The Motion Principle
Why your best ideas don’t come from sitting still
This week I was thinking about thinking…
and I had a thought:
None of my best ideas come from sitting down and thinking,
“Alright… time to have a great idea.”
They come from being in motion.
On a call.
In a conversation.
Mid-iteration.
Half-baked. Slightly chaotic.
I was on a call working on a project.
We’re tweaking ideas, pushing on the format, trying to make things click…
…and somehow we start riffing on something completely different.
Next thing you know?
A brand new idea for a high-concept dating show pops into my head.
That idea didn’t exist five minutes earlier.
It wasn’t in my notes.
It wasn’t something I prepared.
It showed up because we were in motion.
Meanwhile…
I’ve been posting a comedy clip a day.
Mythical characters doing stand-up.
Most land around 1–3,000 views.
I’ve been treating it like a game — trying to figure out the algorithm.
One day, I’m walking my dog Chapo thinking,
“Okay… I need a stronger hook.”
And then it hits me:
What if it feels like they’re talking directly to the audience?
So I try it with my mermaid comedian.
That clip jumped to almost 15,000 views.
(If you want to see the silliness I’ve been building, check out Gil’s Mythical Comedy.)
It was a small tweak — just playing it like she’s mid-conversation.
One idea. In motion.
That’s the game.
Of course, the very next clip bombed.
Grim Reaper in a Snuggie.
It’s a living lab.
The Motion Principle
You know that Newton guy? Apple. Gravity.
Objects in motion stay in motion.
I think the same applies to ideas.
Ideas in motion stay in motion.
Ideas at rest… stay stuck.
So add some motion to your ocean of ideas.
Here’s why I’m telling you this:
If you’re feeling stuck right now…
It’s probably not because you don’t have good ideas.
It’s because you’re not in motion.
Instead of focusing on having great ideas,
focus on creating the conditions where great ideas show up.
And those conditions are almost never:
sitting still
overthinking
waiting for clarity
They’re:
engaging
sharing
iterating
talking
doing
The Science-y Part (but still fun)
Your brain has two main modes:
Focused mode – solving, analyzing, executing
Diffuse mode – connecting, associating, creating
Most people try to force creativity in focused mode.
But ideas tend to show up when you’re:
mid-conversation
slightly relaxed
bouncing between inputs
That’s why your best ideas hit:
in the shower
on a walk
during a random call
halfway through something else
You’re not forcing them.
You’re bumping into them.
HomePlay
Try this for the next 48 hours:
Add some motion to your ocean of ideas.
1. Start before you’re ready
Send the doc. Share the idea. Post the clip.
2. Add one creative conversation
Call someone — not to pitch. Just to riff.
3. Iterate something publicly (or semi-publicly)
Let people react.
4. Move while thinking
Walk. Drive. Pace like a mad scientist.
All it took for Newton was an apple hitting him in the head.
You’ve probably got one in your pocket — now move.
Cheers to your creativity,
Gil
P.S. Wanna connect about a TV or film project?
Need a speaker or comedian for your next big event?
Looking for help getting your ideas in motion?
Hit me up at gil@gilrief.com or visit gilrief.com.
Fuel the creative process ☕
If this newsletter sparks ideas for you, you can support more Write Drunk, Edit Sober creativity below.
(Think of it as buying the writers’ room a coffee… for the edit sober part.)
Thanks for reading!
Very true, this. Thank you Girl.