Just Get Started

My Two Notebooks

Something I have learned over the years is that the most important thing when working on a project is to just get started. I've always had a tendency to get caught up overthinking, but it's easier to just begin and then improve through iteration rather than trying to get something perfect on the first try.

I've realized that it is important for me to apply this mentality to my note taking as well. I know some people like to have really nice notebooks for their creative endeavors, but I've always had the most ease being creative while using cheap notebooks. I think it takes the pressure off. I don't have to make something good. I just have to make something, anything.

My two game design notebooks are cheap, about one dollar each, and I feel no shame throwing them in a bag or shoving them in a pocket to take with me. The pages are riddled with incomplete ideas, random thoughts, and poorly organized game mechanics. But that's the value of them. If I think of a random idea that I want to flesh out later, I don't have to feel bad that my notebook isn't organized. I can just write down what's on my mind, and then I can organize my thoughts when I sit down at my computer.

I even applied this mindset to writing this blog post right now. I've been wanting to write more and to keep sharing what I'm working on, but it's hard when it feels like my blog isn't going to be good enough. But the only way I'm going to get better at this is by doing it more often. I'm excited to share more of what I've been working on with you guys. Stay tuned for some updates on my card game.

If there's something that you want to do, but you're afraid that it won't be good enough, just get started. Making something imperfect is better than not making anything, and you'll find that it's easier to improve on something that is flawed than to make something perfect on your first try.

Caleb