What happens when you lose sight of why you're creating—and how do you find your way back?

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This week I'm feeling lost and questioning what really motivates my creativity.

In this episode, I explore three ideas that help when you don't know why you're creating: relaxing into the process, giving yourself permission not to have all the answers, and reframing the ego question by focusing on service rather than achievement.

If you've ever wondered whether your creative work is driven by genuine purpose or just ego, or if you've lost sight of why you even create, this conversation is for us.

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The secret to creative success isn't talent or inspiration—it's something much simpler (and harder) than you think.

I used to think creative success was about making something great every time I sat down to work. But after years of composing, teaching, and yes—trying to learn those impossible drum patterns—I've realized something counterintuitive: the specific thing you're working on matters less than the fact that you're working at all.

In this episode, I break down the psychological paradox that keeps us creating, why "doing the reps" is everything, and how to trick yourself into caring about the work without getting crushed when it doesn't pan out.

📬 If this resonated with you, you'll love my newsletter—I send one email a week with ideas like this: https://ktfpod.com/#newsletter

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This is a special, short episode about how creative people process loss and can move on without ignoring or pushing feelings of sorrow away.

Bittersweet by Susan Cain: https://amzn.to/3WwMmar

Inspired by the loss of my mother, I felt compelled to make this episode as a way to allow those feelings to come into my work and guide me forward.

I forgot to mention that there are many kinds of loss beyond losing a loved one. The loss of a pet, the end of a relationship, the loss of a job — any of these experiences require grieving and can upend your creative practice.

Already I can see I will need to make a follow up to this episode. It was much too short anyway, but it was all I could handle right now.

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What if the creative work that "doesn't matter" is actually the key to unlocking your most important breakthroughs?

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After 35 years as a professional musician, some of my biggest creative breakthroughs came from projects I almost threw away.

In this episode, I'm sharing why thinking smaller—not bigger—might be the secret to unlocking your best work. I'll reveal the psychological tricks that make starting effortless, why side quests often become more valuable than your main work, and how tiny constraints can actually sharpen your creativity.

If you've ever felt paralyzed by the pressure to create something important, this one's for you.

The waitlist is open for my upcoming course Creative Resilience:

https://ktfpod.com/creative-resilience/crwaitlist.html

I'm so glad you tuned in to Keep the Flow my (hopefully) weekly podcast that looks under the hood of the creative process. The podcast finally has its own website — with merch even!

https://ktfpod.com

Check out my music: https://scottmclemore.bandcamp.com/

Follow for free on Patreon: https://patreon.com/scottmclemore

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What if the only permission you’ve ever needed for your creative work was your own?

The waitlist is open for my upcoming course Creative Resilience:

https://ktfpod.com/creative-resilience/crwaitlist.html

Grab a FREE copy of my ebook: https://payhip.com/b/RIqQx

I spent years waiting to be “picked” — for bands, auditions, and even summer gigs. In this episode, I share my own story of setbacks, the shift that helped me move forward, and how you can stop waiting for permission and start creating on your own terms.

I'm so glad you tuned in to Keep the Flow my (hopefully) weekly podcast that looks under the hood of the creative process. The podcast finally has its own website — with merch even!

https://ktfpod.com

Check out my music: https://scottmclemore.bandcamp.com/

Follow for free on Patreon: https://patreon.com/scottmclemore

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grab a FREE copy of the Wayfinder PDF: https://payhip.com/b/01Adw

I thought I was leaving music behind when I moved from NYC to Iceland to start a design firm—but life had other plans. Here's the 4-part framework I developed to navigate back to your creative path when everything feels derailed.

Keep the Flow with Scott McLemore is a weekly podcast that looks under the hood of the creative process.

https://ktfpod.com

Follow me for free on Patreon: https://patreon.com/scottmclemore

Here's my music: https://scottmclemore.bandcamp.com

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If your creative life feels like you’re driving in circles, this is the episode that shows you exactly how to find the exit.

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In this follow-up to my most popular episode, I dig into how to actually break free from the “creative roundabout.” I share my own turning points, the discomfort of saying no, and three practical steps to close the gap between knowing and doing—so you can get unstuck and move toward your next creative level.

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Discover how building your own attention map can help you stay focused, unlock flow, and navigate creative distractions with clarity.

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In this episode, I explore how the concept of "attention maps" — inspired by self-driving cars and advice my dad gave me when I first learned to drive — can help us navigate the creative process. Just like learning to rely on peripheral vision while driving, creative flow requires us to manage distractions while staying focused on what really matters. I talk about how we build our personal attention maps over time, how they shape our style, and how to keep momentum when doubts and detours arise.

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Music: https://scottmclemore.bandcamp.com

https://scottmclemore.com

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Discover why true creative success isn't about numbers or popularity, but planting seeds that grow into unexpected forests of opportunity and connection.

Sign up for The Interval for free inspiration in your inbox. https://subscribe.scottmclemore.com

In this episode of Keep the Flow, I explore the complicated relationship we creatives have with success. I share my personal journey through disappointing album releases, unexpected connections that changed my career, and why I've come to see my creative work as planting seeds rather than chasing metrics. If you've ever felt discouraged when your passion project didn't get the reception it deserved, this episode offers a fresh perspective on how creative success unfolds over time in ways we can't always predict. I challenge you to revisit a project that didn't initially succeed and see what new growth might be possible.

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If you're a creative person feeling stuck, these 5 mistakes might be the reason your work isn’t getting the traction it deserves.

YouTube version: https://youtu.be/ygvR3B_i_i0

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In this episode, I’m talking about five common mistakes that creative people—myself included—tend to make. From hiding our work out of fear to tying our self-worth to the results, these are the habits that can quietly sabotage our growth. I share some personal stories and hard-earned lessons in hopes that they’ll help you stay connected to the creative process and, as always, keep the flow.

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To follow me on Patreon for free: https://patreon.com/scottmclemore

Listen to my music: https://scottmclemore.bandcamp.com

Check out my new website: https://scottmclemore.com

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