You have heard of the cleaning advice of “one in, one out,” I am sure. It’s pretty basic. If you already have too much stuff, and you want to bring more in, you have to remove something else.
What does this look like in creative work?
I have literally thousands of excess files on my computer. Thousands of unfinished blog posts, partially-formed journal entries, half projects, someday projects, poems, songs, short stories, plays, scripts, ideas, comics, jokes. Digital stuff. Stuff people liked that I never found a permanent place for, and stuff no one wants — not even me.
I have a hard time cutting (classic writer problem). I have a hard time getting rid (classic family problem). I have a hard time focusing (classic me problem).
Eliminating files feels endless. Mass deleting feels wasteful. I am making progress, but the rate is irregular and motivation rises and dips.
And as I’m deleting, I’m still tempted to create. What to do?
One in, one out. Start there. Start here. Nothing new until the old is out.
Use the energy for new to add new to old, to edit, refine, slice, mould.
Another post posted. Another brick laid. Not perfect, but done, and more room for the next.
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