good stuff returns

Are you ready, folks? The frankie Good Stuff awards are back, which means another chance for local creative types to show off all the awesome stuff they’ve been working on. From writers and designers to musicians, entrepreneurs and more, there’s a category for everyone (and some pretty awesome prizes up for grabs, as well). We can’t wait to see your creations, and we’re not the only ones – our rad lineup of judges is raring to check them out, too. Entries are now open, so head to frankie.com.au/goodstuff to apply. And don’t forget to read on, as our judges have shared some top-notch tips for doing awesome creative work!

ART + ILLUSTRATION JEREMY WORTSMAN // FOUNDER OF THE JACKY WINTER GROUP

Look after your head. Being a creative is like being a mental athlete. Just like elite athletes get regular physio and massages to keep their body in check, creatives need to prioritise their emotional and mental wellbeing. You don't need something wrong with you to benefit from regular therapy! Get accountable. Working in isolation as a freelancer in any industry can be tough! Co-working spaces and shared studios are a great way to bring an element of accountability to your practice, making sure you actually show up and do the work. Get your papers in order.

Having ironclad contracts and paperwork might seem boring (and in some cases expensive) to set up, but once you get it out of the way, it will give you a strong foundation to do what you do best, and not have to worry about that side of dealing with clients. Go wide. If you only look at the work of your peers and idols, you'll only make work like them. Much like your body needs a varied diet to achieve optimal physical health, feeding your eyes with a variety of work outside your primary industry or medium will inform your own in new and exciting ways.

Music MYF WARHURST // RADIO ANNOUNCER AND TV PERSONALITY

Just dive in. No matter how terrifying it feels, if you stop worrying about what might happen and focus on the task at hand, it’s likely you’ll just do it and find out you survived. Trust your gut. Don’t make things with other people in mind – just do what’s interesting to you. If it’s real, people will feel that and be interested, too. Find a creative

crew. When it comes to teamwork, figure out your strengths early, and play to them. Do the bits you do well and allow others in your team to do the same. Leave your ego at the door and remember you have the same goal. Be honest with yourself and others about what you want.

Forget the finish line. Success and satisfaction are ever-changing ideas, depending where you’re at in your life, so don’t put too much emphasis on them. Think about the process and know there’s not one pinnacle, but many different pinnacles at many different points. That makes the journey easier to deal with. Manage your

mental health. Be kind to yourself – we are often our own worst critics. Speak to yourself as you would a friend, with kindness.

CRAFT PIP LINCOLNE // CRAFTER AND AUTHOR

Be your own muse. Often people think a muse is going to come and tap them on the shoulder, purring, “I’m here with your creative inspiration, champ!” But in reality, creativity usually comes from simply showing up and putting the old nose to the grindstone. Doing this on the reg sparks a kind of creative fluency that makes you… your own muse! How good is that? Pay attention, please.

There are all kinds of gems lurking, if you prime yourself to take them in. Eavesdrop; look for colours and patterns; read a lot; notice interactions around you; zoom in on little details; seek out the heart of things as you go about your day. These are the seeds of fresh creative work, and spark fresh thought patterns, too. Embrace your weirdness.

It’s tempting to think commercially or conservatively, and tag along with popular creative trends, but interpreting ideas in your own unique way results in better work – and much more splendid feels. So, try not to follow the pack. Keep things loose.

Goofing off is a really important part of coming up with bright ideas and boosting creative energy, so make sure you don’t fill every hour of your day with very important structured tasks, binge-watching and endless scrolling. Let your mind wander as often as possible.

SMALL BUSINESS TESS MCCABE // DESIGNER, PUBLISHER AND PODCASTER

Find pockets of time. If you're a parent, carer, working full-time or studying, it can be difficult to find long stretches of time to dig into or even start a creative project. Find pockets of time in your schedule where you can chip away, taking little steps toward your big goal. Clear your space, clear your mind.

If you’re feeling scatterbrained or overwhelmed, it may be because your workspace is messy or disorganised. The simple notion of 'outer order, inner calm' rings true, and there’s something meditative and creative to the practice of organising and tidying. Dig for the

root. When you have a creative block or you’re procrastinating, try digging deep and ask yourself why. What’s really blocking you from starting or wanting to start? Is it because you feel intimidated, or scared, or ashamed to ask for help, or unoriginal? Getting to the root can help you get past that block. Listen, read, talk.

Take any opportunity to listen to, read about, or talk with others about creativity. Other people’s stories can unlock realisations and solutions in your mind that have been lying in wait.

FASHION LISA GORMAN // FASHION DESIGNER

Break out of your usual format. Don't be afraid to explore a new medium – go 3D if you're usually 2D and get your hands into some clay. If you don't have the skills to get your ideas working the way you’d like, find someone who knows the medium well and share with them. You'll learn a lot. Be prolific.

Don't get stuck being stuck. Keep creating, even when you don't know what you're really doing, because creating anything, good, bad or indifferent, makes for development of ideas, and that's a good thing. Put it out there.

Getting your creative ideas out to your team, mates, or anyone who will listen can help clear up the concept in your own head. Say it out loud and don't be afraid – no idea can ever be too terrible, right? You'll soon find out if it is, anyway, when you ask enough people about it.

