André SilvaMar 11, 2024
Daan | New To Narrative
Do you ever feel "creatively antsy"? It's that giddy feeling of inspiration and motivation but you have nowhere to direct it to. For me it always manifests as a nervous restlessness. It can be both enjoyable and frustrating at the same time. Let me give you an example:
1/11
Mar 11, 2024 at 6:00amWeb
Show threadDaan | New To NarrativeMar 11, 2024
A couple of weeks ago, when I felt especially creatively antsy, I started the following projects: setting-agnostic TTRPG system without math, an administrative horror short story, D&D module for cyberpunk-esque biomods, revisiting and redesigning old game concepts I had.
2/11
Show threadDaan | New To NarrativeMar 11, 2024
None of these projects actually went anywhere. I started a page, maybe two of random, jostled notes and then jumped to the next best thing. Tey’re all half baked attempts at directing my energy, that fizzle out after an hour or so. I used to feel guilty about doing this.
3/11
Show threadDaan | New To NarrativeMar 11, 2024
“Why am I putting energy in these “useless” things, that don’t go anywhere concrete?”, I would ask myself. This time when I started to slip into that guilt, I caught myself. I set out to answer that question first, and then feel whatever I would feel after.
4/11
Show threadDaan | New To NarrativeMar 11, 2024
So I take a little walk, I go to a cafe, take out my notepad, let my thoughts flow freely. I scribble gameplay ideas, doodle little monsters, write a few lines of lyrics. I got a coffee. Another one after. Now I’m getting a bit overcaffeinated and start nervously fidgeting:
5/11
Show threadDaan | New To NarrativeMar 11, 2024
I start bouncing my leg, grinding my teeth, stroking my chin. These are forms of self-soothing, unconscious ways you physically try to calm yourself. I had a bit of an eureka moment when I realized this...
6/11
Show threadDaan | New To NarrativeMar 11, 2024
Unfocused creative energy, starting new projects and doodling is creative self-soothing. Fidgeting for artistic nervousness. Inspiration is the overcaffeination of the creative process. Does it matter that it doesn’t go anywhere concrete?
7/11
Show threadDaan | New To NarrativeMar 11, 2024
Does stroking your chin have to be productive? I don’t think so! I find myself feeling creatively antsy like this when I’ve worked on a bigger project for a period I usually get hit by a dip in motivation after the three week mark.
8/11
Show threadDaan | New To NarrativeMar 11, 2024
I get lethargic for a couple of days and then suddenly have an influx of inspiration, energizing me to get back to making stuff. Before, I’d either try to funnel that inspiration back into the big project and fail at it.
9/11
Show threadDaan | New To NarrativeMar 11, 2024
Now, I think I can face it for what it is, and allow me to soothe myself. Would you want to stop feeling inspired? No, of course not. Would you want to stop self-soothing? It’s unconscious, so you can’t really help it.
10/11
Show threadDaan | New To NarrativeMar 11, 2024

Ask yourself if you would rather feel guilty about being unproductive, or to just be creatively antsy for a while. I know my answer!

#gamedev #writing #art
11/11