Make What Scares You
Why Resistance Means You’re on the Right Track
There’s a reason why most content on the internet feels so sterile. It lacks honesty. And that’s the problem with chasing trends. When your creativity is boxed into a neatly packaged, consumable 30 seconds that is neither thought-provoking nor original, it’s easy to lose your creative soul.
So many of us feel the burden of the blank white page. Unsure of where to start. We want it to be perfect. We want it to mean something. And in that pressure, we end up doing nothing at all.
I was having a conversation with my wife about a friend of ours who has been trying to write a book for a while now (decades) but hadn’t made any progress.
Without even thinking, my wife spit out a bar even Jay-Z would give a head nod to.
She said,
“The book they’re supposed to write is the story they’re trying to erase.”
And wow. That hit me.
She wasn’t just talking about our friend. She was talking about me, her, you, and every single artist who needs this reminder.
The best work—the work that actually matters—isn’t the thing that feels easiest. It’s the thing that makes your stomach drop. The thing you tell yourself you’re not ready for. The thing that feels too personal, too risky, too real.
The truth is, we don’t just avoid the work. We avoid ourselves.
Because if we really went all in, if we really dug into the messy, complicated, unpolished reality of our experiences, we’d have no excuse. We’d have to put something real into the world. And that’s terrifying.
But here’s what I want you to hear: Your story is enough.
We don’t need another version of someone else’s success. We don’t need the next Taylor Swift, the next Kanye West (yikes), the next Paul McCartney. We need you.
The weird, specific, deeply personal version of creativity that only you can bring.
So many of us are waiting for the perfect idea. We convince ourselves that we’ll start once we figure it out. That we’ll begin when we feel ready.
But creativity doesn’t work like that.
Some of the most iconic, culture-shifting works came from people who weren’t sure if they were onto something. They just followed what felt true.
Donald Glover refused to be boxed into one lane. From writing for 30 Rock to acting in Community, then pivoting to music as Childish Gambino, and finally creating Atlanta, a show that blurred genres and redefined what television could be. He followed his instincts, not a formula.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge turned a small, deeply personal one-woman play into Fleabag, a groundbreaking TV show that blended humor, vulnerability, and rule-breaking storytelling.
Bo Burnham started as a teenager making goofy YouTube videos but evolved into one of the most innovative voices in comedy and filmmaking. Inside wasn’t just a stand-up special—it was a raw, deeply personal meditation on art, the internet, and mental health, proving that honesty resonates more than perfection.
None of these artists were following a trend. They weren’t trying to fit into a pre-existing mold. They were just chasing the truth of their own creativity.
And that’s what you need to do, too.
Maybe the thing you’re scared to make is the thing you need to make.
Maybe the thing you keep avoiding is the thing that will set you apart.
Maybe the work you’re running from is the work that will change everything.
So here’s my challenge to you:
What’s the idea that scares you the most?
The one that feels too raw, too ambitious, too much? That’s the one you need to start today.
It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t have to be neat. It just has to be honest.
Because at the end of the day, your best work isn’t somewhere out there, waiting to be found.
It’s already inside you.
Waiting for you to stop running.
Keep creating and repeating,
- Zack
Links keeping us creative:
👁️ Eye Candy: A curated collection of visually striking videos, edits, and projects for curated inspiration.
🗽 AllText NYC: A visual library capturing every bit of text across New York, seriously! Check it out.
📖 Another Graphic: An archive of graphic design focused on editorial design and other layouts.
📰 New Yorker Illustration: A collection of illustrations from The New Yorker, highlighting the artistry behind its iconic visual storytelling.
We launched Take It or Leave It, a weekend newsletter exclusively for paid subscribers. It’s part advice column, part mood board, and part behind-the-scenes look at Create.Repeat—offering a more personal glimpse into the reality of staying creative.
Each week, we answer community questions submitted through Substack Chat, sharing our thoughts on the creative process, career struggles, and everything in between.
It’s just $5/month, and if you haven’t used your free trial yet, you can start today. You can unsubscribe anytime—no pressure, just inspiration.
If you want to support Create.Repeat, this is the best way to do it.
This week’s advice…
This week’s spotlight is on Jaden Zhang, a video editor and filmmaker who’s all about pushing the boundaries of his craft. His work isn’t just about making cool visuals—it’s about capturing emotions, experimenting with different filming styles, and trusting his instincts to bring his ideas to life.
Challenging the Process
Jaden’s approach to video is simple: try everything. He’s constantly experimenting, testing new techniques, and seeing how far he can stretch his creativity. Whether it’s editing or filming, he’s not just documenting moments—he’s shaping them into something that feels alive.
Betting on Yourself
At the core of Jaden’s work is a deep belief in himself and his vision.
“I want my videos to express my feelings and thoughts. I’m always challenging myself to try different filming styles—it keeps things fresh and keeps me growing.”
The Takeaway
Creativity is about movement. Try things that scare you. Chase ideas that feel just out of reach. Bet on yourself—because no one else can bring your vision to life the way you can.
Create.Repeat is a community for creatives.
The Create.Repeat Substack is a project designed to be a weekly diary on creativity. Sharing inspiration for artists to keep creating and repeating.
Written and curated by Zack Evans & James Warren Taylor
Each week we will be sharing recent thoughts on creativity, some links helping us stay creative, and a talent show featuring an artist from the community. Thank you for engaging with us.
History repeats. Create the future.
That line from your wife... 🔥🔥🔥
AI slop I believe is creating a renaissance opportunity for artists. What's funny is people thought AI was going to kill off artists, but it's going to make their voices even more valuable. It's the mess that sets us apart from machines. The broken grammar, imperfect and improper use of everything and anything that makes us human.
The images you put in your article>>>>