This is so critical. I also think it's important to apply this same perspective to entire projects. Just because you've been dreaming about this story since you were in 6th grade doesn't mean it works... (I'm speaking to myself more than anyone else on that one haha).
I've got a post drafted that hints at the whole "I've been wanting to tell this story for 20 years" attitude. Sometimes we hold on to something so tightly, we can't see the potential problems with the story.
Well said! I inadvertently learned this concept from a concept illustrator of all people. It was from an art tutorial series spotlighting the work of Ian McCaig. He would draw these amazing figures, then erase them without pause. SImply citing that it didn't matter how good it looked if it wasn't right. I was stunned, but soon realized this was the reason why this guy was so good at what he did. Nothing but the end product was precious to this guy.
When I shared this story with a fellow author, he remarked it was akin to a philosophy among authors called "murdering your darlings". Slightly different word, but the essence of the message is identical to yours.
I truly believe that failing is the bedrock for improving any skill, and when coupled with Pixar's (Andrew Stanton?) philosophy of, "Be fast to fail." the sky isn't just a limit but another threshold to surpass.
Since then, nothing I make is precious. If something needs to be be changed, I'll set that baby on fire and kick it off a cliff.
And I love the idea of the end product being all that matters. That can be tricky for some artists, including writers, when you revise and change well beyond the point of diminishing returns. But learning that balance, and knowing when something is done, is a skill worth developing.
This is so critical. I also think it's important to apply this same perspective to entire projects. Just because you've been dreaming about this story since you were in 6th grade doesn't mean it works... (I'm speaking to myself more than anyone else on that one haha).
I've got a post drafted that hints at the whole "I've been wanting to tell this story for 20 years" attitude. Sometimes we hold on to something so tightly, we can't see the potential problems with the story.
Well said! I inadvertently learned this concept from a concept illustrator of all people. It was from an art tutorial series spotlighting the work of Ian McCaig. He would draw these amazing figures, then erase them without pause. SImply citing that it didn't matter how good it looked if it wasn't right. I was stunned, but soon realized this was the reason why this guy was so good at what he did. Nothing but the end product was precious to this guy.
When I shared this story with a fellow author, he remarked it was akin to a philosophy among authors called "murdering your darlings". Slightly different word, but the essence of the message is identical to yours.
I truly believe that failing is the bedrock for improving any skill, and when coupled with Pixar's (Andrew Stanton?) philosophy of, "Be fast to fail." the sky isn't just a limit but another threshold to surpass.
Since then, nothing I make is precious. If something needs to be be changed, I'll set that baby on fire and kick it off a cliff.
Be fast to fail. I love that!
And I love the idea of the end product being all that matters. That can be tricky for some artists, including writers, when you revise and change well beyond the point of diminishing returns. But learning that balance, and knowing when something is done, is a skill worth developing.
Thanks for sharing!