Show Notes

Creative Work Hour Podcast – Episode 59
Title: How Do You Decide What to Work On Next?
Recorded: July 12, 2025, at ClarinetFest, Texas

Episode Summary

Today’s episode dives into the heart of creative decision-making: How do you choose your next project? The crew shares personal stories, struggles, and philosophies on following inspiration, balancing practical needs, and finishing what you start. Recorded live while Alessandra and Rochelle are attending ClarinetFest, the conversation is lively, honest, and full of relatable moments for any creative.

Bonus: After recording, Devin entertained everyone with “Screw You, We’re From Texas.”

Watch the performance on YouTube

Crew This Week

• Alessandra
• Greg
• Devin
• Rochelle
• Nate
• Bobby B
• Shadows Pub
• Michael J

Key Takeaways & Quotes

Alessandra

“Sometimes the most creative thing you can do is take care of yourself.”
She emphasizes the importance of recognizing what you need in the moment—whether that’s doing focused creative work or simply pausing for self-care.

Greg

“Creativity has seasons—sometimes I’m ready for a big project, sometimes it’s just scribbling on scrap paper.”
He introduces the concept of creative seasons and micro-seasons, encouraging listeners to honor their current capacity and mental load.

Rochelle

“There’s a spectrum—from what your creative muse wants to what just needs doing.”
Rochelle talks about weighing honest needs and instincts against practical demands, pausing to listen to that “little voice” that guides her next step.

Devin

“Sometimes a new idea grabs me, puts a hood over my head, and drags me off to the next project.”
Devin describes being led by unpredictable inspiration—sometimes in the middle of another project!

Nate

“The pondering and considering far exceeds what actually gets built in real life.”
Nate reflects on how much creative time is invisible—spent mulling over ideas before anything tangible emerges.

Michael J

“I noodle. I dabble. I follow my curiosity and the seasons change.”
Michael talks about balancing internal curiosity with external deadlines, sometimes finding himself stuck in indecision or over-choice.

Shadows Pub

“I throw all my possibles in the air and work on whatever lands on my nose and gets my attention.”
Shadows Pub’s playful system is all about letting attention and instinct guide the way.

Bobby B

“I’m great at starting, horrible at finishing.”
Bobby highlights the challenge of completion versus creation, using walks and bike rides as creativity time but also needing structure to finish things.

Noteworthy Observations

• Many participants acknowledge the ebb and flow of motivation and inspiration.
• Several mention the struggle between following new ideas and finishing existing projects.
• The idea of “creative privilege”—the ability to choose what to work on—is discussed.
• New potential podcast topic: How do creatives decide which unfinished projects deserve completion?

How do you decide what creative project to work on next?
Share your process with us at creativeworkhour.com, or suggest a topic you’d like us to discuss!

And don’t forget to subscribe for next week’s episode.