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Shut the Fuck Up and Create Your Fucking Art

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This little kick in the ass might be just what you need to stop resting on your non-existent laurels and produce your first piece of art. And sell it, too. The top three reasons people never finish a novel or a film are all bullshit, and here's the reasons why.

13 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 5, 2013

25 people are currently reading
93 people want to read

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Garrett Robinson

88 books475 followers

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5 stars
40 (26%)
4 stars
33 (22%)
3 stars
42 (28%)
2 stars
18 (12%)
1 star
17 (11%)
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
7 reviews
September 8, 2015
Worst excuse of a "book"...

I might have expected too much from a book whose title I cannot even say. But sometimes it's good to have an open mind, and it was a free Kindle book, so I downloaded it. I shouldn't have.

Using the f-word for dramatic effect in a movie or book is ok. This book is peppered with it, and it serves absolutely no purpose. If the author thinks that screaming it at us in all caps, I will disagree. It added nothing for me.

The information in the book was...nothing. I expected some actual advice, some tricks of the trade or other hacks that would help me if I'm in a creative slump. There was nothing like that here. Just 4-5 pages of screaming to "get up and create...expletive, expletive..." I am not inspired by this, nor is it helpful in creating an art project.

I'm super glad that this was a free book. I read the description on Amazon, which states there were 46 pages to the book. (I think, it could have been 45, 47...)

I turned the page, only to find that is was only 5 pages long! What a waste of space and time. I'm not typically one who writes many reviews, especially negative ones, but I had to speak up about this one. The author speaks of writing books, so I hope that he puts more effort into those than he did in this particular book.
Profile Image for AC.
254 reviews8 followers
November 30, 2018
I love the reviews that focus on the f*cks in the inside of the book after reading the title.

The book - loosely termed a book, it's only five pages via kindle - doesn't cover any new ground, really. You want to make art? Make your art.

I think this is more akin to DIs marching into the barracks, batons beating on metal trash cans to wake you up and get your ass out of your cot.

If you're not offended by the swearing, it would take just a few minutes to get through this. It's funny and refreshing to see someone not give a shit about someone's little snowflake complex. And sometimes, it's just what a creative person needs.

Read via KU.
Profile Image for Colby Rice.
Author 27 books71 followers
June 17, 2016
Not mind blowing, but the message is great!

Shut up. Sit down. Make something. Keep getting better. Keep making art. Keep it gangster. That's basically the message here, and while we might have heard it before, we always need to hear it again. Robinson gets straight to the point, and gives you his no-fluff pep talk, with NO CHASER!! Recommended for artists who need a swift kick in the ass but aren't necessarily looking for some soul-searing, magical tome (a la Big Magic) to inspire them. :-)
Profile Image for Blaine Moore.
Author 9 books3 followers
March 7, 2014
The title sums it up pretty well. The actual text is basically just more of the same, with a few examples. Not that it isn't worth reading; there's a few movies linked from it that I'm looking forward to watching and a nice poem about a deadbeat, but if you read the title then you've read all that's necessary from this very important message.
Profile Image for Jessica Lynn.
77 reviews34 followers
March 16, 2014
It's mostly just a rant by the author. Sure, it makes some good points at times, but it's surrounded by just angry ranting.

Two stars for the Charles Bukowski poem (and the line breaks are not annoying; that's how he breaks them!)
Profile Image for Laura.
3,205 reviews348 followers
July 16, 2015
Crude, short, the title does show you what it says and how it says it.
I am glad this was a free book.

If you have time to read this book, you have time to create something of your own.
1 review
April 29, 2025
Pull up your britches cause no one is holding your hand

I've been ruminate on this book quite a while now. I'd been wondering how it would relate to me as I don't consider myself a writer. Oh I dabbled with it and participated in NaNoWriMo for several years. 50K words in a month of frantic typing. Pretty much drek to be honest. Then I looked at what other things I could apply this sentiment to. I am an artist and slogging through the worst artist block ever.

The principle boils down to this, no matter the obstacles in your path, there is something you can do to let that creative side of you to come and thrive. Flourish even. So long as you do and don't give up.

I had thought my arting ended with a stroke and heart attack instead it's beginning that to some guy I never heard of giving out some no frills advice in a neat little package with a title that has some shock value.

Thanks Mr. Robinson for that kick in the ass when no one else would.
Profile Image for James.
1,546 reviews116 followers
August 27, 2018
The title, salty language aside, says it all: create already. This is a short ebook (more like a blog post). which aims at helping creatives get off their butt and creating (with a generous portion of self promotion of the author's projects. Basically the advice is put yourself out there, and make the time to do stuff, and you don't need all the good stuff before you get to creating. This is not bad advice, but not much of a book.
125 reviews1 follower
May 18, 2024
A 5-minute pep talk

This book(let) can be read in about 5 minutes and is a pep talk for creative types. The message: stop thinking about it and just do it.
Profile Image for A.M..
Author 7 books57 followers
March 1, 2017
A short, frank letter to the aspiring artist.
Who I’m talking to is the novelist who has never finished a book, the screenwriter who has never finished a script, the directors who has never created a film. (Kindle Locations 33-34).

