Last week, I was working on a tricky client project, and I did not like my work.
As I wrote, I kept thinking: “Ugh, my writing is so bad. It’s so, so bad.”
But…I continued writing anyway.
Why?
I was reminded of what author Jodi Picoult said:
“You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.”
It’s better to just write and have something that I can work off later, instead of staring at a blank doc and writing only when I feel The Perfect Words will flow from my brain to my fingers to the page. Which may not happen.
Your bad work might not be that bad after all
Apart from pushing through a terrible first attempt, I find that taking a break and revisiting it with fresh eyes another day also helps.
Sometimes, when I do this, I realise that my writing actually isn’t as bad as I’d thought it was. It’s pretty usable.
Case in point:
This week, I continued work on that draft I started last week.
Sure, it needed some reworking, but it wasn’t awful. I felt confident enough to submit my revised draft to the client.
And their comments were fine. Nothing on the level of “This draft is unusable. You’re fired.”
So, don’t let perfectionism and the fear of messing up hold you back.
Write that bad first page. Take that lousy first photo. Just start.
And let things get ugly.
More freelancer news
Meet 3 Gen Z illustrators making money from their art
The Straits Times recently ran an article featuring 3 Gen Z illustrators who turned their passion for drawing into businesses.
One of them made more than $2,000 from selling stickers at art markets. And you know another has made it big, because she now spends time going after people who sell knock-offs of her hair claw clips.
I found their stories inspiring, and I hope you will too!
Clients are now scrambling to hire local creative freelancers
Given the recent publicity of the fact that foreigners aren’t allowed to freelance in Singapore, some local freelance creatives have been receiving more inquiries for their services. (One wedding photography company reported getting 100+ inquiries.)
These inquiries came after clients realised they can’t work with the foreign freelancers they originally hired.
Some of these clients are reportedly surprised at the significantly higher costs of hiring local freelancers. In turn, local freelancers have countered that their expenses aren’t low, with some welcoming the clampdown on what they see as unfair competition.
This post was first published in my email newsletter on 23 Oct 2025. If you liked it, sign up for my newsletter here:
