If you’ve ever sat with a new idea and felt completely alone, you’re not the only one.

There is a part of storytelling and filmmaking that nobody really prepares you for. Nobody tells you how mentally messy the early stage feels. The part where you’re trying to shape something that only exists in your head, and you’re the only person who can see it. It’s exciting, but it’s also disorienting and lonely.

Really, it can feel really really lonely.

People outside the creative world don’t always get it. They love you, but they don’t understand why you care so much about a project that doesn’t exist yet. They don’t understand why you’re up late outlining a character arc or why you’re pacing around your living room talking through dialogue. To them, it probably just looks like you’re stressing over something imaginary.

And honestly, sometimes it feels imaginary to us too.

The early stage is where the doubts show up. The tunnel vision. The “is this even good” moments. You’re carrying this thing alone, and even if you’re excited, it can still feel like you’re stuck on a little creative island talking to yourself.

I know that feeling well.

I actually live on a small island in Sweden. So trust me, I know the difference between being alone because you want quiet and being alone because you don’t feel understood. In my career, the times I’ve grown the most, found clarity the fastest, and moved projects forward were the times I wasn’t doing it in isolation. It happened when I let people in early. When the idea was still raw and unpolished. When it wasn’t “ready to show” but it needed to breathe.

Creative work gets stronger the moment you’re not the only one holding it.

That early, fragile stage is exactly when you should connect with other storytellers. Before you lock in a direction. Before you start building. Before your idea becomes so precious and protected that it’s hard to see it from any angle except your own.

Community isn’t something you use after the project is finished. It’s something you use before the project even knows what it is. It helps you see possibilities you would have missed. It helps you stay motivated when you start to feel lost. It reminds you that your instincts matter, your stories matter, and you’re not the only one doing this kind of work. It also helps you know you are not alone. Not only are you getting creative emotional support from other people, you’re probably going to provide it to someone else, who also feels alone.

That is a powerful feeling.

And when you find the right group, something shifts. You stop feeling like an outsider explaining yourself all the time. You stop feeling like you’re trying to survive on a creative island with just your own thoughts.

You start to feel supported.

Challenged.

Encouraged.

Seen.

That’s why I’ve become such a believer in places like Storie Society, a community built specifically for storytellers who want connection and momentum without waiting for permission.

It gives me a place to talk about my work before it’s polished. A place where I like to also talk to others, offer my perspective, ideas, advice, or just encouragement. A place to share your questions and your fears and your half-formed ideas. A place where being a creative person isn’t something you have to justify. It’s simply understood.

It’s an island of other storytellers.

You’re not meant to do this alone.

You can be the one writing the pages or outlining the film, but you don’t have to be the only one carrying the weight of it.

If you’ve been feeling stuck or isolated or unsure, this is your reminder that there are people out there who speak your language. You don’t need to wait until you’ve made something. You can talk about it now. You can get feedback now. You can feel supported now.

The island doesn’t have to be your home. It can just be the place you start from.

If you want a real community around your storytelling, one that supports your early stage ideas and helps you build momentum, you can join Storie Society here.

I hope to see you on this little island with me.

PS: If you want to go deeper, the Filmmaker Lab is the easiest way to learn how to fund your film and avoid the traps that stall most indie projects. Details here

PPS: I also keep a few spots open each month for 30-minute Clarity Sessions. They’re focused on helping you get unstuck, make sharper decisions, and leave with a tailored blueprint. If you’re interested, reply to this email.