It is what it says it is. But with a personal touch. Ha. Touch… that’s a joke because one of Garrett’s first books was titled ‘Touch’.
Bidoomtish. I’ll be here all week.
I can’t remember where I first heard of Garrett, I think it was via Sterling and Stone and their podcasts. He joined them for a while but is sailing off on his own now.
I signed up for his emails and got a pile of free books from him. So his is one of those names that I kind of check in with over time. I pretty much always watch his youtube vids these days.
And he’s walking the walk. I read Touch ages ago in 2015… and it was released in 2012.
This is from 2013.
In 2017, he now has 68 works 26 works. [makes note to ask librarians to clean up his page]
Honestly, his work output is immense.
He has recently left his day job to become a full time author and he’s making some money.
And you do that one step at a time: one word, one sentence, one page and one book at a time.
But you have to finish them.
And you have to publish them.
Here he takes aim at each excuse for not being able to do that.
3 stars
Profile Image for Margaret Fisk.
Author 21 books38 followers
June 20, 2017
Originally posted on Tales to Tide You Over

It’s the beginning of a new year, a time to make promises not to others, but to yourself. This book, with its irreverent, in your face, brutal language, strips away all the usual excuses for not finishing your creative projects one by one in a way that leaves no room for debate. Either you want to be creative so do, or you’re just talk. There is no middle ground.

I both agree and disagree.

That people who complain instead of working are wasting time, both theirs and those who listen, is true for people who complain randomly as opposed to seeking help when they are stumped. It takes a decision to act for a person who wants to create to overcome the procrastination inherent in talking about something but never working on it.

However, not everyone can make space…usually headspace…for creation at all times. A parent with a high needs child, someone working three jobs to make rent, someone in a health crisis, etc. may be too exhausted because their creative energy is used up in survival. The author may not have faced these kinds of true obstacles, but they do exist.

That said, tons of people are actively putting obstacles in their path that aren’t real, that have no power over them except what these people give the block. I can speak to this having been my own worst enemy for years.

So, this book is not for everyone, and its advice starts with a baseline assumption of what’s possible that isn’t always true for everyone. That said, for those who need a swift kick in the rear, yes, this book might just be a quick cure for the passivity and ennui that plagues you.

The book targets beginners, those who have yet to start their creative journey, but as with most things, there are reminders for people faltering on their path or looking for new solutions to mental blocks.

The book itself has links that are broken, video links I couldn’t watch on my Kindle Paperwhite, and other technical issues, but at its heart, it does exactly what it proposes to do in pushing creative folks out of their doubts and into the act of creation. In that, its value is clear.

As I said in the beginning, it’s the time to push yourself and do something you’ve been talking about forever whether it’s finishing or even starting. This book is useful in pointing out when the main obstacles are nothing more than smoke to cover up fears or doubts holding you back. If you’re willing to put up with harsh, rude language in the hopes of finding motivation at the end of the read, give it a try (it’s free in eBook). Worst case, you won’t have used too much time. Best? Well, you could break through that smoke and discover a fire of a different type that raises your spirits and inspires you to greatness.

Start this year with a bang instead of the usual shrug.
11 reviews
February 17, 2015
Great pep talk

This is an excellent pep talker anyone, like myself, who occasionally gets caught up in all the barriers to creating or leaps from unfinished project to unfinished pronect, anyone, like my mom, who gets easily discouraged by herself, and anyone, like my sister, who doubts they have anything to offer the world of creative genius. Short, not-so-sweet, but to the point and 100% spot-on.
Profile Image for Tanya.
435 reviews19 followers
December 19, 2014
This is very short and to the point. It's basically the author's rant about how much time people waste complaining instead of doing. He makes some great points, such as nothing you make will please everyone and that you can't get better without putting your work out there and getting some feedback.
It has some links to videos that you can watch, which were pretty neat.
Profile Image for Kris Patterson.
45 reviews1 follower
June 16, 2015
To the point

This book is very short and does not waste anytime getting to the point. The author talks about not being distracted by the many excuses out there and reminds the reader to stay focused on the goal of creating your own artwork no matter what form it takes.
Profile Image for Gita Sturtevant.
268 reviews7 followers
January 24, 2015
Great. GSinge23@aol.com

Should be read and enjoyed by the public. Never give up writing even if people don't understand or approve keep going.
Profile Image for J.T. Williams.
Author 93 books391 followers
December 30, 2015
Enjoyable.

Nice motivation in a somewhat vulgar wording... but sometimes you need that. If you are an artist of any kind it is worth taking a look.
Profile Image for William Waldrep.
1 review
April 21, 2016
To the point

Short and to the point. Captures my thoughts and feelings well. More of a motivational speech than a book. Not bad though.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews

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