Finishing from Your Gut

My background is in the visual arts. The image above is one I painted in Photoshop last year. The weekend I created it, I was miserable and stressed trying to make something amazing for this client. Sixteen hours of my hard-earned weekend went into this painting. The client changed direction on Monday, and it’s just been sitting on my computer unseen by everyone but me. Now you. But honestly, I love it and it turned out exactly how I’d imagined.

Visual arts became my job right out of college. When something you love becomes your job, it takes more from you than an enjoyable time. Sometimes you have to grunt your way through obstacles and exhaustion and pull the finish from deep within your body.

When I started writing fiction, it was initially cathartic and nice. As I become more serious about it, however, I met that same familiar gut-pull. Honestly, I would have given up if I hadn’t been so familiar with it. Here are a few points I want to share for other creatives who want to finish well. This applies to writing, painting, video editing… you get the idea.

1. Inspiration is important. One of the most important things I’ve learned in art is to pay close attention when my heart is stirred. That thing will be your motivation and push you through most of your project. Sometimes that means going out and clarifying what you’re trying to accomplish. If you’re hitting a brick wall of empty ideas, you’re probably not clear about what’s pushing you. You might need to do some more searching. Read a new genre, take a philosophy class, talk to someone who’s different than you. Once you have that inspiration, then…

2. Expect the process. If you set your expectations for occasional set-backs, you won’t get the wind knocked out of you when they come. Creative work may start with inspiration and excitement, but inspiration doesn’t (in my experience) carry you through to the end. Only dedication can do that. For example, you might realize your protagonist starts to act out of character halfway through your WIP. That’s not a small fix! But trudging through your story to address it will keep your story engaging. Then, when you’re not sure if it’s working…

3. Seek out honest feedback. My best critique partner is another graphic designer whose feedback is so keen, it feels like she’s cutting me. She’s made me cry, but only because she’s right. And often, her feedback fixes my problem. It’s true in the visual arts, which is why I knew I needed a critique group while writing. Even a genius can’t always see their own flaws. A critique partner can point out what’s obvious to everyone but you! And once you’re finally going in a great direction…

4. Dedicate time to your work, with boundaries. Set aside a specific amount of time when you will be creating as a discipline. If you don’t have a deadline, rest when your time limit is up. Consistency is important to growing, but resting is important, too. Great art is sometimes born in a feverish heap of emotion, but I sort of doubt that’s typical. I think everyone is better when they’re fresh and happy.

5. When it’s time, push to the end. You know when it’s time. It might be a deadline or it might just be that you’re sick of this project and it needs to get out of your face. You’ve been inspired, you’ve gutted through it, you’ve received the feedback, you know where you’re going. Now just get that thing out of here. When it’s done, you have three new gray hairs. You also have my permission to never think of it again. It’s nice when someone reaches out and says, “I loved that story.” Back pat. Smile. Feel good. But sometimes, no one sees it. Like my painting.

You still did a great job.