This really resonated with me! That pressure to create something while the plumber is at his 2 hour lunch, the ducks are quacking at the wrong door and the WiFi resets itself. Very real. Merci for the reminder that invisible effort still counts.
Kate, you often find a way to speak exactly where I am. In the many months since I pulled my novel from your queue, I have ripped out many rows and stitched many new ones. I've had to listen to the story my characters are aching to tell.
Still stitching, but getting closer to something that looks like its own garment. It might not fit me, but hopefully it will find its owners.
This landed so deeply. I’ve been sitting on a few “non-sweater” drafts for months—pages I thought might be wasted because they weren’t immediately sellable. But the way you framed it—that time spent is still skill earned—made something unclench in me. There’s a quiet power in square-shaped practice. Thank you for the gentle reminder that process matters, even when it doesn’t become product. Especially then.
As a writer who burnt myself out trying to write the perfect story after 3 failed subs in 4 years, I’ve been struggling to draft a new novel I actually love ever since. My therapist recently suggested I look at drafting as “making the first pancake.” Aka, the first pancake always turns out weird, and usually burnt, but each one gets better after that. Silly little visuals like that have honestly been more helpful than all the writing advice books I’ve read. Adding “It doesn’t have to be a sweater” to my mantra!
As a quilt teacher this is always my first piece of guidance in a class - nothing you make has to BE anything. It can merely be a reflection of the time you spent investing in you.
I like this post. I support this post. First because it’s good advice. Second because I don’t finish most things I start, to my unending frustration. So thank you for the positive spin.
Ready Fire Aim. That's my approach to writing. You get it down and in getting it down you see how close you got to the mark. The beauty of writing is that you can then inch your way closer to the mark via editing.
I had to laugh, Paul; I'm not sure my sergeant would agree with your analogy, but then, he isn't a writer. This will stick in my head every time I start a new draft now.
Have been trying really hard to embody he mindset of “finished is better than perfect” with my illustrations/other creative projects lately because having DONE it is more important than stressing about the fact that I may not have the skills yet to do it exactly how I want. You can always revisit and recreate a piece when you leave more. This is a wonderful reminder that it’s okay to not even have a result, just more knowledge and tapping into that inner-childlike discovery mode. Thank you ♥
Thanks for your insight and solidarity, as usual. We all say we don't have time, but creating something just for fun really does clear up space in the brain.
I haven’t crocheted or knitted for a while now, but I went through a phase of making many, many toques (beanies?). I mostly made mindlessly easy ones while listening to audiobooks. Crocheting in a circle is as easy as crocheting a square! I love your metaphor, although I’m yet to internalize the lesson, either in yarn work or writing…
Love this, as always! I sent my writing coach a rough draft of my novel and she sent it back with pages and pages of suggested revisions. It's overwhelming! I told myself I just need to check one thing off a day. One checkmark--that's all I need. I got a nice, juicy pen to make the checkmarks with. It's lovely. On a different note, I was rereading my blog and came across an old post you might like. It's about why I hate answering the question, "How's your writing going?" And it's also about plumbing. https://mrsmouthy.wordpress.com/2020/09/08/writing-unfinished-business/
This really resonated with me! That pressure to create something while the plumber is at his 2 hour lunch, the ducks are quacking at the wrong door and the WiFi resets itself. Very real. Merci for the reminder that invisible effort still counts.
Kate, you often find a way to speak exactly where I am. In the many months since I pulled my novel from your queue, I have ripped out many rows and stitched many new ones. I've had to listen to the story my characters are aching to tell.
Still stitching, but getting closer to something that looks like its own garment. It might not fit me, but hopefully it will find its owners.
Thanks again!
xo Harriet
This landed so deeply. I’ve been sitting on a few “non-sweater” drafts for months—pages I thought might be wasted because they weren’t immediately sellable. But the way you framed it—that time spent is still skill earned—made something unclench in me. There’s a quiet power in square-shaped practice. Thank you for the gentle reminder that process matters, even when it doesn’t become product. Especially then.
As a writer who burnt myself out trying to write the perfect story after 3 failed subs in 4 years, I’ve been struggling to draft a new novel I actually love ever since. My therapist recently suggested I look at drafting as “making the first pancake.” Aka, the first pancake always turns out weird, and usually burnt, but each one gets better after that. Silly little visuals like that have honestly been more helpful than all the writing advice books I’ve read. Adding “It doesn’t have to be a sweater” to my mantra!
As a quilt teacher this is always my first piece of guidance in a class - nothing you make has to BE anything. It can merely be a reflection of the time you spent investing in you.
So applicable!
I like this post. I support this post. First because it’s good advice. Second because I don’t finish most things I start, to my unending frustration. So thank you for the positive spin.
Ready Fire Aim. That's my approach to writing. You get it down and in getting it down you see how close you got to the mark. The beauty of writing is that you can then inch your way closer to the mark via editing.
I had to laugh, Paul; I'm not sure my sergeant would agree with your analogy, but then, he isn't a writer. This will stick in my head every time I start a new draft now.
Nice! Glad I could be of help.
What a great column! I feel empowered to create something short, the end of my book, which has been dragging me down for over a year.
Thank you.
Have been trying really hard to embody he mindset of “finished is better than perfect” with my illustrations/other creative projects lately because having DONE it is more important than stressing about the fact that I may not have the skills yet to do it exactly how I want. You can always revisit and recreate a piece when you leave more. This is a wonderful reminder that it’s okay to not even have a result, just more knowledge and tapping into that inner-childlike discovery mode. Thank you ♥
What funny timing! I also posted about taking up a hobby today: https://peggypaulcasella.substack.com/p/pizza-poetry
Thanks for your insight and solidarity, as usual. We all say we don't have time, but creating something just for fun really does clear up space in the brain.
I haven’t crocheted or knitted for a while now, but I went through a phase of making many, many toques (beanies?). I mostly made mindlessly easy ones while listening to audiobooks. Crocheting in a circle is as easy as crocheting a square! I love your metaphor, although I’m yet to internalize the lesson, either in yarn work or writing…
Excellent advice!
Amen to this! I've learned just as much from my drawer novels (if not more) than the ones that got published.
Love this, as always! I sent my writing coach a rough draft of my novel and she sent it back with pages and pages of suggested revisions. It's overwhelming! I told myself I just need to check one thing off a day. One checkmark--that's all I need. I got a nice, juicy pen to make the checkmarks with. It's lovely. On a different note, I was rereading my blog and came across an old post you might like. It's about why I hate answering the question, "How's your writing going?" And it's also about plumbing. https://mrsmouthy.wordpress.com/2020/09/08/writing-unfinished-business/