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The Importance of Revising Your Work
There’s nothing quite like looking at a piece of writing or art from a few years ago. Back then, you were so proud of your work. Perhaps you spent many hours on it, or you let it flow out under a particularly powerful visit from the Muse. Either way, you look at it now and…egads! You were that bad? You’re embarrassed that this ever went out into the world. You hide under your metaphorical bed in shame.
It’s happened to all of us. As we continue to practice our craft, we inevitably get better. So, looking at our old work can be an unpleasant reminder of our nascent stage. But the truth is, our old work likely wasn’t as bad as we imagine. We tend to be our own worst critics. When we look at old work in the context of our new, higher standards for ourselves, our self-criticism is heightened.
Still, that doesn’t mean that we can’t learn from our old work. Often, the biggest problems are the flaws that we can easily see when we gain some perspective. The “beer goggles” you had on when you first created the work are long gone. A few years go by, and you can look back on your work with expert eyes. “I would never do that now,” you say.
The good news is that you can get the beer goggles off without having to wait a few years. By learning to revisit and revise as part of your creative process, you can feel more confident in your work —…
