Surrender and structure

There are two fundamental stages of creativity:

1. The surrendering part

2. The structuring part

Surrendering is what needs to happen at a conceptual level. Structuring is what needs to happen at a craft level. The same dynamic happens in other parts of the job too:

• Surrendering to algorithmic distribution vs structuring the results we see (or don't see)

• Surrendering to instinctive strategic territories vs structuring their implications

• Surrendering to what you feel vs structuring what you think

So the question isn't whether surrendering is more important than structuring. It's a question of timing, and sequence of events.

Structure too much, too early, and you end up with limited options. But total surrender without some structure leads to chaos and eventual burnout.