At what point do you actually call a project totally done and stop adjusting it?
Honestly, for me, the answer is often never. Even projects I’ve published and put out in the world, I occasionally poke at and make changes years after they were published. It isn’t always changes that I then republish, but more just things that I change for my own copy. Which isn’t really a helpful answer, is it?
Every single creative person’s process is different, but one thing we all have in common is that at some point you should call a project done and move on to a new one. There are absolutely people out there who don’t do this and just create and re-create the same project over and over again, but if you want to actually share any of your work, that’s not exactly viable.
So what’s the magic process for knowing that things are done and it’s time to move on? Well, there are a few ways, but they boil down to internal or external forces. If you’re writing something on a deadline provided by other people, then it’s done when you hit that deadline (with exceptions, obviously) and then it’s out of your hands. For a lot of creative, this is the easier way. It takes the decision out of our hands and gives a concrete endpoint. For projects that don’t have this external deadline, that’s a harder story, so here are some criteria I use.
1. Am I sick of looking at it?
Honestly, a lot of times a project is called done because I have stared at it for a million hours and just want it out of my sight. At this point, I’m anxious to move on to another project and stop staring at this one. This is also usually the point where you stop being able to see mistakes or issues. Your eyes glaze over. Now sometimes this is just a sign to stop and put the project away for a bit, but it’s almost always a good sign that you’re done.
2. I know there’s something wrong with it, but can’t pinpoint what.
This is where beta readers come in handy. With my latest novel (code name sad novel) I got to this point. I could tell something in the story wasn’t working, but I was so deep into it, I could tell what it was. This is usually a sign it’s time for outside readers to help out. When you spend so much time in your creative world, it’s easy to lose the ability to pinpoint the exact problems. I imagine it like when you’re looking at the same wall every day, eventually you glaze over that hole in the corner because it’s ingrained in you, but a person new to the room will spot it instantly.
If you don’t have beta readers, then put it away or suffer by reading it out loud because experiencing it in a different format can trigger that same instinct.
3. I add a comma, then remove it.
At the point that I have added and removed the same comma 3-4 times, the project is done and I am just procrastinating on putting it out in the world. It’s normal to be scared to send your beautiful creation out into the wide world, but just rearranging commas is not doing you or your work any favors.
4. I’m anxious to the max.
Now, this might be a purely personal one, but for me, I get really antsy when a project is nearing the end. It’s like pinpricks along my skin that I just can’t place. I think it’s because, for me, going from 80% done to 100% done is the part I struggle with the most. So as I approach that 100 marker, my brain gets nervous and waits for something to go wrong. Your mileage and experiences may vary.
There you have it. For me, these are the ways that I can tell when a project is done. As with every other creative thing, every single process is different, but accepting that something is done is all part of the journey.
I have a big sign over my desk that says Done Is Better Than Perfect because I really struggle with finishing something and sending it out in the world. I probably have about 4 projects sitting at 80% done right now because finishing them and it not being perfect is terrifying to me. But what’s worse is those things never seeing the light of day, so get those beauties out in the world and embrace that you’re capable of finishing things!