Abandoned Projects

[Zwynd]

I'm in a rut.

I have a strong desire for creativity, a fantastic imagination and am almost always thinking up amazing projects like drawings, movies, novels and so on. I even think up these projects while I'm asleep.

Unfortunately my rut is that I only half-finish anything I create. There's just not enough time to do them all! I'm sure I could finish them, eventually...but some of them are because of other people (waiting on auditory clips for a movie, for example) while I lose passion on other projects mid-completion (because I find something that works better.)

I'm trying to find a way to get a focus to one thing at a time, stick with it yet not lose all the wonderful ideas. Writing them all down doesn't help me much as I could fill a page in an afternoon, cross 90% of them off and have another page full by the end of the night.

I try to create value in my projects but I either miss it completely (like spend 30 hours on an illustration, don't get paid, and only 3 people cared to comment) or I do something that takes me 10 minutes of my time (like write a short story) and I get lots of positive feedback on it even a few years later.

I love the stuff I make but I feel scatterbrained. Looking at many half-done projects all the time is very draining. I've been doing this for as far back as I can remember though it wasn't so bad when I was a kid; I could accomplish much more, then.

Anyone have any insight they'd be willing to share?

[Idaka]

You sound like a very creative, inventive person. I have a few friends that do the exact same thing. There are a ton of valid reasons why the idea stops part way. It sounds like you were ok with this for awhile, but now you are not. What is stopping you from being ok with it now?

Also I would suggest writing them down anyway, even if you need a whole notebook to fill them. They are always good to have. Another side note would be to hire a virtual assistant to help you with the implementation for some things. For example, you create a great article, and have the VA get it out here and monetize it for you. (just a thought!)

What would happen if you chose one project? It may not be THE perfect one, but what if you just chose one and aimed to complete it?

Personally I like to choose an idea I really want to accomplish and watch what comes up as reasons to stop as I go along. Sometimes it's my own fear and sometimes I get bored with an idea. Sometimes it is valid and sometimes it is not, based on my criteria. I am working on pushing past the non-valid reasons to actually complete and implement my ideas even when it becomes tough.

I read a quote similar to this that really made me think, "Good Ideas Are a Dime a Dozen, But Implementation is Priceless"

[striving4peace]

That's because passion isn't the only key to success. Discipline is majorly important, no matter how passionate you are about something.
Steve's written a series of blog posts about discipline, I suggest you read them.
Brian tracy's book "eat that frog" is good too.
In short - Channel your passion, and when it seems to have temporarily dried up - follow it up with will power and patience.

[zoner7]

I am actually the exact same way as you. I typically come up with an idea, spend up to two weeks (the average is a couple days) working on it, typically 10 hours a day or so, then I just drop it and never even think about it again. for me it is definitely not a matter of discipline. I am an extraordinary disciplined person.

As I understand its largely related to the way I think. I get immense amounts of creativity and energy in a very cyclical manner, typically around the middle of the night, like midnight or 2 in the morning. I like to stay up late so I can relish these moments and take advantage of them.

When i experience these bursts energy, my thoughts speed up very quickly. As time goes on, they get faster an faster. Then they slow down. when i get towards the top of the cycle, I think so quickly that I go from website to website and idea to idea that I can hardly focus on one for more than fifteen minutes. This is actually caused by bipolar 2, which in my case in my case is indistinguishable from anxiety. It causes me to get these elated and extremely creative moods.

But yea, I totally just shared quite a random facet of my life. Doubt its the same case for, unless you have Mediterranean blood in you.

[Zwynd]

Thank you all for your thoughts!

Zoner7, you and me do sound a lot alike. And who knows, my family line is very mixed up in terms of where I come from exactly. We could be family! =P

I do get very creative but it NEVER seems to stop. Middle of the night, in the shower, while dreaming, etc. I could survive a car accident and think "Man, this is going to be a great tale to tell!" In fact, some of my best personal suspense stories involve car accidents. -_-

I never really get down times to creativity in this way or 'writer's block' unless I'm more interested in another project. Even in the time I wrote this post I found 3 more ideas I could do that would be fun.

---
striving4peace: I'll look for Tracy's book, thank you.

As for discipline...I can be VERY disciplined in the terms of concentration on one piece or if I only have a couple projects going at one time. In fact, when I illustrate I can spend 15 hours at a time just focusing on my image and only realize that time has flown by when I've got to urinate or my body is shaking violently from sleep deprivation. I have to use an alarm to help break my focus sometimes.

