The Output
Most creators don't have a content problem. They have a clarity problem. The Output is a weekly letter for creators who are doing the work but feel like something's still off, and want to figure out what. One idea per issue. No roundups, no tips lists. Just the thinking that makes the output mean something.
The Output #3: AI Skepticism Is a Clarity Problem
Hey,
Today’s newsletter is talking about the tension between creativity and AI, through a songwriting course I signed up for.
What surprised me was that a huge AI skeptic included an AI lesson in his course. It seems like a contradiction, but looking at it shows something else. AI skepticism is h...
May 22, 2026
The Output #2
Hey Friend,
I’m currently in Seattle to help my Dad move. Today is the the second part. Of course it’s dreary with spritz of rain on the day he needs to move stuff. The past week has been sunny as we prepped his old place and organized things.
Spending time with my brother and Dad has been good o...
May 09, 2026
The Output — Issue #1
Hey Friend,
This used to be called something else.
I stopped calling this newsletter "Creators That Crush Weekly," because something changed.
Not the content. Not the cadence. Just the name. When I looked at what I was writing, "crushing it" wasn't the main idea. It was something else.Â
The new ...
Apr 24, 2026
AI Didn't Break Your Content. You Did.
Hey there,
A few months ago I was feeling uninspired writing the newsletter, so I took a break.
Since then, I've been exploring ideas and discovering what I think versus trying to connect the newsletter to the weekly podcast episode.
This has been more fun and freeing, and I am excited to share s...
by Shawn Buttner —
Apr 17, 2026
ai
coaching
content creation
content strategy
creator clarity
creator mindset
point of view
tools
The 5 Habits That Quietly Changed Everything
Hey Creator,
What if the next big transformation in your creative life didn’t come from a massive overhaul… but from something small?
In this week’s episode of Creators That Crush, I’m sharing the 5 surprisingly simple habits that helped me shift from burnout to momentum.
I used to wake up alread...
Jun 22, 2025
2-Minute Creator Survey – Help Me Help You Crush It
Hey Creator,
I’m shaping new content, tools, and offers for creators like you — and I’d love your input.
Would you take 2 minutes to answer a few quick questions? Your insights will help me deliver more of what you want — and less of what you don’t.
👉 https://qjv13unw49v.typeform.com/to/zjAzDm3T
...
Jun 02, 2025
When obligation crushes your art, try this
Hey Creator,
You didn’t become a creator just to check boxes and keep up with obligations.
But over time, that’s exactly what starts to happen.
You start out fired up by creative ideas… and end up stuck fulfilling content calendars, client demands, and self-imposed routines.
You know the spark is...
May 25, 2025
I'm A Terrible Content Creator
Hey Creator,
I don't know what I'm doing most of the time in this business.
I am a coach first. What started out as an idea to get skills to manage engineers turned into finding a career I love through a science-based and proven curiculm.
So content creation was an afterthought. If you want to cr...
May 18, 2025
The trick Georgie used to silence imposter syndrome
Hey Creator,
Ever held back on something you knew could change your career?
Georgie Darling once passed up opportunities with MTV and even her local radio station. Not because she wasn’t talented, but because she felt like she didn’t belong.
Sound familiar?
That’s the sneaky power of imposter syn...
May 06, 2025
Why Mistakes Are Your Secret Weapon
Hey Creator,
Be honest—how do you feel when you make a mistake in your creative work? Frustrated? Embarrassed? Ready to scrap everything?
You’re not alone. Too many creators treat mistakes like failures. But here’s the truth: Mistakes are just play in disguise—and play is where breakthroughs happ...
Apr 27, 2025
Why Motivation Isn’t The Problem
Ever finish a busy day and still feel like you’ve accomplished nothing?
That’s not laziness. That’s overwhelm. And for creators, it’s one of the most dangerous patterns there is. We tell ourselves, “I’ll be productive once I feel motivated,” but that feeling never comes—not when we’re stuck in en...
Apr 20, 2025
Beat Analysis Paralysis, Rise As A Creator
Hey Creator,
Ever sat staring at your to-do list, paralyzed? You know what you should be doing — posting, recording, writing — yet, you scroll, second-guess, and soon the day’s gone.
This silent momentum killer is called analysis paralysis. It’s not laziness; it’s overwhelm. And it chips away at ...
Apr 06, 2025
The Output