Saying Vs. Doing

Today's date is November 14th, 2024.

We have all said it and if you haven't, you're a liar. "Once I do XX, I'll do XX." This is not a rant about waiting to start a project but this rant is a symptom of waiting.

Kazoo's motivation is a bit of a problem for her. You may have noticed that Kazoo has plenty of projects listed on her website, but she doesn't like to share info about them until they're released. For example, To Be a Rabbit is her largest project. She says it's complete (though she still kinda wants to work on it) and that's the problem. Kazoo has adopted a "Saying Vs. Doing" mindset. Kazoo wants to grow an audience that is interested in her work, but she refuses to give updates. She thinks about it like this: When working on something, you tap into a pool of energy within you. The 2 ways to deplete this energy is by saying and doing. The more Kazoo develops a game, the more energy is used. The more Kazoo talks or shares details about her games, the more energy is used. Once this energy is depleted, it is very difficult to regain and the project is ussually canceled. Kazoo thinks this is why so many indie games are scrapped. To combat this, Kazoo tries to talk and post less about in-development projects. Kazoo knows she has depleted all of her energy when she says things like, "Once I do XX, I'll do XX."

Kazoo believes there's no better time to begin (and continue) a project than in the moment. Kazoo is trying to use social media less and use that saved time to be productive. Her definition of productive is very lax too. She doesn't think productivity exclusively means, "Doing things to make money" or, "Preparing for the future" because that mindset is harmful. Kazoo wants to take the extra time to draw, 3D model, or update her personal website. These things may seem like a waste of time for someone with a stricter mindset, but fun is never a waste of time. Even if Kazoo doesn't plan on using these skills to make money, she can continue them because she simply enjoys them. Anything you enjoy is not a waste of time. Be careful though, Kazoo thought she enjoyed scrolling social media, but in reality it just numbed her mind. Viewing content for the sake of passing time is not real enjoyment to her.

Passing time can also use energy if you're not careful. The longer a project goes on for, the less new and exciting it can be. Kazoo hasn't ran into this problem yet, so she hesitated to add it to the ways energy is depleted.

Here's some tips from Kazoo to get a project started and finished:

• Make a plan and stick to it, but keep it within your abilities.
• Start NOW. There is no such thing as the perfect time.
• Talk less and late. Share only if you need to, and do it at the end of the project.
• Take breaks, but don't abandon. If you work on your project daily, take the weekend off, or only work on the weekend.
• Do what you enjoy. Don't force yourself to do something that isn't fun.

Of course, consider how your project will interact with your life. Don't abandon school or work because you're having too much fun.

Remember: No one is bad at making art. The art we make is a piece of our lives that we share with the world. If you are not happy with what you show others, then develop your art. Art that is true to its creator is beautiful.