How to Build Your Acting Craft Even When You Feel Like Giving Up

Thank you for being in my community and opening your ears and investing time and energy into your development as creative beings.

I see my articles as a way of being in relationship with the people I want to help and support — and also learn from myself. So, as we are now in 2026, I have three questions for you.

And just to say up front: you won’t be getting any “new year, new me” from me. I don’t really believe in that. I don’t think you need to be a new you. I think you can keep adding to and building upon what you’ve already created for yourself in 2025. Be open to new opportunities, absolutely — but you’re good. You don’t need to make yourself new.

Here are my three questions to help you reflect (and, if you want to, to dream):

1. What is one creative project, interaction, or person that you benefited from in 2025 — whether that benefit was growth, joy, or fulfilment?
2. What is something you learned about yourself as a creative in 2025?
3. Looking ahead to 2026: what else do you want to learn? What do you want to develop? What do you want to build upon? Not necessarily achieve — but build upon.

Use questions one and two to help you answer the third. Let them reassure you that you are constantly building, constantly growing, and constantly developing — even in those moments where you feel like throwing everything in.

If you’d like to share your answers with me, I would genuinely love to read them. I love learning from you just as much as I hope you learn from my thoughts. Comment below.

As a director, coach, and creative being myself, I’m constantly checking in with what I want, what I need to help me get what I want — and also to reassure myself about how I’m doing.

Try not to let these questions feel scary, judgemental or difficult. See them instead as a way of reminding yourself that you are growing and developing as a creative being. That’s the most important thing.

We can’t control what our industry is doing — but we can guide our own creative growth.

Wishing you a joyful, abundant, and creatively thrilling year.

Testimonials

Tom Price

“It was a really testing time… self tapes had completely taken over and all the creative spark and process of being an auditioning actor was extinguished… I’ll continue to work with the fire that Tom helped to reignite in me to keep going and believe in myself.”

Holly Fry

“Tom has brought a lot of passion back to my craft.”

Philippa Flynn

“Post-pandemic I was out of practice and low in confidence. Tom’s sessions lead me back into enjoying the work rather than being intimidated. Tom’s guidance was invaluable in dusting off and improving the acting skills I hadn’t had the opportunity to flex for so long.”

Juliana Dever

“Tom is so gifted at holding space for you to break through the self-doubt and internalized defeat that come with years of being in a tough industry… a dam finally burst… unleashing all of the joy and fearlessness I started with.”

FAQs

 How do I keep improving my acting craft when I feel like giving up?

When you feel like throwing everything in, it usually means you’ve lost sight of how much you’ve already been building. A helpful reset is to reflect on what genuinely supported you in the past year — a project, a person, a moment of growth or joy. That evidence matters. It reminds you that development doesn’t stop just because your confidence dips. Your craft is still growing, even in the messy moments.

What should I focus on in 2026 if I want to grow as an actor?

Instead of aiming for “new year, new me”, focus on what you want to *build upon*. Ask yourself: what did you learn about yourself as a creative in 2025 — and what do you want to develop next? Not necessarily “achieve”, but develop. This keeps your growth rooted in curiosity rather than pressure, and helps your craft expand in a way that actually feels sustainable.

What questions can I ask myself to stay motivated and creatively grounded as an actor?

Try these three questions as a gentle check-in:

1. What was one creative project, interaction, or person that benefited you in 2025?
2. What did you learn about yourself as a creative?
3. Looking ahead to 2026 — what do you want to learn, develop, or build upon?

These questions aren’t meant to judge you — they’re meant to reassure you. You can’t control what the industry is doing, but you can guide your own creative growth.