That said, I don't 'miss out' on time; I can touch any point in my drawing and literally 'hear' the music or whatever I was listening to at the exact moment I was drawing that part. It's still kind of fun to do that and as a kid I used it many times as a stunt when showing off to my friends.

*touches drawing, retells a story on Discovery Channel while tracing finger over page, cue audience "oooh's"*

Originally Posted by Idaka

It sounds like you were ok with this for awhile, but now you are not. What is stopping you from being ok with it now?

The fact that I'd rather do something with my life than spend countless hours making half-done projects and only finishing a small percentage of my work where only an unappreciative few will ever see it anyways.

I think perhaps I have an issue on what I perceive as 'value' for other people. What I really love to do is make images and stories that only very few people (or just me) will ever get to see/hear them but love what I make/do. It makes me feel great that I can share these special things with very few who really appreciate them. It's like the air literally buzzes with energy after a good storytelling.

I hate making copy-cat art, hate telling stories that everyone has heard, I don't like the thought of mass producing my work or showing/telling anything to a large audience at once. And it seems the majority of my half-done projects are usually the things that don't perfectly match up with my values. Only thing is, I'd like to make money. If not to spend on myself, but to help others I know.

One thing that I have noticed recently...I did a tutorial a couple weeks back on an illustration I made. It wasn't an illustration that I normally do, but I did it for a friend because I thought it was fun and it was a nice surprise for the person. While the illustration got an amazing review by my friend (and their friends) the tutorial received 10xs more positive feedback, favorites and downloads by random strangers. I was quite surprised, actually.

That is something I hadn't really considered trying before for that purpose. Teaching others how to learn may be something I could do -while- I do the things I love. /ponder

Yet I still have the issue of trying to figure out what's the most important to me in terms of projects. MANY things I'd love to do, but there's not enough time to do them all. That's just something I have to live with.

I can't put them on a list and number them from 1-10, nor can I perceive which one will be easiest/quickest as the end result often surprises me.

I want to find a way to narrow things down to just one or a few things at a time. I'm sure I'll understand one day; I've been really set on learning how to this.

Thank you all again for your thoughts.

[gr8tocre8]

Zwynd,
Consider that at a fundamental level, you are not just scared, but petrified of success. All the signs are there - you never finish a project...what would happen if you finished a project - or how about if you started finishing ALL of your projects. That my friend, would make your projects successful.

...and you know how the mind (and the law of attraction) works - when you start creating successes consistently, you attract more and more of the same.

I'm saying this because I used to have exactly the same problem - for years and years. And years, lol.

What's the solution? You have to find a way to resolve those subconscious programs that are causing you to self-sabotage your projects. Whichever way you use, make sure it is one of consistency.

As you know, if you read a book that inspires you, or attend a seminar that feels like it's going to change your life, unless you have regular follow-up, either through someone who holds you accountable, or in some other form, you'll find yourself back at square one within a short time.

Find some consistent way of supporting that part of you who KNOWS how amazing you are.

[Zwynd]

Originally Posted by gr8tocre8

Zwynd,
Consider that at a fundamental level, you are not just scared, but petrified of success. All the signs are there - you never finish a project...what would happen if you finished a project - or how about if you started finishing ALL of your projects. That my friend, would make your projects successful.

Yes, it would. My first thought said, "But then there'd be nothing of me left." I then paused and thought, "That's a silly thing to say..."

...and you know how the mind (and the law of attraction) works - when you start creating successes consistently, you attract more and more of the same.

I'm saying this because I used to have exactly the same problem - for years and years. And years, lol.

What's the solution? You have to find a way to resolve those subconscious programs that are causing you to self-sabotage your projects. Whichever way you use, make sure it is one of consistency.

I admit, I very much do have a skewed sense of what success is. I don't like being in the spotlight for anything big. I'd go into hiding for months if I was ever on/in the news (even if it was a short interview.) I just don't like the thought of being out and in the open.

I don't like it because I think publicity like that corrupts/distracts a person from who they really are and at the very least can cause a lot of stress. I don't want to spend time answering emails/phone calls nor do I want to have someone else do it with the chance they misinterpret me to others.

Perhaps that is it. I do not have the understanding of how to prepare for the 'bad' aspects of success (the above) nor would I know how to properly delegate in such a case.

If this is one of the root issues or -the- main root of my issue then that is something I can work on easily now that I'm aware provided I have the knowledge of what I could do to at least prepare. The only trick is finding books/websites/success stories that can prepare one for the above.

