Earth

Grounded

Come down from there, your tea’s going cold.

Passage

Don’t know where you’re going? Nobody does, honestly. Nice hat though, keep walking.

Spine

Unclench your jaw. Shoulders too. Yes, I can see you from here.

Foundation

The dull bit you keep skipping? Yeah, that’s the bit holding everything up. Sorry.

Craft

You’re going to make a lot of ugly pots first. Everybody did. Mine were hideous.

Burial

Oh love, that project’s dead. Has been since March. Say something nice and let’s go get a drink.

Sanctuary

You’re a small dragon, that desk is your hoard, and the door has a lock for a reason.

Patience

It’ll get here when it gets here, which I’m told is exactly what the skeleton at the bus stop said.

Rest

Go to bed, you ridiculous creature.

Routine

Same desk, same hour, same sad little tea, every day, until one morning something good is just sitting there like it was always going to be.

Harvest

I’ll make you a deal: finish one thing, any thing, the smallest thing, and I’ll stop bringing up the other eight.

Compost

Somewhere under last year’s worst drawing, next year’s best one is having a lovely time in the muck.

Price

Nobody ever had “very reasonably priced” carved on their headstone.

Fire

Passion

Careful, that thing you love is going to cost you money, sleep and at least one relationship. Worth it? Probably. Hold on tight.

Spark

Write it down now. You think you’ll remember. You won’t, you never do, that’s how we lost the last one.

Courage

Just post it. Most people are too busy wondering if their own thing is stupid.

Envy

Go on, be jealous for a minute, I won’t tell. Now, what exactly did they do that you fancy doing?

Ambition

Go for the ridiculous one. Worst case you fall in the sea, and you can swim, can’t you? ...Can’t you?

Desire

You want it, it’s written all over your face. Stop acting cool, cool never got anybody anything.

Rejection

They said no. Rude. Stick it on the pile with the others and send the next one before lunch.

Audacity

Somebody far less good than you applied for it this morning without blinking. Just so you know.

Momentum

Keep going. It’s ugly, but it’s got legs.

Deadline

Thank god for Friday, or you’d never finish anything in your life.

Burnout

You smell a bit like toast, my friend, and I say this with love: stop.

Ego

Yes, yes, a genius, we’ve all heard, now would the genius like to open the file?

Rage

Furious? Oh good. Bring that over here and point it at something.

Water

Flow

Shh. It’s working. Don’t look at it directly, don’t tell anyone, and do not check your phone.

Intuition

You already know which one. You’re only asking me so you’ve got someone to blame.

Drift

Nothing’s happening this week? Fine. Be a jellyfish. No bones, no plans, lovely.

Block

You keep dropping the same bucket down the same well. Have you tried, I don’t know, a different well?

Feedback

Some of that was true and you hate it. Fine. Kick something soft, then go and fix the true part.

Tears

A little cry in the loo and then back to it, like a professional.

Comparison

You’re comparing your Tuesday to their best day of the year again, aren’t you.

Overflow

Crying over a typeface isn’t too much. It’s the right amount, and it’s why I’d hire you.

Doubt

Funny how the actual frauds never lie awake wondering.

Compassion

Oi. That’s my friend you’re talking to.

Dreams

Pen by the bed tonight; your sleeping brain is a weirdo and I want to know what it’s up to.

Empathy

Who’s it for? (If you say “everyone” I’m leaving.)

Help

You’d rather drown than wave, wouldn’t you. Wave, you idiot.

Air

Breathe

Big breath in. Bigger one out. See, nothing’s on fire. Well, nothing important.

Clarity

What is it? No, what is it really. Yes, that.

Overthinking

You’ve planned it beautifully. Shall we try doing it, as a treat?

Wonder

When did something last make you go “huh”? Go and find another one of those.

Perspective

From the moon nobody can tell the logo’s two pixels off, which is a great comfort and absolutely no excuse.

Distraction

Forty tabs, and which one did you come in for?

Lightness

What’s the silliest version of this? Make that one, just to see my face.

Silence

You could just... not post that one.

Voice

The line you nearly deleted is the one I wanted.

Detachment

It’s out, it’s theirs now, wave nicely and do not, I’m begging you, read the comments.

Theft

Steal from one person and you’re a thief; steal from forty and you’ve got a style. Say thank you either way.

Jargon

Read your artist statement to your nan and watch her face.

Witness

Let the mean friend see it first. If it survives her, it survives anything.