How to Know When the Work Is Done
Some pieces arrive fully formed.
Most don’t.
Instead, there’s a slow shaping. A circling.
A period where the work is almost right—but not quite.
And then a point where you start asking:
Is it done? Or am I just done with it?
It’s not always clear.
The Myth of Perfect
We’re taught to aim for completion—
but what we often chase is perfection.
And those aren’t the same.
Perfection stalls the process.
Completion, on the other hand, respects the moment.
Done doesn’t mean flawless.
It means true to where you are right now.
That’s enough.
Look for the Shift
There’s usually a turning point.
When the edits feel less like shaping and more like sanding something that’s already smooth.
When the changes are smaller, but your doubt grows louder.
That’s when it helps to pause.
Step away for a day. Come back with softer eyes.
If the piece holds something without you needing to explain it—
you’re probably closer than you think.
Completion Isn’t Closure
Just because something’s finished doesn’t mean it’s over.
Your work is part of a larger thread.
A finished zine doesn’t end the vision.
A printed poster might just be version one.
A photo series could become a poem a year later.
Completion is not a wall—it’s a door.
The next thing grows from this one.
To Carry With You
Choose one piece you’ve been holding onto—editing, adjusting, second-guessing.
Ask yourself:
Am I changing this to make it better—or because I’m afraid to let it go?
What part of this still feels alive to me?
What would completing this free me to start next?
If you feel ready—release it.
Not because it’s perfect.
Because it’s yours. And because it’s time.
—
— Endeoh
Collaborate. Elevate. Inspire.