20 Minute Books — "Keep Going" by Austin Kleon

Episode Date: December 2, 2025
Host: 20 Minute Books

Episode Overview

In this episode, the host provides a motivational and practical summary of Keep Going, the third book in Austin Kleon’s creativity trilogy. The episode is designed to help anyone — artists, entrepreneurs, teachers, or hobbyists — sustain and rejuvenate their creative drive through actionable advice and encouraging philosophies. Drawing from Kleon's wisdom and the practices of celebrated creators, the host translates the book's ten guiding principles for staying creative "in good times and bad" into accessible takeaways.

Key Themes and Discussion Points

1. Creativity as a Daily Practice

[01:29]

• Creativity, like the weather, ebbs and flows — both exhilarating and capricious.
• The key is to show up consistently, making creativity a daily, habitual part of life.
• Quote:
  “Think of your daily engagement with your craft as an essential part of your life, akin to eating or sleeping. Without regularity, there is no hope for those exceptional days of creative breakthroughs because, simply put, you’re not there to witness them.” — Host [03:00]
• Emphasizes individualized routines, inspired by the habits of Plath, Kafka, Steinbeck, and Goethe.
• Customization is key — find the time of day and rituals that work for your own rhythms.

2. Establishing a “Bliss Station”

[07:15]

• The world is noisy; your creativity needs refuge.
• Adopt Joseph Campbell’s idea of the “bliss station”: a protected physical space or time reserved for creative work.
• Could be a dedicated room, a corner, or even just a slice of your day.
• Practices:
  • Put devices on “airplane mode” metaphorically and literally.
  • Reserve mornings for uplifting, non-news activities; save news for later.
• Quote:
  “A Bliss Station can also be a time of day, an interval carved out of the routine when your world is quiet enough for your imagination to roar.” — Host [08:09]

3. Simple Tools to Boost Creative Flow

[12:17]

• Lists:
  • Not just to-dos, but lists of ideas, inspirations, and even anti-goals (things to avoid).
  • David Shrigley, Steven Johnson, and the band Wire use lists to guide, not constrain, their work.
• Tidiness:
  • Echoes of Marie Kondo; balance tidiness and productive mess.
  • Tidying can be a meditative act and a way to discover lost or unfinished projects.
• Sleep and Naps:
  • Naps refresh the mind and lead to creative breakthroughs.
  • Creatives like the Coen Brothers, Philip Roth, and Salvador Dali leverage naps for mental renewal.
• Quote:
  “In the gently untapped recesses of a nap, your mind is free to weave new patterns of thought, often awakening with insights not realized under the glaring light of consciousness.” — Host [15:52]

4. Joy Over Monetization and Popularity

[18:25]

• Monetizing your art can add pressure and drain passion. Keeping a day job can be a smart way to safeguard the joys of creating.
• The chase for likes, followers, and viral status can be as corrosive as the need to earn.
• Rediscover joy by creating as a gift, not for gain.
• Memorable Example:
  “Winnie the Pooh, Pippi Longstocking, and The Hobbit — each began not as commodities, but as heartfelt stories spun for the ears of young listeners.” — Host [22:32]

5. Celebrate the Journey, Not the Title

[23:51]

• Creativity is about the action (the verb), not the label (the noun).
• The myth of “arriving” or becoming “a writer” or “an artist” often distracts from the act of making.
• Creativity is cyclical, not something one ever truly “finishes.”
• Quote:
  “It is by showing up day in and day out, with hands ready to mold the unseen into being, that one truly embodies the spirit of an artist.” — Host [26:19]

6. Rediscovering Play

[28:45]

• Children create for fun, not for legacy or approval.
• Embrace creative play — make something and destroy it, create intentionally “bad” art, and let go of results.
• Use tactile, childlike activities (like building blocks) to overcome creative blocks.
• Quote:
  “Forget the pressure to produce something monumental. Let your creative endeavors be guided by a sense of wonder and whimsy, much like the innocent, unfettered artistry of a child.” — Host [31:11]

7. Find Wonder in the Ordinary

[32:25]

• Don’t wait for extraordinary circumstances—creativity flourishes in the everyday.
• Harvey Pekar’s “American Splendor” comic found heroism in clerical life; inspiration can come from routine surroundings.
• Practice deep observation — draw from life, spend time immersing yourself in the mundane to reveal the extraordinary.
• Quote:
  “Allow yourself to become a collector of observations, an archaeologist of the seemingly banal.” — Host [34:41]

8. Mental Health Comes First

[36:40]

• The “tortured artist” myth is harmful. If creating is making you or your loved ones unhappy, it’s okay — and wise — to step back.
• Other meaningful activities exist; creative work should enrich life, not overshadow it.
• Quote:
  “Steer true to the course that brightens life’s canvas and keep journeying steadfastly toward the light, wherever it may shine.” — Host [38:53]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Routine becomes your creative ally, carving out a sanctuary amidst life’s chaos, where your muse knows it can always find you.” [05:41]
• “The truest gifts are not those that launch far and wide, but those that touch, deeply crafted from the heart rather than for the market.” [22:58]
• “Creativity is a cyclical journey, not a linear trajectory with a grand finale where one receives the crown of accomplishment.” [25:17]
• “Your creativity doesn’t yearn for exotic locales and extraordinary experiences. It simply begs for you to notice the world around you and find inspiration in the life you’re living now.” [35:10]
• “If your art has become a wellspring of sorrow, stepping away to explore these other avenues might just be the most creative act you can take.” [37:41]

Conclusion & Actionable Insights

[40:25]

• Set a daily creative routine attuned to your rhythms.
• Build a bliss station — protect your precious creative moments from digital and mental noise.
• Use lists to organize and inspire, tidy your creative space and mind, and embrace sleep as a source of renewal.
• Reclaim joy by making art for love, not for money or attention. Let playfulness lead, and look for beauty in the ordinary.
• Most importantly, keep your compass set toward well-being — for yourself and those around you.

Summary:
Keep Going is a compassionate, energizing guide for anyone seeking to preserve their creative spark amidst internal doubts and external pressures. Austin Kleon's wisdom, as summarized by the host, urges creators to trust in steadfast routines, protect their creative sanctuaries, give freely, play without restraint, and above all, prioritize joy and wholeness — reminding us that the act, not the accolade, is where the magic lies.

Missed the episode? This summary distills the episode’s spirit and Kleon’s teachings, so you can “keep going” with confidence — wherever you are on your creative journey.