Starting big projects is so much easier than finishing them.

In the beginning, we are excited at the idea of creating something that others will love and enjoy.

The excitement comes from visualizing what the finished project will look like, how it will affect others, and ourselves.

We begin with vigor and energy! And at first, it flows out of us like running water.  We are energized by the thought of “what can be”.

Then, partway through, it’s gets hard.  The excitement turns to sheer grunt work of getting it done. We have trouble staying focused and hit a wall.  For me, it’s the halfway mark when my editor mind kicks in and kills my creative side.

I’m having trouble finishing two big projects, and it’s making me crazy.  One is a guidebook for artists that I’m partway through.   The other is a free e-book meant for everyone who signs up for my blog posts.

In striving for perfection, I’m stalling. I want my books to be perfect, like Martha Stewart’s peach pie.  But I’ll never get even close to perfection if I don’t finish what I started.  After all, Martha’s peach pie probably wasn’t perfect the first 5 times she baked them.  It was the 6th or 10th that was the winner.  But she had to finish and taste and share the first ones before she could find her perfect recipe.

I had a symbolic dream last night that made sense of this dilemma.

The dream was vivid and lifelike.  I found a horse, and it became my first ever real pet.  (I’ve never been an animal person.)

In my dream I thought to myself  “This is my first pet – I never thought I’d have one” and I marveled at the immense beauty and strength of this large animal.  I was also very scared of it’s power.

At first I was afraid to get on the horse.  It was so much bigger than me.  I hesitated and questioned what I was doing.  Then my feelings of fear slowly transformed to excitement and exhilaration as  I got on the horse and rode it.  It was shaky at first, but then I gained confidence and grew to LOVE it.

Now that I’m awake, I have to ask myself, what was that horse a symbol of?

• My book project?
• My blog project?
• My life?

Or was it just a horse?

Now a question for you: What big project are you putting off because it’s big and scary and maybe you want it to be just perfect?  And would it be better to finish it less than perfect, or never at all?

Photo Courtesy of Ninja Poodles!Similar Posts:

• HOW PLAYING IT SAFE KILLS YOUR CREATIVITY
• Create Every Day – A Guest Post from Aileen Holmes
• Stop Tolerating What Holds you Back

I’m careful not to use foul language or to write about my fabulous sex life.  I strive to maintain a professional image and at the same time I yearn to interject some real personality into my posts.

But it’s a walk on a tight wire, and I’ve got two left feet.

My first magazine article has been published in the new issue of Stand Up Paddle Magazine.  Even though writing for magazines was never a dream or even an interest of mine, when the opportunity came up to write it I excitedly said “sure!”

At the time this came up, my creative floodgates were free-flowing.  I had just returned all blissed-out from a writer’s meditation retreat and ideas and words poured out of me like a freaky, broken spigot.  It was beautiful and exhilarating and frenzied all at the same time.

My husband set it up with the editor of the magazine, because he wanted to share our experience of Paddleboarding in New Zealand and Samoa.  He and I collaborated on the story, but since I’m the writer in the family, it was my job to write it.  And that’s where the difficulty began.

All of a sudden I had guidelines to follow.  The article had to demonstrate the ease of paddleboarding abroad, the family aspect to the sport and the exciting lifestyle.  It had to appeal to the readership of the magazine.  The writing had to appeal to my significant other.

Seems easy enough, except…it had to be good.

Normally I don’t have to write for anyone other than my own business, and for you, my dear readers.  When I write for you, the only restrictions I have are my own self-imposed ones.  And if you don’t like my writing, well, you haven’t told me.  It’s not like WordPress is going to shut down my blog if they don’t like my content.

Writing for a magazine made me realize just how hard it is to write when you are trying to please an editor.  It doesn’t flow.  The words get stuck somewhere between your heart and your throat and don’t seem to travel to your fingertips.

Paddling in Samoa

I caught myself being overly careful to write safe stuff that’s guaranteed to not be rejected.  BORING!  Playing it safe killed my creativity.  I was holding back on so much inner emotion and reality that I felt constipated!

I gained a whole new respect for all of the artists I know out there, especially my artist husband, Drew.  He’s been earning a living by painting for different clients for years.  Now I get how sometimes he feels so frustrated.  You want people to love your work. And they might not.  It’s stifling trying to please others with your art.

The first draft of my short article took about two hours to choke out.  I read it to Drew.  He didn’t like it, and wasn’t shy about telling me.

