21 Jan Work Like the Masters

Diligent writers hone a manuscript many times before submission to an editor; after that, they’ll refine it even more. A draft or two or three is not a final book. Instead, the “sketch” is filled in, erased, and rounded out bit by bit until we have a finished product. Even the masters had to work that way.

If you approach writing a book with the expectation that you will write, revise, add to, discard, and generally shape and curate your content many times – until it reaches its most refined, engaging, and enjoyable expression – perfectionism dissolves. Enjoy the process by realizing that the process takes time. Time, focus, revision after input, and perseverance produce works of art.

“The difference between good and great is often an extra round of revision. The person who looks things over a second time will appear smarter or more talented but actually is just polishing things a bit more. Take the time to get it right. Revise it one extra time.” James Clear, author of the bestselling book, Atomic Habits

Photo attributions:
Sketch 1: Claude Monet, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Painting: Woman with a Parasol-Madame Monet and Her Son, used with purchase permission @ Shutterstock.
Sketch 2: Claude Monet, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Painting: Bazille and Camille (Study for ‘Dejeuner sur l’Herbe’), used with purchase permission @ Shutterstock.