Whenever you finish something you’ve been working on, particularly if it’s some form of artistic expression, it’s important to step back and take a moment to appreciate what you accomplished.
Coming up with an idea for a piece is not insignificant, but in the context of making art it’s the easiest part. From that point on, however, each successive step becomes more and more difficult – and when you finally get to the end, actually finishing it and saying “It’s done “ is the hardest part. Because up to that point it can still theoretically get better – but once you pronounce it finished, there’s no more hedging, and now it stands or falls on its own merits.
Today I finished my sixth short story, and this one I struggled with a bit. It went places I didn’t really want to go, but once you start they kind of take on a life of their own, and they’re not really interested in whether you want to go there or not. You’re just there to write the thing down and stay out of the way.
So here’s a toast to my latest. Creating it made me feel alive.