Wanted: A Set of Balls
I found this anecdote in a tiny book filled with wisdom from Mister Rogers. A young apprentice applied to a master carpenter for a job. The older man asked him, “Do you know your trade?” “Yes, sir!” the young man replied proudly. “Have you ever made a mistake?” the older man inquired. “No, sir!” the young man answered, feeling certain he would get the job. “Then there’s no way I’m going to hire you.” said the master carpenter, “because when you make one you won’t know how to fix it.” Mistakes. Everyone makes them. I'm bogged down with them every day. Mistakes are a given in a first draft. So, explain to me why I push my writing assignments off in fear of handing in something horrifying, embarrassing and badly written. The process starts off encouraging. The minute the assignment is posted my mind begins creating characters, designing settings and plotting. Then, the fear cr...