on overcoming fears about creative work...

I discovered this essay by Merlin Mann a while back last year. even though it deals primarily with the act of creative writing and is pretty corny in some parts I think he does a really great job of explaining the fears and anxieties that keep us from starting new projects and taking risks in our artwork. I normally don't go for that whole inspirational writing malarky, but I really dug this. the essay and the recorded speech are different but equally good.