Anger Leads to Creation
Anger is one of my favorite creative resources . . . Instead of wasting my anger on complaining or lashing out at people, I try to channel it into my writing and my drawing. So go on, get angry. But keep your mouth shut and go do work.”
Austin Kleon (from his classic book, Steal Like an Artist)
Anger can be a surprising source of creative energy if you channel it right. Austin Kleon talks about how sometimes his blood boils after scrolling through emails and social media, and that fire is what gets him moving. Instead of wasting that anger on complaints or lashing out, he turns it into writing and drawing. His advice? Get angry, but keep your mouth shut and get to work.1
That’s a powerful way to think about how we consume our news and social media, too. It’s easy to get frustrated by what we see online. Andre Torres, quoted by Kleon in his awesome book, Steal Like an Artist, puts it simply: “Complain about the way other people make software by making software.”2
Use your frustration as fuel and motivation to create solutions, not noise.
This mindset reminds me of church planters (if you’re not familiar, that’s part of my background) who start new communities as acts of rebellion against the status quo. They didn’t just complain about what’s wrong, they wanted to build something better. Their frustrations led to new creations and ultimately, in many cases, good was still served because of it.
As creatives, we have a choice: Let anger and frustration hold us back, or turn those emotions into action. Use your fire to create, build, and innovate. Let your work be your response to what annoys or challenges you. That’s where real change and great art begins. Honestly, maybe you’re not creating enough because you’re not pissed off enough. I’m sure if you looked with fresh eyes, you would see a whole lot to be frustrated by.
TODAY’s CHALLENGE:
Instead of complaining about something, channel that energy into a small creative project. Write a poem, sketch an idea, build a prototype, or start a journal that transforms your frustration into something productive. Share how it changes your perspective or motivation!
What’s one frustration or irritation you’ve been feeling lately - whether about your work, the world, or even your own creative process?
Here is the full quote from Austin Kleon on this very topic from his awesome book you should read right now (if you never have before, it’s called Steal Like an Artist):
“Anger is one of my favorite creative resources. Henry Rollins has said he is both angry and curious, and that’s what keeps him moving. Some mornings, when I can’t wake up, I lie in bed and read e-mail and Twitter until my blood starts boiling and I get fired up enough to spring out of bed. But instead of wasting my anger on complaining or lashing out at people, I try to channel it into my writing and drawing.
So go on, get angry. But keep your mouth shut and go do work.” (Austin Kleon, Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative, pages 105 & 107).
This quote from Andre Torrez can also be found in Austin Kleon’s book, Steal Like an Artist (page 107).