As you know, if you read a book that inspires you, or attend a seminar that feels like it's going to change your life, unless you have regular follow-up, either through someone who holds you accountable, or in some other form, you'll find yourself back at square one within a short time.

In these cases I sort of feel like a fish evolving into a mudfish but wanting to be a toad. I get really inspired to walk out on that water, I even grow some lungs but I'm still stuck inbetween water and dirt so I'm caught in the mud filling my air lungs and gills. I don't ever want to go back to the water but my focus just isn't strong enough to step forward.

Perhaps I can apply my strong discipline to that area of my life. It's well developed for artistic skills and has been great in researching things I love. Yes, I think I'll see if I can put my discipline to preparing for success.

Find some consistent way of supporting that part of you who KNOWS how amazing you are.

I've been working on it little by little, baby steps. I think now I shall take a few big hops.

Thank you.

[smartile]

Hi Zwynd,

I can tell you from my own experience that it took me quite a few years to figure out I was an incompletion specialist. Mind you it took me years of practicing to specialize in incompletions. I was in the habit of starting projects and never finishing them. I was a pro at incompletions.

At one point I had several projects on the go, all at the 60, 70 and even 90% completion stage and never completed one. I understand your frustration because I've been there, it sucks. I also was never able to get anything done.

Eventually, I said enough is enough. I wasn't getting where I wanted to be and so I got fed up. I made a decision to complete everything I started, no matter how small the task.

The trick is to make your completions a habit. Get in the habit of completing everything you start. Make it a ritual, make it sacred, make it your priority.

Once it's a habit, you will be habitually programmed for completions and you won't get in the way

Here is another related article that may be of benefit, How to Increase Your Productivity | Freedom Education

[Zwynd]

Originally Posted by smartile

Hi Zwynd,

I can tell you from my own experience that it took me quite a few years to figure out I was an incompletion specialist. Mind you it took me years of practicing to specialize in incompletions. I was in the habit of starting projects and never finishing them. I was a pro at incompletions.

LOL, Incompletion Specialist. That rang pretty true for me. If only we could get a diploma for that...no wait, we'd never finish the course anyway!

At one point I had several projects on the go, all at the 60, 70 and even 90% completion stage and never completed one. I understand your frustration because I've been there, it sucks. I also was never able to get anything done.

Eventually, I said enough is enough. I wasn't getting where I wanted to be and so I got fed up. I made a decision to complete everything I started, no matter how small the task.

The trick is to make your completions a habit. Get in the habit of completing everything you start. Make it a ritual, make it sacred, make it your priority.

Once it's a habit, you will be habitually programmed for completions and you won't get in the way

Oh yes, I could see how the dread of having to finish a task could make me choose another task more carefully next time. Perhaps in there I would either learn to put the ideas together into one project if possible or not do them at all if they're not worth it.

Hmm, I also could find a way to market my ideas themselves. *pondering*

Here is another related article that may be of benefit, How to Increase Your Productivity | Freedom Education

I'll be reading through that tonight. Thank you very much! =)

[Rose of Cairo]

Originally Posted by Zwynd

Unfortunately my rut is that I only half-finish anything I create. There's just not enough time to do them all!

It sounds like you probably are a scanner. Do you know what a scanner is? If not, take a look at this and see if it resonates with you.

I'm trying to find a way to get a focus to one thing at a time, stick with it

That's not a smart way to work if you are a scanner. There are other, more appropriate methods.

You can do it all and you have enough time, don't worry

One recommendation is Refuse to Choose!, the book I'm talking about in the post I linked to. The other recommendation is The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. It's a course in discovering or recovering your creativity. I'm working through it at the moment. It's excellent! In case you have some hidden fears about your projects, or other creative blocks, this book will unblock you, I swear

All the best to you

[writerros]

Hi

I think many highly creative people have a similar problem. Projects always feel more exciting when you have just thought of them and they are at the beginning - then the honeymoon period comes to an end and reality sets in and the project can seem boring, overwhelming or difficult - and if you are having lots of ideas all the time, it is just too easy to jump from the project you are on to the next exciting idea!

I am working with a client who has just this problem. I am getting her to be aware of her thoughts and feelings as she reaches this stage in her current project, so we can explore what self-limiting beliefs or values might be stopping her from following through with it.

Also, I think it would be a good idea to start with some very small projects that can easily be completed - and work from there. Once you have completed one thing, you will feel more successful in your ability to complete. From there you can try something slightly bigger and so on...

