Thanks for sharing this. I think that what you write about — the reality of creative development as a long process of iteration, — is really one of the keys of growing as a writer.

I did find myself reacting emotionally against this line, however:

“ You could still be great. You just have to keep going.”

In my own personal experience, I’ve found that thinking of my creative output as good or bad (whether it is music, writing, etc), is truly damaging to my artistic development. In the past, I simply didn’t do any writing because it was “bad” or it wasn’t what I envisioned it being.

Now my perspective is that creative work, writing or anything else, only is. And the more we do it, the more it becomes. It is only “good or bad” relative to the developmental timeline we’re on in our own journey of becoming who we are.

You are a great writer, and to continue writing will only reveal more of who you are to the world. So please continue!