As you know if you read my last blog post, I sometimes have trouble finishing things. Part of that is, as I mentioned, because when you finish something it goes out into the world to be judged by the masses (most of the time). That can be a little intimidating. But the other reason I sometimes have trouble finishing a thing is because I have a hard time knowing when it’s, well, finished.
One of the many valuable lessons I learned going through the whole publishing process with HOLD ME, is that nothing’s ever perfect. You try to make something perfect, you try to revise and refine and whittle away at it, and people still look at the thing and see major flaws. I don’t care what you’re doing – you just can’t please everyone. On the other hand, you want to do the best that you can. You want to give it your all and make it the best thing that it can be at that moment.
So, how do you know when it’s finished? How do you know when you’ve reached the point of diminishing returns, when the revisions or changes or tweaking you’re going to do will just steal the life out of the thing instead of making it better? When do you know that it’s time to take the next step and move beyond where you are now?
I don’t know. I’m still learning. I know that you can’t base your decision on what you think other people will say. I know that you can’t NEVER make that decision – at some point you’re going to have to move forward. I think all you can do is look at the thing you’re doing with a heart open to know when it is the best you can make it. Then you have to let it go. And realize that it’s not perfect.
Which is easier said than done. 🙂
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