Hope this helps

Ros

[GhostGoat]

Hi Zwynd,
Your post reminds me of myself, and was one of the reasons I went ahead and joined this forum. I've worked as a graphic artist in the t-shirt screen-printing industry for almost 25 years now, and have done a lot of free-lance cartooning/illustration/ & a little comic book art over the years as well. If I don't have a client with a check waiting for a piece of art, I seldom finish anything.

I totally relate to your brain being a fountain of creativity, its a great feeling isn't it? I am always writing comic book stories in my head, and creating new characters....but without a publisher lined up and a firm deadline, I seldom get too far on paper. Alfred Hitchcock said that to him once a film was written and storyboarded, then it was no longer fun. With me, once a comic story is written and the basic layouts are done, it becomes more of an issue of craft than creativity, and I tend to lose interest, get sidetracked, come up with a "better idea", or laziness sets in.

I play music too and have the same problem. Every day when I play guitar for a while, I can come up with a totally new riff that sounds good, but I never actually develop them into songs. Lately though that's been satisfying enough for me, musically. I played saxophone in a couple of bar bands back in the day, and the weekly practices and occasional gigs were fun - but they also were a lot of time and pressure, and I'd rather just play music to relax these days. A little musical improvisation every day is a great way to keep the creative juices flowing on all levels, I think it helps visual ideas flow too.

Your mention of not caring if your work has a wide audience is interesting. That's the opposite of me. I love to see my work in print, especially in a magazine with a wide circulation. Sounds to me like maybe you should think about doing fine art, since your target audience is a small specific group. And its funny how something that you do "off the cuff" resonates with people sometimes more than something you've labored over...that happens to me every so often. Staying loose, thinking outside the box, and keeping things simple often make more an impression on people than showing off what a detail-obsessed great draughtsman you are. (Although I still often get carried away at the drawing board when I'm working at home, and put waaaaay too much time into a piece! - I can totally relate to your sleep deprivation thing too, almost every good professional artist I know can.)

Sorry for all the rambling, just felt like sharing how much I relate to what you're going through.

P.S. Rose of Cairo, the scanner vs. specialist thing is very interesting, thanks for posting that. I think I'm more of a specialist (in the visual arts), and a hobbyist (in music and writing, even though I've been playing 40 years and play several instruments).

[dannielo]

Originally Posted by Zwynd

Anyone have any insight they'd be willing to share?

You didn't clarify for yourself what the end result it's important to be.

From what you say, you think it's people's feedback on your work, but I don't think it's enough of a motivator in the long run.

It should be something real, something palpable, something important for your life. Like, hmm, money? Appearance in a publication? Getting noticed by someone who could offer a job? After you achieve such a result, you'll probably full-finish any project that has the promise to deliver it again.

[ar81]

Try small and short duration projects.
A one day project, or a one hour project.
Make projects longer and longer every time.

At some point the key to finish a long project is to dedicate a certain amount of time a week. For example 15 min a week. It is just like taking a bath or eating, it becomes habit. And one day you see it ending.

[Zwynd]

Thank you all very much for your advice. It's really appreciated.

@Rose of Cairo I don't think I've ever heard of a scanner before but that sounds like me. The cyclic one at least.

Thing is, I don't entirely want to encourage myself being so scattered. I did write down the books you recommended though, perhaps reading them will give me more ideas as to how I can still bring about my creativity but not get stuck in the loop of not finishing projects.

@Writerros I can't deny that I have self-limiting beliefs in this area. Feeling frustrated is my biggest clue. I've begun making a mental note of my excuses for each recent project I've abandoned. It's not just about 'not enough time' anymore.

@GhostGoat Thank you for your thoughts and the Hitchcock quote! I too love creating just for the thought of creating. The other day I thought up a perfect song for a machinima, played it all out in my mind then decided I actually didn't want to do it but the fun of just creating it was very nice.

I think I've caught onto the belief that you have to market every idea, prove it was yours before another markets it, or some such. Even if I could make millions off of all these little ideas combined I know that it would burn me out to waste all that time and not really enjoy my life.

@dannielo You hit the nail on the head when you said I had not really told everyone what my end result would be. I had to think about why I didn't really include that. Aside from the 'market it all' belief (which is very bad) I guess I've been trying to prove to everyone that I wasn't a screw up. I had a crappy early life and most everyone around me back then expected me to fail.

So perhaps my 'end result' was "let people know I'm not a failure" which is crappy because I shouldn't have to prove to anyone anything. I've already succeeded farther than I ever thought I could: I am alive and happy today.

I think my new end result should be 'do what makes me happy.'

