The process

This is the process:

• Do some work. Just start.
• Work on it until the excitement of fresh ideas crumbles on contact with reality into the funk of “Why am I even bothering?”
• Recognise that this is part of the process – and that learning to get through it is quite possibly the key to success. Make something that’s so-so.
• Edit, polish and reorder whatever you’ve got.

Optional interlude:

• Show it to someone you trust who has taste in this area.
• Hope for feedback that makes you wince – if you don’t want direct criticism, don’t ask at all.
• Be grateful for the discomfort – this is how you get better.
• Try out the feedback – identify which parts of it will make your work better.
• Do those things.

Continuation

• Keep going.
• Keep going.
• Polish and edit.
• Ask yourself “Would I keep this in if this was half as long?”
• Change or cut anything you’re not sure about.
• Polish and edit.
• Keep going.
• Keep going.
• Finish.
• Share.
• Start again.