Fix Anything in Post
The Creative Habit of Editing
This week the creative habit that I am sharing with you is the idea that you can fix anything, “in post”. In the film and media business that is typically a bad phrase because it implies that you have done something sloppy and you will fix it in post-production, or in other words, you will hand off your dirty work to a team of people that you are taking advantage of.
I encourage you to think about this in another way though. Fixing it in post means you give yourself permission to do the work, and then you see what you can make of the results later on. You separate sitting down to make something with the act of showing it to the world.
I recorded this week’s podcast on video, which was supposed to be my first time on camera in a few weeks. When I reviewed the footage later I had a hard time deciding if my fly was undone. How frustrating! I decided that if I have to think twice about it, then that means my fly is technically undone1. So I scrapped the video and kept this week’s show as audio-only.
There is nothing wrong with this, if anything having the flexibility to roll with the punches means that the work will still get done either way. Because remember, I operate a podcast which was traditionally an audio-only format.
If you want to apply this mentality to things not related to making music and podcasting it’s very simple. Sit down to do your “most creative work” - this is also known as your most important work. Spend 30 minutes to an hour on it every day. If you only get 2-3 of those sessions in a week that’s totally fine too.
Don’t judge what happens in that session. After you’ve finished you can let the inner critic have at it, but even then try to keep it at bay as you ideally want to keep the projects moving forward. This is the magic of fixing anything in post. Giving yourself infinite permission to do your most creative work.
New Podcast Episode: Reconnecting with the Guitar
As the title suggests, I sit down to play the guitar on this episode which I haven’t done in a long time. I hope you enjoy this one!
You may also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on other podcast players.
Have a great week and I wish plenty of bagels come your way over the next few days.
And always check your fly before leaving the house!
Elliott
I love funny heuristics or mental shortcuts like this. They sometimes sound like, “If you have to consider it a second time, the answer is always no”.
i love fixing things in post. 😊