I don't care for a job (won't ever have a boss again.) Money will come when it needs to, I don't want it to be my main goal. I just want to create and enjoy and share that with those who can appreciate something that isn't mass produced.

And so, I realize I've been performing for the wrong audience all this time.

@ar81 That's another thing I hadn't thought of till your post. I am not used to doing consistent projects. See, I never really went to school and I hadn't properly learned that structure. I'm mostly self-taught so everything I learned or did was almost always in bursts. Aside from exercise I hadn't really scheduled anything for myself. I think this week I'll change that.

I want to thank you all again for your thoughts. This thread has been a very big eye opener for me. Though a lot of this stuff clicks I think the posts here are full of much more information than I can digest in a couple sittings.

Cheers.^^

[MariaG]

Zwynd - I'm going to suggest something completely different in your case. Your creativity sounds extraordinary and most people would LOVE to have a little of your gift.

Instead of trying to change that, why not play to your strengths? Continue to be the creative person you are and find partners to help you with the execution side of things.

I recently heard an interview with Brad Fallon of Stompernet (a huge Internet Marketing education company). He talked about how he struggled in business for 20 years because he is GREAT at ideas and BAD at execution. He didn't become successful until he teamed up with Andy Jenkins - who is fantastic at execution - and let that side of the business go.

[Zwynd]

Pardon my slow response!

Originally Posted by MariaG

Instead of trying to change that, why not play to your strengths? Continue to be the creative person you are and find partners to help you with the execution side of things.

This is something I have considered. Most of the stuff I enjoy doing requires more of a one-on-one giving/taking. That is, I may make and tell the stories, I draw and ink in the art, and so on.

However, there are other things I'm willing to part my time with: I write the book and they[assistants] publish it or I create the tutorials and they manage the website(s.) In this case all I would need is the knowledge to gather the right people and the trust to let them carry out the task to completion.

Delegation. Something I very much need in my life right now.

Thank you for your thoughts, MariaG.

[GhostGoat]

Hi Zwynd,
Reading this thread has made me do some introspection, and some fuzzy self-realizations have come to light a little for me. I've also noticed that some of my other artist friends have the same traits. Maybe some of what I'm about to say will be of help to you, maybe not, but I thought I'd share it (sorry if I start to ramble some, my thoughts still haven't really distilled into anything crystal clear, but here goes...)

One of my main problems is that I sort of have two different modes of approaching doing artwork. As I mentioned, my day job is commercial art. Not that I'm a raging success, but I have managed to make a solid middle class living doing it for 25 years now. Anyhow, my approach to my day job is to do as good a job as possible, but since I am always juggling several projects, and I have deadlines every day, time is always of the essence. So I try to do the best I can and make the client happy, but I don't kill myself by doing detailed illustrations, I usually take the more graphic-design oriented route, and if I do an illustration, its usually cartoony or highly-stylized in a simple, streamlined style. And I'll take every shortcut I can to get a project done.

When I do art at home these days though, my approach is entirely different. I used to do a lot of freelance commercial art at home, but I got to the point where I decided not to work at home unless it was a project that I really wanted to do, and I decided to make money my secondary motivational factor, second to my enjoyment of the project itself. (not a very smart attitude from a money-making perspective, but I got to this point after years of very late nights & frantic weekends of doing commercial art projects which I just didn't care much about...and I still seemed to be broke all the time anyway! I just bought more stuff with the extra money...also not the smartest course of action.)

Anyhow, for the past 8 years or so, if I'm working at home its usually drawing a comic story, or a fun drawing which I can really sink my teeth into. I tend to put way too much time into these projects though, way more time than I'm getting paid for...they become labors of love, and I never take shortcuts in these projects. If I'm working on something I truly love, the late nights and lack of sleep seem worth it. But if I'm working on a personal project that doesn't have a deadline from a client, even if its something I'm really enjoying, I rarely finish it. I find that my personal "vanity projects" sometimes fail to measure up to what I had originally envisioned, or are just taking too much time out of my social schedule, and I eventually abandon them.

One of my best friends, a freelance animator, is the same way. When he has a paying project to do, he tackles it in a professional no nonsense manner. But in the down-time between paying gigs, he is always putting insane amounts of time into his own personal animation projects which he never finishes.

I think sometimes if a creator loves what he is doing too much, or is too into it, or just flat out trying too hard, they'll burn themselves out on it before they finish. (Or a more lucrative project, or a new relationship, etc, will come along and interrupt you.) Sometimes its a matter of a creator putting too much pressure on themselves to outdo their last masterpiece, or to blow away their friends, etc, and choking. If I just let the work flow through myself more, and don't redo sketches over and over, or worry about every little line I'm drawing, the creative process takes much less of a toll on me (that's more of the zen mindset I have with my day job, need to incorporate more of that with my approach to comics, I guess).


