The Finished Work Stumble

Getting back to creating after completing something has always been complicated for me.

It’s like the weight of the completed, iterated, polished version becomes the goal post for the next creative thing. The next thing needs to start on the same level as the previous was when it was completed.

This happens almost every time I try to create again. I overconsume on data, reports, articles and research to make a “better” next project.

But really, I’m just avoiding starting at the messy beginning level again.

The solution isn’t better research. It’s permission to suck again.

Your first draft doesn’t need to compete with your last published piece. It just needs to exist.