoiding? Hit reply and tell me. I want to hear about your messy experiments.
Looking for more of my work? Start with Boom Kid—a story about power, identity, and loyalty.
This Week’s Creative Sparks
Here are the shows, books, movies, comics, and more that have sparked my creativity this week:
YouTube Spark: Untitled 05 - Kendrick Lamar | An INVINCIBLE Edit
I love a good mash-up. And I love Invincible.
Maybe it’s the kid in me who grew up on Adult Swim and Toonami, but I’ve always enjoyed seeing people take anime footage, chop it up, and remix it with music. Back in high school and college, my friends and I made our own. They always reminded me of those quick Toonami bumps.
That’s why this one hit so hard: someone fused Invincible with Kendrick for a 54-second clip. The edit is sharp, the timing perfect—and I couldn’t stop replaying it. The juxtaposition just works.
Video Game Spark: Back to The Dawn
Sometimes I like to unwind with a game, and I recently stumbled across Back to The Dawn—a newly released prison-break RPG that’s equal parts strategy, story, and strange coziness.
The world is immersive, the gameplay tactical, but what really grabbed me was the art. Pair that with a story that pulls you in, and it’s a reminder that some of the best games are still coming from smaller studios.
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.
This issue is sponsored by me.
I created Cut the Learning Curve, a free 5-day course for aspiring comic creators who are ready to stop guessing and start creating with confidence.
And if you’re more of a founder or creative team who wants this done for you, I also ghostwrite story-driven newsletters that build trust and drive conversion.