Most creative people have a lot of interests, and its also easy to get sidetracked by another endeavor, sort of as a "relief valve" to let off steam when they are getting mentally "overheated" on a project. (I do that with the guitar, a nice oasis away from the drawing board). This sort of thing can lead to a lot of unfinished projects too though, depending on what your other endeavors may be.

Some of the most successful artists I know from a business perspective are able to focus on one thing at a time, and to milk them for all they're worth. A friend of mine has even made a career out of one main idea, which is a comic book he's been writing/drawing for the past 25 years or so. He's never had a regular job in his life, and I'm so envious of that! He's an okay artist, not great, but he does have talent. He definitely does not labor over each page, he does them as fast as he can (as another friend of mine said about him, "he does just enough to get laid.") I am also envious of his ability to crank out pages without going through a painful, time-consuming creative process. He just thinks them up and draws them, doesn't ever redo anything, heck, he doesn't even do thumbnails or preliminary drawings first!

I guess what I'm trying to say, is that to be successful sometimes you can't get too 'married' to your work, or be too much of a prima donna, and just let the work flow through you. (not that I always do that, but that's a direction I'm trying to paddle in). You've got to keep in mind that you are creating product, and if you've got the talent/skill, your audience will be glad to get it and they'll want more (even if you don't feel its your best work).

Even if you see imperfections in your work, as you are doing it, go ahead and finish it. Chances are no one but you will even know its there...if its a big boo-boo, chances are its fixable (depending on your medium, white-out, paint, and photoshop are miracle workers). A good musician knows that if he misses a note, chances are nobody in the audience noticed, and to keep playing!

A couple of ways to vastly increase your odds of success as an artist is to finish everything, and to self-promote (another area I'm not too good at). Treat your ideas and pieces as commodities, don't sell yourself or your creations short, and don't put too much pressure on yourself by trying to "WOW" everyone.

Sorry again for all the rambling, and good luck.

[Zwynd]

Originally Posted by GhostGoat

But if I'm working on a personal project that doesn't have a deadline from a client, even if its something I'm really enjoying, I rarely finish it. I find that my personal "vanity projects" sometimes fail to measure up to what I had originally envisioned, or are just taking too much time out of my social schedule, and I eventually abandon them.

Hmm, that sounds quite a bit like me. *nods* I've been very busy the past week making sure that a game clan I'm a part of is functioning smoothly. I've become very efficient with it and have delegated things that needed to be delegated.

This is all from a creative side, too. As an example, I wrote 6 guides last night for my clan members. It took about an hour total but could have taken me 4 hours to do if I had decided to go at my normal, slow pace. But I had a deadline; write out those guides fast then get to sleep!

On the other hand, I'm slow as hell when it comes to my art. I sit there staring at a blank page intimidated by it because I know I don't "Have enough time" to devote 30 hours to an illustration. There is no deadline and no one knows about the piece so I could fail successfully. I honestly could do the same type of illustration in 30minutes if I rushed and it would be around the same quality.

I think perhaps I should put deadlines on all my work and focus more on speed painting. Perhaps that'll get me out of the desire of absolute perfection.

While it's wonderful to have an amazing piece, it is still never perfect in the end because the amazing things I see in my imagination are still flat and pale when put out on paper/digitized.

Most creative people have a lot of interests, and its also easy to get sidetracked by another endeavor, sort of as a "relief valve" to let off steam when they are getting mentally "overheated" on a project. (I do that with the guitar, a nice oasis away from the drawing board). This sort of thing can lead to a lot of unfinished projects too though, depending on what your other endeavors may be.

One of my other crafts is knitting. If you knew me irl you might think it was a pretty odd skill for me to have. But I love the feeling of weaving. Unfortunately I have too many abandoned knitting projects. For example, I started a simple scarf a half year ago that I was really excited to make. It's now snowing outside and I've only knitted 1/2 a foot so far. /sigh

You've got to keep in mind that you are creating product, and if you've got the talent/skill, your audience will be glad to get it and they'll want more (even if you don't feel its your best work).

Good advice. Thank you. I'll definitely take on a more business approach to this. I know I can accomplish much, much more.

Sorry again for all the rambling, and good luck.

Your ramblings were very welcome. Thank you. And thank you for your patience in my reply.