The following is a must-read for everyone working (or aspiring to) in a creative field. You'll have a light-bulb moment. I did.
"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 [project]. 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
The photo is from Knot & Bow, based in Brooklyn. Please support handmade and visit their shop by clicking on the image, above!
Holy smokes! you're right about that lightbulb moment. Excellent thoughts....
Posted by: Kirsten J | August 25, 2011 at 03:44 PM
I LOVE this.....it's so true.
Posted by: creativechaos | August 25, 2011 at 09:44 PM
Delaney, what an excellent quote!! I agree - yep, light bulb! Thanks for visiting me. It was a pleasure to click over and read your post!
Posted by: Becca Feeken | August 29, 2011 at 05:52 AM
This is SO true - LOVE it!! Would you believe I started blogging in 2007. Wow. I have come so far since then...all because I tried and tried and worked and worked. If you really love something, you just don't give up! Anything is possible. :)
Danielle
Posted by: Danielle Flanders | August 29, 2011 at 09:26 PM
Oh this is JUST what I needed to find!!! I love it and I am loving your site! I found you through pinterest and I am hooked on Stichographie! So amazing!
Posted by: Lexy @ The Proper Pinwheel | October 10, 2011 at 10:40 PM
This is so great and just what I needed to hear! I am on the brink of quitting multiple times a month and this is very reassuring. I found your site from pinterest and I. Am. In. Love. Stitchographie is amazing!!!
Posted by: Lexy @ The Proper Pinwheel | October 12, 2011 at 12:20 PM