When is a creative project done? And is that even the point?
If we can’t always get every project to a state of wholeness, what is the end?
When is a creative work finished? And is that different than done? And are those distinct from complete?
This question was sparked by that art is merely abandoned quote, often attributed to da Vinci.
“Art is never finished, only abandoned.” – Leonardo da Vinci (maybe)
Creative projects: finished vs done vs complete
When it comes to “done” or “finished”, I think those states are declared.
But I do think you can sense when a creative project is “complete.”
When there is nothing left to add, and nothing left to remove, the work has a wholeness about it.
And I don’t know how to describe the feeling any more accurately at the moment than: it’s kind of like when a lemon curd sets, or when an ice cube melts.
It’s not quite ready, not quite ready, not quite ready, not quite ready. And then it’s lemon curd.
It’s still ice, still ice, still ice, still ice. And then it’s not.
If every project had unlimited time and space it would be one thing. We may always be able to reach that point of wholeness.
But creating in the real world is messier.
Sometimes it’s a timeline or a deadline or impatience. Opening night doesn’t budge. The paper goes to print when it goes to print. Manuscripts are due when they are due.
Sometimes it’s a lack of skill. We don’t always have the technical skill set to complete the work we envision.
Sometimes, it’s something else.
In those moments we get as close as we can with the resources at hand. Even if the limiting resource is us.
We can’t always get every project to that state of wholeness. Sometimes we declare it close enough (or close enough for now) and move on to the next project.
Maybe we’ll decide to come back to this project in the future. Maybe we’ll come back to the concept. Or maybe it’ll be a stepping stone to something else.
I started this essay by asking myself to try and articulate my opinion on the distinction between “finished”, “done”, and “complete”.
I think I found my distinction between finished/done and complete. (One day I may decide to tease out the difference between finished and done).
But I don’t know that finished or done or complete is even a requirement unless you’re on a contract. Incomplete, unfinished, and close-enough-but-not-quite-done works can have value.
However, I do know that if you want someone to see a piece of work you need to let them see it, complete or not.
Photo by Kim Daniels on Unsplash
The power of having a container (for creative chaos and other things)
I have a tiny tray by my desk that I pile dirty dishes on.
The tray is small and green with a painted filigree pattern and matching handles from the Halloween section of a big box store one year.
The dishes are mostly mugs and tea strainers, a bowl of pistachio shells, an empty toast plate, sometimes a teapot.
As the day goes on, I add dishes to the tray.
When the tray is full, I bring the dishes to the kitchen.
(Though never on the tray, I just realized. Just a few handfuls at a time until the tray is cleared. The tray does not leave its spot by my desk. Possibly for fear of desk debris encroaching.)
There are a couple things I love about this dirty dishes set up:
- I no longer run out of mugs.
- It is adorably twee. When I have a tiny tray with a teapot and a mug and the remains of a plate of toast, I feel like I just had a tea party. Even though that was not the experience of consuming that food.
- It is the perfect use for this tray. Which I bought for something else that didn’t work out.
But perhaps most of all, I love how simple it is.
I talk a lot with clients about creating containers for creative chaos.
I’m not sure how creative a pile of dirty dishes is. But I know they are chaotic.
This tray creates a container with very clear boundaries. And when the container is full, this system has a very clear next step.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I just finished my pistachios and have a tray to empty.
Photo by Rodolfo Marques on Unsplash
Forming Habits: 3 Things I’ve Found Most Impactful
Habits call for a form of refinement and editing their process.
Obviously there are many people who have written extremely in-depth about habits and productivity and how to establish new habits or change old habits.
However I have found 3 things are most impactful when it comes to whether or not I’ll successfully establish a new habit.
There are more but this is my personal go-to list.
Thing 1: Make the new habit easy
This is obvious. If something is difficult, and you make it easier, it is easier to do. We all know that.
A convenient water bottle makes drinking water first thing in the morning easier.
Journal front and center with a pen next to it makes daily journaling easier.
Supportive hiking boots make taking a walk in the woods easier.
A default workout outfit makes working out easier.
Concrete and achievable subject, time limit and/or word count makes writing easier.
A trusted schedule makes posting easier.
Icebreakers make new projects easier.
Etc. Etc. Etc.
But what tripped me up for a long time, and what trips up a lot of my clients (get in touch if you’re interested in working together) is the process of making a habit easy usually takes many rounds of practice and refinement.
For example: I wanted to drink water first thing in the morning. I set the goal. I never did it.
I tried to habit-stack it with brushing my teeth. My plan was to: brush my teeth, rinse out my mouth, drink some water. I forget that third step more often than not. Apparently my morning tooth brushing is too well ingrained.
But my coffee routine should be able to support another beverage! I go to the kitchen, drink water, grab coffee, and continue. That should work right?
It did not.
It turns out that: go to the kitchen, grab a glass, fill a glass, drink water, put the glass in the dishwasher, and then grab coffee is too many additional steps.
(Apparently I am very particular about my morning routine.)
But there is one last place where drinking water could be added to my morning – as my coffee is cooling, but before I start drinking it.
Every morning my schedule allows, I drink my coffee while reading a book. (Highly recommend!) When I leave a filled water bottle next to my book, then I can put down my coffee, pick up the water bottle, drink water (close to) first thing in the morning, put down the water bottle, and pick up my book. And that is working.
Making new habits easy often requires trial, error, and refinement.
Keep removing barriers and keep trying new things until your habit is established.
Thing 2: Define key the parameters of the new habit
With the water example my key parameters were: 1) drink water, 2) first thing in the morning (by which I really meant before coffee), and 3) (implied) every day.
But I could have decided my key parameters were: a certain quantity of water, or before a certain time in the morning, or a specific number of days per week or per month.
I find this thing particularly helpful with habits that can get complex.
By defining the key parameters (usually informed by the goal or desired outcome) everything else is up for experimentation.
We’ll use marketing a business for this example:
If your goal is staying top of mind for clients and customers, maybe your key parameters are 1) frequency of contact and 2) consistency of brand voice and visuals.
If your goal is to reach new eyes, maybe your key parameters are 1) identifying new watering holes and 2) engaging with new audiences.
If your goal is to increase your comfort and gain familiarity with marketing your business, maybe your key parameters are 1) increase marketing tasks completed and 2) decrease time spent second guessing yourself.
When we clearly identify what we’re trying to achieve, we’re more likely to succeed.
But we’re also more likely to give ourselves the trial and error required to succeed.
Thing 3: Keep everything else flexible
This is the second half of Thing 2, and the reason to bother identifying the key habit parameters. Establishing a new habit is hard enough, increasing the difficulty by adding complexity makes it even harder.
If you’ve identified the key parameters of your new habit, I say, let everything else be up for experimentation. Find out what is working and what is not.
- Could something be even easier or more effective?
- What could be cut without disturbing the heart of the habit?
Because when we can connect with the heart of the habit, we can tap into our intrinsic motivation. We can meet our life where it is. We can meet ourselves where we are.
Then we can let go of how the habit looks and dig into what the habit is.
Photo by Prophsee Journals on Unsplash
