This week, I'm working on protecting my creative energy by saying no more often. Not every opportunity aligns, and burnout helps no one, not you, not your collaborators, and not your work.
For the last few months, my life has been completely dominated by moving and projects that required my full attention, which meant my writing was quietly shelved. Since October, I’ve barely been able to give more than a few passing thoughts to the characters and world I’m deeply obsessed with. There just weren’t enough hours in the day.
Now I’m at the point where I have to be intentional. I have to make the time. That means committing to routines that prioritize me and my writing each week, and that also means saying no.
In my personal life, I’m often the person people go to. The planner. The organizer. The caretaker. The next-in-line southern matriarch. It comes with a lot of responsibility, pressure, and a never-ending to-do list that I never explicitly signed up for.
If I want to protect my creative work, I have to protect my energy. And to do that, I have to say no, and be okay with it.
What’s something you’ve learned to say no to in order to say yes to your work?
Share what’s helping you grow. You never know who might need to hear it.
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being proud of what I have written in my first screenplay. feeling like if I rewrite it, it won’t be the same. a lot of heart went into it when I was doubting myself.
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I'm rooting for you to protect your creative energy, Ashley Renee Smith! I used to say yes to A LOT, and I got burned out A LOT. I've gotten a lot better at saying no, but I still need to get better. I've said no to jobs so I could work on spec scripts. It wasn't easy, but if I'm only ever doing jobs, I'll never get my spec scripts done.
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I've seen a video about Steve Jobs where he'd call this 'tuning out the noise.' We're all pulled in thousands of directions at any given moment but the most successful entrepreneurs, creators, artists, are able to tune out the noise and dedicate their time to what's top priority. Easier said than done when someone like you Ashley Renee Smith is the heart of such a big community but I'm sure you'll find the time your art deserves!
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I've been doing this for a long time now, but I ignore pretty much all outsider influence in my creative process, even if I ask for it, if for no other reason than it's not always helpful. I'm a firm believer that in your world, what you say goes, and so it stands to reason that you're free to take or leave any advice you get. And in my case, I tend to overwhelmingly reject most input I get because it doesn't fit my world.
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I’ve learned to say no to anything that doesn’t match my vibe or feed my creativity. Protecting my focus is how I say yes to my work. So, if you want personalized guidance to help you choose the perfect service for your work, feel free to email edu@stage32.com or success@stage32.com!
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This is sage advice and something we all need to cultivate in our lives. Sacred creative space. A mentor once told me that while I was pretty good at “big game hunting” in the industry - chasing bigger and bigger projects - that the key to success is “taking care of your baby birds - feeding them - and giving them the attention they need to grow and fly.” That changed my life. Our Managing Director Amanda Toney has also been a powerful influence in my life on encouraging me to slow down and focus. You have to listen to the people you respect, not just hear them. I still manage multiple projects and responsibilities and opportunities daily but I’ve learned how to focus more deeply on one creative project at a time until it is done and delivered while focusing only on other work that I am completely committed to - not a bunch of clutter. Words into action - we are premiering a micro-budget feature film that we made this year on Friday. There is no way I could have produced and delivered that movie if I was saying “yes” to everything - or even “maybe” to a bunch of things. I nurture Stage 32 Certification. And I have nurtured this film. And everything else does find its place as we go and is either there at the end, which means it’s real and worthy of some time and attention when that time and attention is available, or it fades away, meaning it wasn’t meant for me to begin with. Trust that your focus is your freedom. Not the laundry list of things you think you’re “attached” to.
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Ashley, this resonates deeply. I’ve learned that saying no isn’t withdrawal — it’s discernment. Protecting creative energy often means choosing fewer rooms, but better ones, where the work can actually breathe.
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Great questions, Ashley Renee Smith! Saying no is definitely harder than we often realize. One thing I had to say no to along the way was illustrating and composing music, even though I loved both. Letting them go gave me the space to focus more deeply on writing and to adapt to the new design scene I’ve been exploring. It’s a tough trade-off, but it’s helped me protect my energy and grow in the direction I want.