Ira Glass on storytelling

I recognize all of this in myself and my work. As I mentioned in a previous post I am a bit "scared" when I move on to a new task. Animation is so much more than moving "body-parts" around, it is both a creative and a technical side. And to me, as to most young animators I guess, the technical side is the most difficult. So this video really spoke to me, I know what I want my animation to look like, but I am never truly satisfied with my own work. I can be pleased with it when it's finished, but after two days I look at it again and go;
"What is that? Why did I not see that mistake before? What was I thinking".. Hehe.

But that's why this video really made my day. It made me think;
the fact that I see that something is wrong, is actually a good thing.
It means I have learned more and that I know what I want it to look like.
- I just need to keep working hard!

It's about storytelling but it makes sense for all types of creative work.

And if you found this video as useful and encouraging as me, here is the text:

"Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through."

–Ira Glass

I've written it down and it's hanging on my wall so I can look at it whenever I need some encouragement: