On Taking the Leap

Why Sharing Unfinished Work Matters

I was ready to publish. Thinking just get this out there. And then I finally did the thing I’ve been thinking about for a while.

Not because I didn’t want to, but because I didn’t feel quite ready. You get one chance to ask someone you admire to collaborate, and I wanted the project to be clear, simple to understand, and something worth joining. But collaboration isn’t about a finished piece — it’s the start of building something together.

So I stopped hesitating and sent my final-ish script. The best way to get a creative person to see if they want to be part of a project is to send a short note and just get the work over to them. It’s going to be a yes or no. More often, a lack of any response or a polite, I’m busy a few months later.

So my surprise the next morning when I got a reply. A long one.
Not a hard no — a very considered set of notes actually, which made me happy that time had been taken to read and reply. They shared why the project resonated and gave some thoughtful feedback on areas that could work harder, which, if I’m honest, were the same bits I’d quietly wondered about.

So I’m back to rewrites: lines here and there, scribbles on paper, coloured pen all over my manuscript.

It won’t be finished just yet, but it’s for the best.
And even if the collaboration doesn’t happen, I’m genuinely grateful someone outside my world took the time to read it and offer honest thoughts.

I’m happy with that.
Back to it now.

Thanks for reading x