Honouring Your Creative Seasons: Why Every Drag King Needs Fallow Time
Jul 11, 2025Feeling stuck or slow in your Drag King journey? Here’s why rest, pause, and creative wintering are vital parts of becoming the artist you’re meant to be.
Welcome to the rhythm of your creative life, King.
There’s a lie we’ve been sold in the world of art and performance—that we must always be producing, performing, promoting. More is better. Hustle equals worth. But the truth is, every artist—especially queer artists walking their own unique path—needs to honour their seasons.
If you’re reading this in Australia or NZ, you’re likely feeling the pull inward that comes with winter. That instinct to slow down, to be still, to let things settle. And if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, you may be riding a wave of summer energy—performing, connecting, creating in the open. Both are valid. Both are vital. The trick is knowing which season you’re in… and honouring it.
Whether it’s the time of year, your phase of life, or just today’s capacity—your artistry needs room to breathe.
What Is a Fallow Season—and Why Does It Matter?
A fallow season is one where you’re not actively doing, but you are deeply becoming.
Just like the earth lies fallow after a harvest—resting, regenerating, preparing to grow again—you too are allowed to have quiet, non-productive times. These moments aren’t wasted. They’re sacred.
In Kings of Joy, I’ve watched this over and over again. Kings who retreat after their debut performance, not because they’re done—but because something is gestating. Their persona is deepening. A new idea is forming. And when they return? They bring something real, embodied, alive.
How to Tell If You’re in a Fallow Season
You might be in a fallow phase if:
- You feel uninspired or unsure what to create next
- Your day job is demanding most of your energy
- You’re craving space, not spotlight
- You’re questioning your persona or direction
- You feel quietly drawn inward, like a bear preparing to hibernate
Sound familiar?
Let me say this clearly:
You are still an artist, even when you’re not producing.
You are still a Drag King, even when you’re not performing.
3 Ways to Honour the Season You’re In
1. Stop comparing your pace to others.
Some Kings are on stage every weekend. Others perform once a year and use the rest of the time to deepen their craft. Neither is more valid. Trust your own rhythm.
2. Create micro-fallow moments in your week or day.
You don’t need a three-month sabbatical. A quiet 10 minutes. A walk without headphones. Journaling after rehearsal. These mini-pockets of pause build resilience.
3. Use your fallow time with intention.
This isn’t about doing nothing. It’s about tending the soil. Rewatch a performance you loved. Tinker with your Drag King name. Revisit your archetype. Reflect on what your King wants next.
You might love this gentle guide for that:
✨ Step Into Your King – it’s a free downloadable to help you clarify or evolve your persona, starting with your name and dipping into your archetype.
What If You’re in a Summer Season?
If you’re lit up right now—ideas buzzing, gigs flowing, stage time calling—ride the wave! But don’t be afraid to weave in moments of pause. Even in high summer, your roots need water.
Performance is not sustainable without integration. Let reflection and rest be part of your creative process, even in your busiest seasons.
A Personal Note from The King Coach
There have been winters in my life where I didn’t step onstage for months. Not because I’d given up—but because I was rebuilding. Resting. Grieving. Growing.
And each time I returned, it was with more truth, more depth, more me.
So if you’re feeling the pull to pause—honour it. If you’re feeling the nudge to create—trust it. Either way, you’re not doing it wrong. You’re just in a season.
Ready to explore your next move—even from a place of pause?
Start small. Revisit your Drag King name. Deepen your archetype. Download Step Into Your King and let your next season reveal itself from the inside out.
Xx
Danica Lani
The King Coach
About Danica Lani, The King Coach
Hey you 👋 I’m Danica Lani—also known as The King Coach. I’ve mentored 140+ first-time Drag Kings since 2020, and I’m here to say: if you’re feeling the pull to explore gender through performance, you’re not alone—and you’re not too late.
Whether you’re new to this world or quietly dreaming of stepping into your masculine side on stage, there’s space for you here.
✨ Ready to name your King? Download Step Into Your King—a free guide to choosing your Drag King name.
💫 Want to see what’s possible? Explore Kings of Joy and discover the queer community bringing masculine expression to life with joy, power, and heart.