“Well, fine then.  I’ll just spend all day re-writing it!”  I said snottily.  Frustrated and confused, I started over.  I couldn’t understand why, just days before, I could have easily squeezed out a novel, no problem.  Now I had trouble putting down a coherent word about my own vacation story!

Eventually, through sheer force, I finished my tenth re-write, got Drew’s thumbs-up and submitted it.  I wasn’t in love with it.  I wasn’t even sure that I liked it.  But at some point I had to consider it done, because I couldn’t spend another minute writing it.

The feelings of inadequacy shrouded me like a smelly blanket.  I said all those things that your monkey brain tells you when you question your abilities, like “you can’t write” “the editor’s going to hate it” “who the hell do you think you are?”  ”You suck. Go back to selling insurance!”

But I have this rule for myself that says that I’m only allowed to feel bad about myself for about ten minutes. That’s it.  Then I force myself to shake off those negative feelings and move on.

My boys in New Zealand

A couple of months later the issue with my article came out.  I was a little scared that the editor would hate my article so much that he’d changed it.   Surprisingly, he didn’t touch a word.

And as I read through it, I realized it wasn’t so bad.  As a matter of fact, I think I like it.  And the best part is that he used many of the photos we took on that trip to New Zealand and Samoa.

I have to admit, reading my name in print in a beautiful, full color magazine was a thrill.  It gives my mother bragging rights and it makes me want to try writing for another magazine again.

Only next time, I’m not playing it f#&ing safe.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Below is the article.  And the cute girl in the big photo?  She’s someone I met in Samoa and I let her use my paddleboard.  Drew took the photo.  I wish I could remember her name…

Similar Posts:

• Focus on Desire Not Fear – Jump on that Horse
• Disregard Obstacles and Break on Through to the Other Side Part II
• How Meditation Helps the Creative Process

This is a guest post written by artist Aileen Holmes.  Artwork to the left is one of Aileen’s creations.

As artists, many of us dream of creating large masterpieces and gloriously large scale works.

This is a beautiful and wonderful goal to have, but large dreams can also be a burden.

We question ourselves… “Why haven’t I done this already?”   Or we procrastinate and the empty canvas haunts our days.

Try looking at creativity as a practice and infuse creativity into everyday life.

Creativity is a muscle that needs to be worked out.

Masterpieces don’t spring out of nowhere (well, sometimes but not often!).  Creativity is a lifestyle – It needs to exist in every day life to grow and thrive.

There are simple ways you can exercise your creative muscles:

1.  Carry a small sketchbook and a camera: Capture what catches your eye.  The more you train your eye to look for creative inspiration, the more you will find.

2.   Catalog your inspiration: Whenever I get a new magazine, I go through it and tear out whatever is intriguing.  I tear out poses that I’d like to draw or paint later.   A reservoir of inspiration becomes a resource to turn to over and over again.

3.  Challenge how you approach every day activities: One exercise I like to do is choose a random article of clothing and try to build an all new outfit around it.  Pick a neglected sweater or funky scarf and coordinate a fun look!  When you force yourself to break out of dressing automatically, you learn to look at color and shapes a new way.

4.  Experiment with a new ingredient: Adding spice to your life, whether it’s a new cuisine or learning salsa dancing will open up new avenues of expression.  I like to dig in the back of my spice cabinet and invent a new recipe.  By adding Kahlua to my horchata and adding a pinch of cinnamon, I invented a drink I like to call a “Mexican Russian!”

Opening your eyes to possibilities, collecting inspiration, challenging your viewpoint and experimenting are all ways to work your creative muscles.

When you approach all aspects of life creatively, you Create Every Day.  The more you infuse creativity into every day life, the easier it will be to create your great masterpiece!

Aileen Holmes

________________________________________________________________________________________

Aileen Holmes is an artist, illustrator, and graphic designer inspired by vintage fashion.  Her art is feminine, fun, and flirty!  Her blog is fun to follow – here’s the link.

The CREATE EVERYDAY artwork shown on this page is available as a print and proceeds go directly to The American Red Cross to help Haiti.  I bought mine by clicking here.  When I get it, I’ll hang it in my office to remind me daily to Create!

Maria xxooSimilar Posts:

• HOW TO CREATE ANYTHING Even when you’re scared, inexperienced and don’t believe in yourself
• How Meditation Helps the Creative Process
• Focus on Desire Not Fear – Jump on that Horse