Sophie Yanow, an Eisner Award-winning cartoonist, shares her insights on building discipline in the creative process. She introduces the concept of a 'Gentle Comics Habit,' emphasizing the importance of manageable steps in habit formation. Topics include strategies for overcoming emotional challenges and maintaining motivation, especially for those with ADHD. Yanow highlights the transformative power of community in nurturing creativity and the value of personal outlets like blogging, emphasizing small daily practices for artistic growth.
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Virtual Studio Mates Habit Formation
Sophie Yanow shares her experience forming habits by using virtual studio mates.
They had routine work blocks with intention setting and check-ins that helped her draw a book consistently.
insights INSIGHT
Gentle Discipline Over Harshness
Traditional discipline often involves negative self-talk, which is unproductive.
Sophie emphasizes that effective discipline doesn't need harshness or strictness to work.
insights INSIGHT
Creativity as Brain Athletics
Treat creativity like brain athletics requiring preparation and peak performance mindset.
Activities like meditation and running helped Sophie focus and prepare mentally for creative work.
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The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World
Iain McGilchrist
This book argues that the division of the brain into two hemispheres is essential to human existence, allowing for two incompatible versions of the world. The left hemisphere is detail-oriented, prefers mechanisms to living things, and is inclined to self-interest, while the right hemisphere has greater breadth, flexibility, and generosity. McGilchrist takes the reader on a journey through the history of Western culture, illustrating the tension between these two worlds as revealed in the thought and belief of thinkers and artists from ancient to modern times. He argues that the increasing dominance of the left hemisphere in today’s world has potentially disastrous consequences.
Tiny Habits
The Small Changes That Change Everything
BJ Fogg
In 'Tiny Habits,' Dr. BJ Fogg presents a breakthrough method for habit formation based on 20 years of research and his experience coaching thousands of people. The book introduces the 'Behavior Design' approach, which emphasizes the importance of motivation, ability, and prompts in creating new habits. Fogg's method, known as the ABC (Anchor, Behavior, Celebration) method, involves anchoring new habits to existing routines, performing the behavior, and celebrating each success to reinforce the habit. The book provides step-by-step guides and practical techniques to make habit formation easy, enjoyable, and rewarding, helping readers to increase productivity, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being.
Atomic Habits
James Clear
Atomic Habits by James Clear provides a practical and scientifically-backed guide to forming good habits and breaking bad ones. The book introduces the Four Laws of Behavior Change: make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, and make it satisfying. It also emphasizes the importance of small, incremental changes (atomic habits) that compound over time to produce significant results. Clear discusses techniques such as habit stacking, optimizing the environment to support desired habits, and focusing on continuous improvement rather than goal fixation. The book is filled with actionable strategies, real-life examples, and stories from various fields, making it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to improve their habits and achieve personal growth[2][4][5].
How do you develop discipline as an artist?
Can you hack your behavior and form creative habits?
What tips or tricks could help you to create more often AND more confidently?
In this episode I'm joined by Eisner Award winning cartoonist Sophie Yanow. Sophie has so much insight on this topic and found great value in creating what she calls a 'Gentle Comics Habit'. We talk starting, stacking and bundling habits and what it all achieved.
If you'd like to join in, use the hashtag #gentlecomicshabit !
Discuss this episode, share creative wins and obstacles at our next monthly meetup! Join this month’s Creative Pep Rally by supporting the show on Substack or Patreon:
Creative Pep Talk 
