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This overlooks that doing things correctly tends to not be very fun. If you're working on a side project, I'd argue the best way to completely drain your motiv

This overlooks that doing things correctly tends to not be very fun. If you're working on a side project, I'd argue the best way to completely drain your motivation is to try and write a whole lot of documentation first.

bruce511 4y ago
With most creative endeavours about 20% is creative, the rest is work. This is why most side projects (what the rest of the world calls hobbies) never turn into anything commercial - because making it commercial means doing the work part. For example, writing a book. The writing part is easy, and fun. Then the work starts. First, second, third edits (or rewrites, depending on your definition of edit.) then finding (and convincing) an agent. Then ditto a publisher. (then more edits) Then endless book promotions in small book shops for 10 people at a time. If you're famous then tours on TV talk shows. Lots of boring travel, boring towns and boring work. If you want to write a book, write a book. If you want to be a writer expect to spend only a fraction of your time writing. If you're working on a side project, then do the fun part. Save the work for your employer. If you decide to turn your side project into your income, then you still get to do the fun part, but remember that success will require lots of work as well (like docs, examples, training and so on.) To be fair it's more fun doing work for the benefit if your own stuff - but work will be required.
maguay 4y ago
Author here. Agreed on doing things correctly tending to not be very fun. Would add that, for most people (writers, included), writing documentation isn't very fun, is often put off until the last minute, and easy to neglect since it's not fun. That's why I found it interesting to see how many examples of people writing documentation much earlier in the process, as it's an incentive to prioritize one of those not-fun tasks.
mathgladiator 4y ago
I find the opposite to be true. As I write, I think. As I think, more things become possible and I get excited.

bruce511 4y ago

With most creative endeavours about 20% is creative, the rest is work. This is why most side projects (what the rest of the world calls hobbies) never turn into anything commercial - because making it commercial means doing the work part. For example, writing a book. The writing part is easy, and fun. Then the work starts. First, second, third edits (or rewrites, depending on your definition of edit.) then finding (and convincing) an agent. Then ditto a publisher. (then more edits) Then endless book promotions in small book shops for 10 people at a time. If you're famous then tours on TV talk shows. Lots of boring travel, boring towns and boring work. If you want to write a book, write a book. If you want to be a writer expect to spend only a fraction of your time writing. If you're working on a side project, then do the fun part. Save the work for your employer. If you decide to turn your side project into your income, then you still get to do the fun part, but remember that success will require lots of work as well (like docs, examples, training and so on.) To be fair it's more fun doing work for the benefit if your own stuff - but work will be required.

maguay 4y ago

Author here. Agreed on doing things correctly tending to not be very fun. Would add that, for most people (writers, included), writing documentation isn't very fun, is often put off until the last minute, and easy to neglect since it's not fun. That's why I found it interesting to see how many examples of people writing documentation much earlier in the process, as it's an incentive to prioritize one of those not-fun tasks.

mathgladiator 4y ago

I find the opposite to be true. As I write, I think. As I think, more things become possible and I get excited.