Practice Practice Practice
What do you do when you have some projects in mind that are above your current skill level? Either you choose to let those projects go, or you start practicing! So I’ll be doing a lot of practicing over the next couple of months. If I do enough, maybe I’ll even feel confident when I start working on the actual projects.
I already do a lot of practice writing and I can see the improvement in my storytelling and style. Whether I’m writing for myself or a wider audience, every time I put words on the page (or on a blog) I’m practicing. Am I always comfortable with sharing what comes of the practice? No. But feedback, constructive criticism is how I learn and improve. I’m comfortable with that idea when it comes to my writing.
I still need to get to that point with my other projects – whether it’s weaving and other fiber arts or calligraphy, illumination, and bookbinding. But I have to remind myself that I have much less experience in those areas than I do in writing. So of course my current efforts, practice or otherwise, have a lot of room for improvement.
So, more practice it is…. I’ll find my way through the shadows of doubt and self-criticism as I see improvement in my efforts. I don’t know that practice makes perfect, but conscientious practice does make one better at the thing you are practicing.
What skill are you going to practice until it shines from the shadows?