Time and inspiration expands ideas. Obsession takes over.
Most of the time, this is a good thing for creative work itself. The problem is, it becomes very difficult to actually make.
The most difficult ideas to write are the ones that have expanded too much. It’s too big to chip away in 15 minute increments; it feels like the paper is too small for the idea.
Almost every single idea that still sits stuck in my files has expanded too big; it’s sitting somewhere with a peer editor, I’ve spent hours toiling away trying to perfect it, and it’s just “not right” yet.
That’s not to say you and I can’t write a big idea; that’s just to say it’ll be difficult. Doubly so if you’re not used to writing. Triply so if you don’t have big, four-hour, chunks of time for each work session.
The smaller and more focused your work, the easier to release, and the easier to gain momentum for the next one. In other words, aim for agility.
The difference between you finishing your work and not finishing your work might be the ability to finish writing something in 15 minutes vs. you need an hour to finish it. Done is the engine of more.
Think smaller. Every idea in your writing is just a departure point. Combine three together for a longer piece, combine 75 to make a book.
Set up a surface for yourself that’s more like a laboratory than a production studio.
This blog is my laboratory! If you’re reading this, most of the time, you’re not just a passive audience member I’m demonstrating to; you’re invited into the lab and I want to hear what you think.
Inspired by Sam Lambert’s episode of Crossing the Enterprise Chasm.