Why creativity is about friction
Here's the paradox of easy: if AI removes all the effort, where does the creativity live? In the friction that's left.
The lesson
There's dumb friction and good friction. Dumb friction: file formats, blank pages, not knowing how to begin. Good friction: is this true? Is this mine? Is this the right word? Does this feel done? AI clears the first kind so you can afford the second. The struggle didn't disappear. It moved up, to the part that was always the art.
Try it — 60 seconds
Give me a fast rough version of the thing I describe. Then ask me the three taste questions only I can answer — and make me actually answer them.
Copy it into ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini — whichever you already use. Fill in the brackets with your real life.
Watch out
If a piece came out with zero friction, be suspicious. Nothing rubbed against your taste on the way through.