Creative Living Beyond Fear: Lessons from Big Magic
On why fear doesn’t mean stop — it means write anyway.
Every now and then, I step away from the comfort of academic texts to seek inspiration elsewhere. While theory and structure are vital, not every idea fits neatly into an academic box. Sometimes, we need to make Space — real Space — for creativity.
As an academic, author and writing coach, I often meet people who wrestle not just with how to write, but with how to overcome the fear enough to write. That’s why I recently revisited Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, a book I first read during my PhD. It’s one of those rare books that keeps offering something new every time you return to it.
From the very first pages, Gilbert acknowledges what so many of us secretly feel: writing is scary. We’re scared to start, scared to fail, scared of rejection, scared of politics, scared to share our voice. Her honesty about this fear is refreshing. She doesn’t offer easy fixes — she simply reminds us that fear is part of the process. Naming it allows us to keep going despite it.
The Reality of Writing
Gilbert captures the real experience of writing: sometimes it just doesn’t work. Sometimes you need to let a project go and begin again. Sometimes you write daily with no visible success. But the act of writing itself teaches you.
This resonates deeply with me. Whatever you practice, you get better at. Even if your work isn’t published, even if rejection emails pile up, you are still becoming a stronger, wiser writer. Writing practice is the education.
Perfectionism and Fear
One of Gilbert’s most powerful insights is her description of perfectionism as a “haute couture version of fear.” It’s dressed up nicely, but it’s still fear. And it’s something that academics can relate to — that relentless inner voice saying, it’s not ready yet.
Her advice cuts through all of that:
“Begin anywhere. Preferably right now.”
Write despite the critics. Write even when you don’t feel ready. Perfectionism will wait forever — but creativity won’t.
Curiosity Over Passion
Another lesson that struck me was her take on curiosity. Gilbert explains that we don’t always need to write from passion — sometimes, curiosity is enough. Passion can feel heavy and demanding; curiosity is lighter, more playful.
When we follow what we’re curious about, we remove the pressure to produce something extraordinary. We simply explore. And that’s often when creativity flows most freely.
The Transformative Bit
Many people stop writing the moment things get uncomfortable — when someone criticises their work, when rejection hurts, when self-doubt creeps in. But those moments of discomfort are where the transformation happens.
Don’t rush through the experiences that have the power to change you.
Gilbert also reminds us that your book — or your art, or your project — is not your baby. It’s something you create and release into the world. Once it’s done, it no longer belongs to you. That perspective makes it easier to let go and move on to the next creative chapter.
Ultimately, Gilbert’s message is both simple and profound:
“You were born to create, regardless of outcome.”
That’s the heart of it all. Creativity doesn’t need permission or perfection. It only asks that you show up — that you write, paint, build, imagine — even when it’s scary. Especially when it’s scary.
So begin anywhere. Preferably right now.
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