“Creative work isn’t a regular job. Sure, eventually your skills improve and you get better at structure”

Creative work isn’t a regular job. Sure, eventually your skills improve and you get better at structure. You learn to compress the process. But it’s still a herculean extravaganza. A journalist I know calls this being “deadliney.” I now accept that I’ll gain a kilogram per column.

I’ve also forgiven myself for being an obsessive. The comedian Louis C.K. said, “Anything you do should be better than anything you did before.” Your bosses and clients will always expect you to deliver good work. You’re the only one who will care enough to make it great work.

Pamela Druckerman, “How Creative People Can Find Their Place”, The New York Times (31 May 2015), SR4.