Reporting Live From the Messy Middle

5 ways I’m rethinking everything.

Paper and digital collage

Welcome (or welcome back!) to Multifaceted, a weekly newsletter about finding delight and direction in a creative life made up of many different interests.

Who else is getting sick of seeing a picture-perfect version of creativity? 

You know the one: The artist plies their trade on a tidy desk. The process pans out in a pretty timelapse. One brushstroke, stitch, or sentence follows the next until a perfect little end product comes into focus.

If you’re doing assembly line work, sure, your process probably is that controlled… repetitive… and, honestly, boring.

If you’re doing deep and meaningful creative work, though? None of that applies. 

I can tell you firsthand – the creative process at its best looks nothing like those quaint, Insta-friendly clips. In fact, the really good part of the process is ugly.

It’s where the blood, sweat, and tears start flowing amid piles of ideas, crumpled-up drafts, and prototypes. Some work is overdone, some underdone. 

It’s a mess – but you can’t quit. You’re not done yet.

That’s why it’s called the “messy middle.”

Here’s what I know about this slippery but significant part of the creative process:

This stage is where the magic happens. But it’s also where things can feel foggy. 

You might stop and start or give it your all, but nothing makes sense. One minute you love what’s happening – the next, you’re questioning everything.

You either feel like you’re not getting anywhere, or you’re careening toward some unknown destination that’s nowhere near where you thought you were going. 

But if you can stick through the tough part, it’ll be worth it – because this is where you grow. 

The “messy middle” is a place for experimentation and risk-taking. It’s your chance to make a glorious mess that sparks something unexpected. It’s where your creativity comes to life. 

In the end, you’ll see your work take shape into something even better than what you could’ve imagined at the start.

Earlier this month, an interview opportunity snuck up on me at just the right time – right at the start of my “messy middle.” 

Before that point, I was keeping Multifaceted going through a weekly writing routine. I added structure with a themed monthly magazine-inspired concept. 

I’d already been thinking (and writing) a lot about the creative journey, identity, and “why.” But I realized I was kinda-sorta beating around the bush about the deeper goal and purpose for my writing. 

Drafting a quick bio for the interview pushed me to think more seriously about how I want to show up with my creativity – and why I want to show up in the first place.

I haven’t figured it all out yet. 

But one thing I do know is that picture-perfect creativity is boring. It’s time we see (and share!) messier glimpses into what happens when we start doing creative stuff that’s worth doing. 

In that spirit, here’s what I’ve been working on and wondering about lately:

1. Rewriting my labels

So many people struggle with creative labels. It’s hard to choose ones that fit. 

In a previous post (that I still really like), I wrote about whether to call yourself a writer or artist or whatever else – and why those titles may or may not feel right.

As it turns out, by my own logic, my self-imposed creative labels were out of date!

Previously, I’d emphasize the activities I like to do. For instance, I’d say I enjoy sewing, design, collage art, and so on. 

Now, I’m stepping into these roles a little more actively through the language I use. My updated blurb may be a little long, but I like it a lot better.  

I’m a multifaceted creative who wears many hats as a professional writer, editorial director, collage artist, fashion historian, sewer, and occasional designer of beautiful things.

That’s me! A multi-passionate weirdo who isn’t afraid of follow-up questions.

2. Reacquainting with my creative side

After gently upending my sense of self, I spent an evening flipping through my “me manual.” It’s a notebook where I’ve jotted down responses to reflective prompts and thought exercises over the years. 

That trip down memory lane helped me continue the process of questioning old assumptions.

I’ve always wanted to engage both my intellectual and creative sides. Looking back over my notes, though, I noticed that I put a lot of weight on the intellectual half. The creative side was always there, but it flew under the radar.

For many reasons, I held my academic side in higher regard than my artsy interests. The former seemed more closely related to professional success. It seemed more important. Compared to the nebulous realm of creativity, it felt comfortable, understandable, achievable, and – dare I say it – easy.

Creativity is hard. It’s messy. And I now realize it’s way more important to my sense of self – and my definition of a meaningful life – than I ever thought it was. 

3. Redefining what leadership looks like

As I flipped through my notes, I remembered that leadership has always been important to me – even before I had enough experience to lead in any significant way. 

However, I used to think it was about being the smartest subject matter expert or the highest-ranked person at work. 

Now I believe leadership is simply about helping people. I have a hunch that’s what I’m here to do through my creative practice.

4. Revamping my to-do list

The to-dos, tasks, and activities we spend time on ultimately make up the fabric of our lives. That’s what it means to create every day. 

I’ve been looking for a new way to intentionally and mindfully plan my time. My old method left me feeling overwhelmed and behind at the end of each week. 

That goal led me to start reading The Bullet Journal Method. No, this isn’t about perfectionists who use colorful pens to illustrate unnecessarily fancy calendar spreads. It’s a way of organizing life in a way that’s rooted in what we find meaningful.

I still haven’t figured out the system – it’s only been a week with my new dot-grid notebook – but it feels like a good start.

5. Reframing the goal

Long story short, back when I started this newsletter, I didn’t know where it would take me.

Over the past few months, I’ve iterated and experimented. I’ve explored multiple sides of my creativity by weaving in how-to articles, collage art, personal narratives, and even crossword puzzles to see what would happen. 

Off the page, I’ve also taken some small steps – and big leaps – that reflect my newly clarified creative purpose and potential. (More on those soon!)

The main takeaway through all of this is that we can never know if a new project or idea will be “it.” Maybe it’s the thing that’ll help fill the gap and finally lead to fulfillment. Or maybe it’s just another stepping stone along the journey, and we’ll always hop from one to the next, never quite reaching nirvana. 

I’m starting to think it’s the latter. After all, aren’t we always in the “messy middle" until we reach the absolute end? 

I’ve often heard quotes like “the journey is the destination” – and “life’s what happens while you’re busy making other plans.” Maybe I’m a little late to the party, but I’m only just starting to really, truly believe them. 

Creative living is not about becoming something at some fixed point in the future; it’s about being at every step along the way.

💗

More this month from Multifaceted

Here’s what else you’ll find in the August issue on navigating “the messy middle”:

• Guest Post | My Q&A in another creativity-centric newsletter (week 1)

• Creative Compass | Debunking misconceptions about creative consistency (week 2)

• Creative Living | The “messy middle” is blowing my mind – here’s what’s new in my creative world (this week)