When I was writing my children’s book, Barry Needs a Hug, I was supposed to be focused on the writing—the overall story arc, the rhythm and meter of the rhyme, the structure. But the main character, Barry, kept showing up in my head, and all I wanted to do was draw him.

I knew I shouldn’t. I kept trying to stay on track, reminding myself that the writing came first—that shaping the story was more important than designing the characters. After all, without the story, there wouldn’t even be a book for the characters to live in. But the urge didn’t fade—it was like a hungry bear in the background, impossible to ignore.

Eventually, I gave in. I drew Barry—just a couple of quick sketches. And suddenly, everything quieted. I felt lighter, more focused, and was able to turn my attention back to the writing.
That’s when I realized: sometimes, you have to feed the bear.

Read on if:

• You’ve struggled with staying focused on your creative projects due to constant distractions.
• You’re interested in techniques to manage and address nagging urges that disrupt your workflow.
• You want to learn how to balance addressing distractions and maintaining focus on your tasks.

What Does “Feed the Bear” Mean?

In the creative process, distractions often show up disguised as other creative urges. That’s the hungry bear—an idea or itch that won’t leave you alone.

Feeding the bear means giving that urge just enough attention to quiet it, so you can refocus on what really matters. Think of it as throwing it a salmon to keep it busy for a little bit so you can focus on what you need to.

How to Feed the Bear

1. Name It: Recognize the specific urge pulling your attention—a new idea, a random task, an itch to sketch or start something else.
   
   
2. Address It (Briefly): Set a timer. Jot the idea down. Sketch the character. Give it space, but don’t let it take over.
   
   
3. Refocus: Return to your main project. You’ve honored the urge—now get back to the trail with clarity.
   
   

Clearing the Creative Path

Feeding the bear isn’t about giving in to distraction—it’s about learning to work with your creativity, not against it. Sometimes the best way forward is a brief pause. Feed the bear just enough, and get back on track.

For me, it was sketching Barry that quieted the growl. But bears can show up in all kinds of ways, so hopefully this advice helps next time one shows up.

Have you ever had a bear appear when you were trying to work on something important? Think back—what did you do? What might you try next time?