“Ideas are like fish. You don't make the fish. You catch the fish.” - David Lynch
David Lynch is regarded as a modern master of cinema with classics such as "The Elephant Man," "Mulholland Drive," and "Twin Peaks".
This was his creative ritual.
For seven years in the 80s, David Lynch went to Bob’s Big Boi at 2:30 PM every day.
Why 2:30 PM?
That’s when he believed it was his chance to not only catch his next big idea but also the perfect milkshake. His logic? The perfect milkshake was only possible after the lunch rush, when the ice cream mix had a chance to cool down, allowing the shake to thicken and come out perfectly.
Each day, Lynch would require the following:
A single chocolate milkshake w/silver goblet
Multiple cups of over-sweetened coffee
A pen to write with.
The back of Bob’s little square napkins for notes.
Lynch claimed to have had three perfect milkshakes out of more than 2,500 visits to the diner.
My Takeaway
I love the thought of David Lynch going to the pond every day to fish for ideas. To him, ideas aren’t birthed into the world —They are already in the pond. Trillions of ideas bubbling beneath the surface, waiting for you to intentionally cast your net and fish them out.
And maybe he only caught a big idea 3 out of the 2,500 trips. But if ANY of those ideas became one of his groundbreaking films, I’d say that’s a pretty successful investment of his time.
My favorite David Lynch quote
“Down deep, the fish are more powerful and more pure. They’re huge and abstract. And they’re very beautiful.”
I love this analogy. To me, there is nothing more thrilling than chasing the big idea. The kind of work you painfully chip away at, day after day. They are the ideas that make me grow emotionally, spiritually, and professionally. For me, most of my novels are big ideas. They are the pieces I’m most proud of, even if they don’t always find the widest audience.
Conversely, a quick 7-second TikTok or 500-word blog post falls into my 'small idea' category, taking anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours. These bite-sized pieces of content often reach a broader audience and give invaluable insights into what resonates with your audience. While both small and big ideas bring value, I find the pursuit of big transformative ideas the most rewarding.
Do you need a creative breakthrough? Try David Lynch’s ritual yourself.
Go to a restaurant or diner you wouldn’t normally go to.
Using only a pen and restaurant napkins, let your mind roam free for 30 minutes to an hour.
Let me know if you try it! Follow me and tag me on Instagram!