I’m realizing how often I’ve stacked layers just because it felt like progress. Moving forward, I’m going to be more intentional. Sit with the mute button longer, strip back the verse before I add anything new and actually try the 30% cut instead of just thinking about it. I want the songs to breathe more. Thank you Idris Elijah for consistently putting out thoughtful work like this. Your writing always gives me something concrete to bring back into the studio!
As a mom it’s so easy to keep adding more activities, more plans and more pressure to do it all because it feels like being a good parent. But the moments that matter most with my daughter usually happen when I clear space and just let things be simple. I’m going to try applying that 30% rule at home too. Fewer commitments, fewer distractions, more presence. Thank you Idris Elijah for the steady and thoughtful content. It always gives me something real to bring into my everyday life!
As a painter this one felt personal. I love adding layers because it feels productive and alive. But the pieces that really work are the ones where I had the courage to scrape back and leave space. Deleting isn’t ruining the painting. It’s choosing what it’s actually about. Thank you Idris Elijah for the nudge to trust subtraction a little more. I plan on applying this more to my work this week!
Love the desire to put into use a new mindset. Subtraction aught to be praised as addition for together they are of equal use and importance. Space, space is always necessary. Kudos!! 🤗🤩
The distinction between the draft as emotion and the edit as decision is really clean. I’ve felt that exact tension in my writing. The first draft feels alive and cutting it can feel like killing something that once felt true to me. But the question, “Would the work suffer if this disappeared?” is ruthless in a useful way. It reframes editing from loss to clarity. That shift alone changes how I’ll approach revision in the future. Thank you Idris Elijah for these valuable writing tips! Loved this newsletter!!
I couldn’t agree more. The first draft does always feel alive. Now we know that editing is where choice comes into play. Where we kill our darlings to result in something worthy of an audience. I’m glad this pice helped you acquire some perspective. Always a pleasure! 🤗🤓
This resonated with me because I’ve always found something freeing about deleting. Cutting forces clarity. It asks you what actually matters. Not just in writing, but everywhere. It’s easy to keep adding more projects, more obligations and more noise because it feels like progress. But the moments that feel strongest usually come after you remove what’s unnecessary. The line about readers experiencing the edit more than the draft feels true in life too. People feel what remains. Refinement isn’t loss. It’s focus. Thank you Idris for another thoughtful and insightful read!
Exactly, this paradox also applies everywhere. As many of them do because everything is ultimately connected. Readers only ever see an edit of a draft. You are so welcome Brian!! 🤩🙃
I’m realizing how often I’ve stacked layers just because it felt like progress. Moving forward, I’m going to be more intentional. Sit with the mute button longer, strip back the verse before I add anything new and actually try the 30% cut instead of just thinking about it. I want the songs to breathe more. Thank you Idris Elijah for consistently putting out thoughtful work like this. Your writing always gives me something concrete to bring back into the studio!
This I absolutely love to hear! Thank you for sharing that tidbit with us. 🤓🤗🤩
As a mom it’s so easy to keep adding more activities, more plans and more pressure to do it all because it feels like being a good parent. But the moments that matter most with my daughter usually happen when I clear space and just let things be simple. I’m going to try applying that 30% rule at home too. Fewer commitments, fewer distractions, more presence. Thank you Idris Elijah for the steady and thoughtful content. It always gives me something real to bring into my everyday life!
You’re most welcome! Thank you for showing up. It doesn’t go unnoticed 🤗🤓🤗
As a painter this one felt personal. I love adding layers because it feels productive and alive. But the pieces that really work are the ones where I had the courage to scrape back and leave space. Deleting isn’t ruining the painting. It’s choosing what it’s actually about. Thank you Idris Elijah for the nudge to trust subtraction a little more. I plan on applying this more to my work this week!
Love the desire to put into use a new mindset. Subtraction aught to be praised as addition for together they are of equal use and importance. Space, space is always necessary. Kudos!! 🤗🤩
The distinction between the draft as emotion and the edit as decision is really clean. I’ve felt that exact tension in my writing. The first draft feels alive and cutting it can feel like killing something that once felt true to me. But the question, “Would the work suffer if this disappeared?” is ruthless in a useful way. It reframes editing from loss to clarity. That shift alone changes how I’ll approach revision in the future. Thank you Idris Elijah for these valuable writing tips! Loved this newsletter!!
I couldn’t agree more. The first draft does always feel alive. Now we know that editing is where choice comes into play. Where we kill our darlings to result in something worthy of an audience. I’m glad this pice helped you acquire some perspective. Always a pleasure! 🤗🤓
This resonated with me because I’ve always found something freeing about deleting. Cutting forces clarity. It asks you what actually matters. Not just in writing, but everywhere. It’s easy to keep adding more projects, more obligations and more noise because it feels like progress. But the moments that feel strongest usually come after you remove what’s unnecessary. The line about readers experiencing the edit more than the draft feels true in life too. People feel what remains. Refinement isn’t loss. It’s focus. Thank you Idris for another thoughtful and insightful read!
Exactly, this paradox also applies everywhere. As many of them do because everything is ultimately connected. Readers only ever see an edit of a draft. You are so welcome Brian!! 🤩🙃