This is the work.

Matt: “Did you finish that Dante book yet?”

Me: “Naw. Got about 300 pages written. Spent a month with my writing group reading through it. It’s bad—really, really bad. I’ve got to let it sit for a while until I’m better at my craft. I’m not ready to write it yet. But I will be.”

Matt: “That must feel terrible!”

Me: “No, not at all. I’ll work on another project for a while, let this one simmer. I feel great about it. It’s a chance to learn and grow. This is the process. This is the work.”