I have a tendency when I’m playing a game to save my resources and never use them. To keep them in my inventory, tucked away, until I really “need” them.
If you only have twenty-fire arrows in the whole game, you should only use them when you really need them, right? On the final boss, or on something that’s actually worth it, not some minion or mini-boss.
There are two typical results from this type of mentality.
- I finish the game before I actually use the resources, thus making them completely useless.
- I give up on the game because it’s too challenging, even in if I realize that the game would be easier if I use those special resources.
Basically, rather than using this fun game mechanic that the designers intend for me to use, I would prefer to stubbornly/greedily hoard these things away.
This is typically out of fear of wasting them.
I think I’m stuck in this mindset with my work as well. I keep writing new scripts and stuffing them into a drawer or binder when I deem them “done.” Likely leaving them to rot away and be forgotten about.
“I’m saving them for later,” I tell myself. “Saving them for the right time.” Saving them to be made after whatever I make next.
This is a loop. If I keep writing these things and putting them away, waiting for the “right” time to make them, I’ll never make anything.
It would be smarter, more sustainable, and more fun to just make these things that I’ve spent time on. I enjoy them, I just don’t want to see them fizzle out as finished pieces. But that’s exactly what they’re doing in the drawer.
Finish your projects. Don’t have a drawer where you can hide things away.
A drawer for your work is practically a coffin.