This
last fall I took on the task of refinishing an old desk. First I stripped the
old finish, then sanded again and again, finally I carefully laid the new coats
of finish on one at a time. I focused on each small section of the desk; the
scroll around the desktop, the drawers, the back, each leg, bit by bit, piece
by piece. When I eventually finished the desk, it was beautiful, but it took me
four times longer than I had guessed.
As
I was working, I'd go out to the garage, saying, "I'll sand one layer and
be back in two hours." Three hours later I would come in, only half way
done with one layer of sanding. I was continually underestimating the time and
effort for each section of the refinishing project.
Whether
it is writing or some other creative task or project, sometimes the endeavor
seems way too huge and even beginning it is a challenge.
At
least two things vex us as we set out on a new activity; one, our desire to do
something well and two, a fledgling appreciation of what a daunting task our
project may be.
I
enjoy the author of Bird by Bird, Anne
Lamott's explanation of a method to start an undertaking, in this case a
writing project. She uses the term "one-inch picture frame." This is
all you need to write about, what you can see through a one-inch picture frame.
It may be just one paragraph describing a setting or a short physical
description of a character. Don't think about the entire novel, a competed
short story or your entire autobiography—only one small, short piece of it.
Just focus on that little bit. This simple, small type of attention can
energize many different endeavors.
The
plus of this technique is that you can see movement, progress. You can wrap
your mind around a reasonable goal. The joy of accomplishing a portion of your
plan gives you more energy to continue it.
The
minus is that you really don't know the magnitude of the entire project until
you are done. You get sucked into a gradually expanding vortex, always meeting
small goals, moving forward, deeper and deeper into the enterprise, not
realizing the entire cost.
I
provide one caveat when you embark on a creative venture or writing project,
one-inch frame at a time, or as the cross country kids use to chant, "An
elephant—one bite at a time!" WARNING:
This undertaking will probably take more hours, cost more money, require
more sweat and more determination than you had ever guessed. This direction
will take more out of you physically and mentally than you ever imagined. You
will not be the same person you were because of this path you chose. Hopefully
you will be a richer, deeper, more grounded person.
Who
will judge the "worth" of your project or your effort when you have
"completed" it? Hopefully your heart and soul will be the judge,
maybe not without questions and doubts along the way, but the sole assessment
is largely with you. That is the GLORY and the BITTER-SWEETNESS of it all, YOU get to determine the value of your
efforts, not anyone else.