Explore new frontiers. Best put by the fabulous Salt-n-pepa: “Ah, push it.” Extend your work and ideas further and test that creative space. You won't always work out what could be achieved if you stick in the safe zone. It's usually preferable to reverse engineer an idea, if you must, than under-bake it in the first place.

WRITING + PODCASTS BENJAMIN LAW // SCREENWRITER, JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR

Move your body. A lot of creative work requires your body to be absolutely still while your mind races non-stop. Exercise gives you the crucial opposite: your body moves while your mind is allowed to defrag. Trust me, you’ll come back to your work with new perspective. Make realistic daily goals.

You might be writing a book or screenplay for a feature film, but you’ve got to break that enormous goal into monthly and weekly goals, then break those into daily goals, then break those into hourly goals. Make goals achievable and reward yourself proportionately. Switch off the internet. It’s harder than it sounds to disconnect, so use apps like Freedom on your computer and Forest on your phone. Treat emails like tooth-brushing. Check them once in the morning, then again at the end of the day. And get every last email out of the way – plaque has a habit of building up. Light a candle.

It sounds slightly witchy, but a writer mate once told me she lights a candle when she starts writing and blows it out once she’s completed the day’s goal. There’s something ritualistically satisfying about punctuating the work day like this. It weirdly keeps you focused. Plus, who doesn’t like a candle?

VIDEO MARC FENNELL // FILM CRITIC, JOURNALIST AND TV PRESENTER

Get a little hands-on. The best way to learn a skill, from audio production to photography, is to simply pick it up and start trying. (And don’t worry if you have no idea what you’re doing – Youtube tutorials were invented for a reason.) Work with what you’ve got. The best opportunity is the one that’s right in front of you. If you’re not doing the job or project you’re most excited about right now, that’s OK. Treat whatever you’re currently working on as a chance to do the best you can, be seen and build upon your skills. Find your tribe.

Seek out people you work with well, then invest in those relationships. Invest in their projects and passions, too. Just wait – those connections will pay dividends over many years. Cut out the noise. Find quiet time away from work and commitments, then fill it with podcasts or books or music or something else that fills you up mentally and creatively. Just say no. Once you work out what you’re good at, be open to saying no to other things that pop up. Do fewer things and do them better.

PHOTOGRAPHY LUISA BRIMBLE //

FOOD AND LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHER

Don’t ponder the future. The answer will always be, “I don't know what I want to do.” Instead, be guided by what you love right in this moment – that will lead you to what you'll love down the line. Step outside your medium.

If you want to be better at photography, you need to study art. Photography books don't teach you how to structure your frame based on classical teachings. Form relationships.

Creative work relies on the inspiration around you. Put yourself out there and find a way to have authentic conversations with people. The next idea won’t just come to you by scrolling or pressing ‘next’, it’s when you talk to people. Put value in what you do.

Be open to sharing your work with others, but make sure you’re very clear about the terms of giving it away. If the other party is not able to pay you, there must be a way you can work things out so you both find value and respect in the exchange. If you think you can,

you can do it. Enough said! This is the greatest time to be alive – there's no excuse to not do things you want to. Everything you need is at your fingertips, so go and freaking do it!

DESIGN BECI ORPIN // DESIGNER AND ILLUSTRATOR

Get personal. Personal projects require the most motivation, but they give you creative freedom and a chance to experiment with mediums and ideas you wouldn’t otherwise get to work with. Plus, they can become part of your folio and lead to commercial work, too. Switch things up. If you’re in a creative rut and things aren’t working, move on to another project – something completely different. If that fails, go for a walk or a bike ride! Experience the world. The best inspiration comes from actual experiences, not looking at images on screens. If you can, make a decisive effort to go to exhibitions, travel, see live music, and eat delicious food. Those things hit all your senses, and that’s where good inspiration comes from. Do some sleuthing. If you find an image you really like online, research that image – who made it? Why did they make it? What else did they make? This can lead to a whole world of inspiration you’ll never find on social media.

Invest in a sketchbook. Writing things down about briefs you’re working on; experimenting with different media; and taking notes about new things you discover, all help with creativity. It’s a different process to working on a computer, and a great reference for future projects.

COMMUNITY GRACE MCQUILTEN // FOUNDER OF THE SOCIAL STUDIO

Look, and look again. Look closely at everything, great and small – it can be a constant source of surprise, revelation, dismay, and often inspiration. The same can be said for the other senses: sound, smell, taste and touch. Celebrate creative talent.

Sometimes being creative is as simple as recognising the creativity in your midst, and encouraging others to develop their skills and ideas. Be generous with your time.

Move your legs. Crossing geographic, cultural and language boundaries, the simple act of walking creates space and time for ideas to develop, while also linking those ideas to the bigger world we’re part of. It can be a political act as well as a personal one. Make room for creativity. That may mean listening to the ticking of a clock, procrastinating, twitching in your seat or staring blankly at a wall. It also means turning off notifications for new emails and text messages (I know, I know!).

Find your moral compass. Be mindful of the impact of your own work on others, and the world. Be self-critical and open to feedback.