About Good Bones

Post 1432:

You ever watch those show where they take some old house and fix it up? I don’t get the appeal, but I’ve been forced to see quite a few episodes in dentist or doctor offices. Physicians love to distract their patients with dreams of turning some turd of a house into the Taj Mahal. Anything to take your mind off, I guess..

They’re always saying in these shows that the structure is fairly sound, that it’s just the trim and the little things that are off. Of course, it’s the little things that people often notice first. So they need sprucing. Could be a lot of work or just a touch here and there, as long as the original structure has “good bones.” I’m not sure if this is the current nomenclature, but I know I’ve heard a guy who is way too friendly to be a real-life contractor use “good bones.” He means there’s a lot to work with. Keep the wrecking ball in your pants.

I thought about this because I’m working on a book that I left for awhile, and coming back to it has been extremely difficult. At first, all I could see were the problems. It actually made me upset to see so many little things that needed changing. It can be frustrating to come back to a house that doesn't feel like the home you thought you made.

There’s a couple of things to do here. First option is to quit and chuck it. This is generally a horrible idea, but also very appealing. I have a theory that humans, despite all experience and evidence, believe good stuff comes out of a free-flowing natural process of inspiration and creation.

Not so much. That can happen, of course, but solid work is mostly nose to the grindstone and butt in the seat. Hours. Frustration. Stripping your ego. Building it back. Shaving flaky sentences and scenes that take away from the overall appeal.

It may be tempting, but try to save your property. Be glad that you built something, much work as it might still need. I’ll try to do the same. Cheers and see you after.