It usually happens to me I have a vague draft of my posts in my head, and when I finally sit down and write, it comes out quite finished in a single sit... I almost don't think at all, it's like vomiting over the keyboard, like if someone else was writing it and I'm just he editor. And then, I hit publish with as little corrections as I can. I feel it's the most respectful thing I can do for that unknown mental state that wrote it, to avoid trimming it with the constrains of my rational mind.
Brilliantly summed up. I am writing a tennis season review which was supposed to be just under 1000 words but right now it is standing at 5k words strong and I have absolutely no idea why I have so much in my head.
> It’s impossible to set “deadlines” if they’re not real, that is, imposed by an external authority.
Disagree - "Wisdom is nothing more profound than an ability to follow one’s own advice." Deadlines are just abstractions that you can choose to enforce or not enforce as a contract with yourself. They aren't "impossible" to set.
I agree with some of the sentiments in the article, such that a project tends to evolve in unanticipated ways, but I do feel there is value in setting targets for exposing your thoughts in publication rather than dwelling in a continuous state of tweaking things in the safety of private words. Publishing has value, because it forces you to consider what is really worth saying, cutting off the fat of scope creep.
As a sculptor (amateur), one of my favorite sayings is "Sculpture is never finished... it is abandoned". There comes a time when "finish" is a verb. Perfection is an asymptote. And it is the enemy of the good.
Also a first time reader. You’ve touched on a lot of thoughts that I share, but haven’t fleshed out. This was thought provoking, glad you took the time to write it up and publish
You absolutely nailed it with the thought that the creator would know every little flaw and yet has to decide at some point to publish what they have regardless of how much it can still be perfected! Couldn’t agree more on this, be it a simple piece of code I am writing at work or something I paint as just a hobby.
Anyway, great article and the following things you’ve mentioned will stay with me for a long time:
1. You don’t know what you really think till you write about it
2. It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so
First time reader here. That’s very interesting, thanks a lot !
You said that
> if writing a stupid essay that requires zero research, zero external coordination, and zero dollars, only my time and focus, is this difficult to finish, I’m astounded that anything ever gets done in the world in the first place
But I realised that maybe, not being able to finish your projects could be caused by the lack of constraint. Like if you have no more money or no more data to base your analysis on, then you have to finish it right ? So maybe finishing an essay about your thoughts is harder than publishing GTA 6 before 2030
Great post! I think the meme about people who are into art vs those who do art pretty much sums it up.
That brings me to the difference between work and a hobby or personal project. Work needs to see the light, to touch people's lives and to improve the world in some way. To accomplish that some sacrifices are often necessary.
A hobby is something for ourselves, just for pleasure, no one is expecting it and there are no rules.
Franz Kafka once said «I am free and that is why I am lost». I believe avoiding absolute freedom in any creative process is a good thing.
It usually happens to me I have a vague draft of my posts in my head, and when I finally sit down and write, it comes out quite finished in a single sit... I almost don't think at all, it's like vomiting over the keyboard, like if someone else was writing it and I'm just he editor. And then, I hit publish with as little corrections as I can. I feel it's the most respectful thing I can do for that unknown mental state that wrote it, to avoid trimming it with the constrains of my rational mind.
Great read! Subbed :)
Brilliantly summed up. I am writing a tennis season review which was supposed to be just under 1000 words but right now it is standing at 5k words strong and I have absolutely no idea why I have so much in my head.
Feels like you're rationalizing lack of output.
> It’s impossible to set “deadlines” if they’re not real, that is, imposed by an external authority.
Disagree - "Wisdom is nothing more profound than an ability to follow one’s own advice." Deadlines are just abstractions that you can choose to enforce or not enforce as a contract with yourself. They aren't "impossible" to set.
I agree with some of the sentiments in the article, such that a project tends to evolve in unanticipated ways, but I do feel there is value in setting targets for exposing your thoughts in publication rather than dwelling in a continuous state of tweaking things in the safety of private words. Publishing has value, because it forces you to consider what is really worth saying, cutting off the fat of scope creep.
As a sculptor (amateur), one of my favorite sayings is "Sculpture is never finished... it is abandoned". There comes a time when "finish" is a verb. Perfection is an asymptote. And it is the enemy of the good.
Also a first time reader. You’ve touched on a lot of thoughts that I share, but haven’t fleshed out. This was thought provoking, glad you took the time to write it up and publish
You absolutely nailed it with the thought that the creator would know every little flaw and yet has to decide at some point to publish what they have regardless of how much it can still be perfected! Couldn’t agree more on this, be it a simple piece of code I am writing at work or something I paint as just a hobby.
Anyway, great article and the following things you’ve mentioned will stay with me for a long time:
1. You don’t know what you really think till you write about it
2. It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so
First time reader here. That’s very interesting, thanks a lot !
You said that
> if writing a stupid essay that requires zero research, zero external coordination, and zero dollars, only my time and focus, is this difficult to finish, I’m astounded that anything ever gets done in the world in the first place
But I realised that maybe, not being able to finish your projects could be caused by the lack of constraint. Like if you have no more money or no more data to base your analysis on, then you have to finish it right ? So maybe finishing an essay about your thoughts is harder than publishing GTA 6 before 2030
Siddhesh, thanks for getting these thoughts out of your head and where I can read them. They have been very helpful.
This correlates strongly with The Cult of Done manifesto I read just eralier today. I think you might find it interesting: https://thomasdeneuville.com/cult-of-done-manifesto/
Great post! I think the meme about people who are into art vs those who do art pretty much sums it up.
That brings me to the difference between work and a hobby or personal project. Work needs to see the light, to touch people's lives and to improve the world in some way. To accomplish that some sacrifices are often necessary.
A hobby is something for ourselves, just for pleasure, no one is expecting it and there are no rules.
Franz Kafka once said «I am free and that is why I am lost». I believe avoiding absolute freedom in any creative process is a good thing.
This is the first time I'm reading you and I must say it's very touching...
Write up on a write up. Interesting introspection. Wise . Im curious to read those enedited 17000+ words now.. Maybe it could finally be A Book