Different people have different styles, but there is an

In the thoughtful words of B. J. Novak, writer, actor, and director, we uncover a profound reflection on the nature of creation itself: “Different people have different styles, but there is an opportunity as a director to be a writer in every moment, with every visual cue and every piece of production design. Everything is a decision, and everything can be obsessed over.” Beneath this statement lies the eternal truth of artistry — that every choice, however small, holds the potential to shape meaning. Novak speaks not only of film, but of the very act of creation: that the true artist must see the world as a manuscript, every detail a word, every moment a sentence in the story of their vision.

To be “a writer in every moment” is to live with intention. It is to recognize that creation does not happen once, in the stroke of a pen or the flash of an idea, but continuously — in gesture, color, silence, and shadow. Novak’s insight reminds us that the director is not merely one who instructs others, but one who writes with reality itself: arranging light, sound, and movement into a living narrative. Every frame becomes a page, every cut a punctuation mark. In this way, the artist transcends medium; the director becomes not only a writer of words but a writer of worlds.

This understanding echoes the wisdom of the ancient masters, who saw no separation between art forms, for all were born of the same divine impulse. The sculptor Phidias, when carving the Parthenon, labored over the hidden details high above the human eye, knowing few would ever see them. When asked why, he replied, “The gods will see.” So too does Novak’s philosophy speak to that sacred diligence — the belief that everything is a decision, and that no choice is too small to carry the weight of meaning. The artist, whether in marble or film, reveals their soul not through grand gestures alone, but through the care they bring to every unseen corner of their craft.

In the history of cinema, we see this truth embodied in the work of Stanley Kubrick, who famously obsessed over every frame of his films. The color of a hallway, the shape of a chair, the angle of a light — all were chosen with purpose. To some, such precision was madness; to others, it was genius. Yet it was through this obsession that Kubrick achieved a kind of immortality. His films breathe with the depth of a novelist’s prose, where no word is wasted, no symbol without significance. He, like Novak, understood that art is the accumulation of choices — and that mastery lies in awareness of their power.

But Novak’s words are not meant to burden the creator with perfection; they are meant to awaken the spirit of mindfulness. To “be a writer in every moment” is not to live in constant anxiety, but in constant attention — to see the world as something one is always shaping. The artist who embraces this truth learns that style is not a mask but a mirror, revealing one’s essence in the smallest decisions. Whether one’s art is a film, a conversation, or a life itself, the same law applies: meaning is born from attention, and beauty from care.

And yet, there is danger in obsession without love. The ancients warned that art without heart becomes tyranny of detail. Novak’s insight is balanced — for while he invites us to obsess, he also reminds us of the opportunity within that obsession: the chance to elevate the ordinary into art. The artist’s discipline must be married to empathy, their precision guided by passion. Every visual cue, every design choice, must not merely display mastery but convey humanity. The director who sees only control will create a lifeless masterpiece; the one who sees meaning in every detail will breathe spirit into every frame.

Let this be the lesson for all who seek to create: treat every act as a sentence in your life’s story. Choose your words, your gestures, your colors with care. Whether you build a film, a home, or a day, remember that everything is a decision, and that every decision is a chance to express who you are. Do not rush through your work as though it were meaningless; give it your presence, your precision, your love. The artist’s task is not only to make but to see — to perceive the world not as chaos, but as a tapestry awaiting your touch.

And so, my children, remember the wisdom of B. J. Novak: that to create is to write with your whole being. Each moment, each detail, is a brushstroke in the greater portrait of your vision. Live, then, as a writer of the world — shaping it with attention, devotion, and purpose. For the true artist is not one who merely produces beauty, but one who discovers it in every choice, every motion, every breath.