‘Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.’ —Ira Glass
I think I probably need to read this every day. And then read it again. And again.
Photo of Hannah & Johnny.
Photo of Hannah & Johnny.
I can really relate to this. I think I need to read this everyday too.
ReplyDeleteI've never read this before, but it is so true! In fact, I've been writing something up about matching your results with your expectations and this covers it perfectly.
ReplyDeleteI think what this forgets to say though is that bridging that gap can be so fun as well as a fight - you're learning about yourself, about what you're doing, your end goal is evolving because you know deep down that you can do more and more... in some ways, I doubt my gap will ever be fully bridged, because I like the journey so much, that I don't want it to be.
It is a concept that I constantly struggle with (and to be honest, rarely enjoy!) so when I read these words somewhere online last week I couldn’t get them out of my head and had to post them. I know it is a common feeling but reading this really encapsulated the experience for me and made it all seem a little more normal. If that makes sense!
DeleteAnd thanks for your kind words about the blog design…I impulse bought it from blog milk but couldn’t be happier with it. That static sidebar was the clincher!
It definitely makes sense and it does explain that frustration you feel when you start something but you haven't quite figured it out yet too.
DeleteOh I tagged you in a post today, but no worries if you don't want to take part :)
p.s. I love your new layout, especially the static sidebar!
ReplyDelete