Staying Creative in 2026 While the World Is on Fire

Someone asked me during a LiveDraw how I’m staying motivated to create while the world is on (fire emoji).

The honest answer is: I’m not, but I’m showing up anyway.

It’s January 17, 2026 right now, and if you’re reading this later, just look at the headlines from this moment and you’ll know what “world” and “on fire emoji” means.

I think creation itself is the answer, especially when it’s hard. During the LiveDraw I referenced this Toni Morrison answer to the question of creating art in the face of hate, and I recommend checking it out, because she said it better than I can.

Lately, I’ve been thinking less about being “the main character” of anything and more about being useful in small, temporary ways to YOU, like a summon in a game. I show up, give you a buff, then I disappear.

A lot of my creative life as a younger person was spent trying to be seen. Trying to prove that I was an artist, period. These days, I don’t have that problem anymore, so I’m able to shift into something different.

This blog is brought to you by my upcoming book, Vèvè-Punk: Birth of the Dream, which will be available for pre-order in the next few weeks! Here is a teaser of the cover, which I will be revealing soon. Quick elevator pitch! Vèvè-Punk: Birth of the Dream is Afro-Caribbean cyberpunk where Haiti is a world power, Vodou spirits operate as corporations, and human souls are the currency.

Vèvè-Punk: Birth of the Dream cover teaser!