Zachary Starr

This Week’s Question:

“You inspire so many with your writing, poetry, and storytelling. But when you hit creative roadblocks or self-doubt, how do you push through? What keeps you writing even on the hardest days?”

—

I wish I could tell you that creativity flows effortlessly, that the words always come, that I never stare at a blank screen and wonder if I’ll ever write something meaningful again. But that wouldn’t be the truth. 

The truth is, I struggle. 

Some days, the words feel locked inside me, just out of reach. Some days, I question whether anything I have to say matters. And some days, self-doubt creeps in like a shadow, whispering, What if you’re not enough?

I think every artist, every creator, every person who has ever put a piece of themselves into the world knows that voice. It’s relentless. And it thrives in silence, in hesitation, in fear. 

So, what do I do when I find myself frozen by it? 

I write anyway. 

I write through the doubt, through the block, through the fear. Even when it feels like every word is wrong, even when it feels like I’m pulling thoughts from the deepest, most unwilling parts of myself—I write. Not because I always want to, but because I know that if I let the silence win, I lose something greater than a day’s work. I lose a part of myself. 

Creativity isn’t a switch we flip; it’s a relationship we nurture. And like all relationships, it takes patience, trust, and showing up even when it’s hard. 

But beyond the discipline, beyond the practice of writing even when it’s difficult, there’s something deeper that keeps me going. 

You. 

Every time someone tells me that my words made them feel seen, that my stories gave them hope, that my poetry helped them heal—I remember why I do this. Not for perfection, not for accolades, but for connection. For the possibility that something I write might reach someone in the dark and remind them they’re not alone. 

So, when I feel blocked, I remind myself: It’s not about writing the perfect thing. It’s about writing something. Anything. Because the only way through is through. 

And on the hardest days? I think about you. 

And that is always enough to keep me going. 

— Zachary