When the Universe Deletes Your Chapter
And Other Reasons to Keep Creating Anyway
Hey you—yes, you, the writer staring at a blank document, the artist with half-finished sketches, the creative soul wondering why you bother when the world feels like it’s falling apart.
I see you. And honestly? Same.
The Case of the Vanishing Chapter
This week, technology betrayed me. One minute, a chapter of my work-in-progress existed. The next? Poof. Gone. No backup, no recovery—just the digital void laughing at my life choices. I did all the stages of grief in record time: denial (clicking “refresh” like a maniac), anger (swearing at Word), bargaining (“I’ll never complain about drafting again if you give me back my pages!”), depression (lying on the floor dramatically), and finally… acceptance.
So I grabbed a notebook and started again. By hand. Slow? Yes. Satisfying? Also yes. Because progress, no matter how small, is still progress.
The World is on Fire (But Your Work Still Matters)
Let’s be real: existing right now is exhausting. Every time I open the news, it’s another disaster, another reason to wonder if creating art is even worth it. But then this week —buried under the noise—I saw it: a tiny headline about potential signs of life on a planet 120 light-years away.
Algae. On another world. Maybe. In the grand scheme of things, that’s mind-blowing. But the world barely paused. We’re so numb that we scroll right past the potentially incredible.
Which is exactly why your work matters.
Why You Should Keep Going Anyway
1. Creating is an act of rebellion. In a world that thrives on burnout and bad news, making art is a quiet "screw you" to despair.
2. Small still counts. A paragraph. A doodle. Five minutes of writing before the chaos resumes. It all adds up.
3. Look up sometimes. Past the headlines, past the noise. There’s algae on another planet. Maybe. And there’s you, still creating. That’s kind of incredible.
Your Word is Your Bond (Even to Yourself)
Ever notice how we’re great at keeping promises to others but flake on ourselves? "I’ll write tomorrow." "I’ll sketch next week." But every time we bail, we teach our brains our dreams don’t matter.
So here’s the fix:
- Start stupidly small. One sentence a day. A five-minute sketch. Rebuild trust with yourself.
- Treat your creativity like a client. You wouldn’t ghost a paid project. So why ghost your passion?
- Progress > perfection. Lost a chapter? Start over. Fell off track? Begin again. The only real failure is quitting.
Bottom Line
The world won’t stop being loud. Your files might still vanish (seriously—back up your work). But if you’re still here, you’re still capable of creating.
So open that draft. Pick up the pen. The universe might not care, but I do—and more importantly, you should too.
Now tell me: How do you keep creating when life tries to derail you? (And if you’ve ever cried over lost work, welcome to the club.)
P.S. If you’re reading this, you’re still in the game. That means it’s not too late. Start small. Start now.
Thank you.