Call it complete
Four foolproof steps to finishing a creative project today.
A few years ago I was working on a four track EP that ended up taking over a year to complete. In terms of quality, it is the collection of music I am most proud of, but it was an exhausting process.
During that project I realised that I needed to refresh my creativity. As a palette cleanser, I decided that I would create an 80 minute record of new music in just one day. I found a cassette tape, setup my grandfather’s old tape recorder, and played one take versions of improvised songs on a beaten up piano.
The quality is terrible. The songs are far from my best. But within that ropey recording are little moments that I am very proud of.
I had completed something.
Like you and I, many people are working on more than one thing. It’s so easy to start something, but so much harder to complete it. Beginning is addictive, but without focus, we lose what first inspired us.
Why is completion important?
A library of beginnings does not constitute a body of work; no matter how beautiful and well considered they are.
In terms of developing your craft, completion is the most important quality to strive for. You simply cannot progress and move forward in your work without finishing things.
In the simplest terms, completing a project removes it from your mind. It is done. You can tick it off your list. This allows you to work on something else building upon your experience. You have a limited capacity of time, and attention.
A library of beginnings does not constitute a body of work; no matter how beautiful and well considered they are. It is only through building a body of work that you will find your creative voice, and develop the skills in which to express it. Completion brings with it a sense of achievement that will motivate you. When self doubt hits, you’ll need this reserve of affirmation. Instead of nagging at your attention, and reminding you that you don’t have any time, thinking about the completed work will prove to you that you can accomplish things.
But it’s not finished yet…
You can hide behind something being incomplete. When something isn’t ‘finished’ you can always backtrack when you present it. How many times have you shown someone something you’re working on and hidden behind “it’s not finished yet”?
People don’t expect you to be perfect. Most people will just be impressed you completed something. And if it’s not successful? Who cares, you’re on to the next thing, building on what you’ve learnt. You won’t make the same mistakes again.
A four step process for completing
Like any skill, learning to complete something takes practice. Here is process that will help you exercise this ability. Our goal here is not perfect, just done.
Step One: Set a deadline
Human beings are motivated by how soon they’ll receive their reward. Being able to see the finishing line pushes you on towards it. Set a reasonable amount of time where you can focus solely on this project without distraction. If this is your first rodeo, choose three hours. Then next time, maybe try a day. It’s important that you are not taken away from the task for a significant amount of time. That’s when you risk adding to your pile of beginnings.
Step Two: Choose an achievable goal
The reason you only have a limited time is to force you to manage it. With infinite space, the idea can keep growing. With limitations, you are forced to make decisions that are achievable.
You need to be realistic with what you can achieve in this block of time. It’s unlikely you will complete a radio ready song, or write a great novel. But you could record a demo and put it on Soundcloud, or publish a short story.
The important thing, in terms of this exercise, is to choose a task that is an end in itself. It may inform part of a bigger project, but it needs to ultimately be shareable at the end.
Step Three: Create and accept limitations
With limited time, you need to impose some limitations on yourself. You simply don’t have time create something perfect, and that is freeing. In a short space of time, there is a tug of war between scale and refinement. If I wanted to record one song, I can take more care over it. 80 minutes of new music in one day? There’s going to be a sacrifice in quality.
When recording my one day album, I deliberately chose a method that would not produce perfection. This meant that even if I spent hours, I would not create something radio worthy. My goal was completion, and that is what I set my eyes upon. It was all about getting to that finishing line.
What limitations can you impose on yourself?
- Could you shoot a film in just one take?
- Could you write your short story on a typewriter?
- Could you create a photo essay using a disposable camera?
Step Four: Call it complete
This is the scariest part, but also the most important. You need to share what you have worked on, and call it complete. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to post it on Facebook, or send it to your favourite blog, it can be much smaller than that. It might just be sharing with your partner, or a friend.
If this step scares you, choose someone who you feel safe being vulnerable with. The one thing you are banned from doing is saying “It’s not finished yet”.
Call it complete.
Set aside an afternoon, follow this process, and see what you can achieve. I think you will be surprised. You can paste a link to your completed project in the comments below if you need someone to share it with. Good luck!
Making things is hard. That’s why I’m writing a practical guide to overcoming the obstacles that stand between you and your life’s work.
Coming early 2017. Subscribe to the mailing list to be notified when it’s available
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