The Only Bad Choice

Often in creative work, the only bad choice is not to make a choice.

When you’re making something creative, you are presented with opportunity after opportunity to make a choice. Should I voice a chord like this, or like that? Will I make the rhythm of this line A, B, or C? Will there be divisi here or not? And on and on.

Every choice you make will lead to the next choice, and like a choose-your-own-adventure book, no two paths will be the same. That can lead to anxiety about making the right choice for the situation in front of you – what we call writer’s block.

But the truth is that that choice shouldn’t cause anxiety, for two reasons. First, every choice can be undone. You can go back and edit and revise! Second, you will have another chance to make another creative work, with different choices – choices informed by what you’ve learned.

The only bad choice is not to make a choice. Because that means there’s no new creative work in the world from you.