In the spring, when I love to take walks, I often marvel at the strength and bravery of a little flower pushing itself up between cracks in the road or sidewalk. 

Recently, I had the opportunity to emulate that little flower.

I was asked to work on a piece of content. I asked the client if he had a special gift for the reader to go with the piece. He did.

The giveaway was something unique to his personality.

That became the kernel for my content.

I did some research on the background and uses of the gift. (Yes, I used ChatGPT and it was super helpful.)

Then I went to work. I developed a first draft. It felt “almost done.”

I walked away from it for a day so I would have a better perspective.

When I came back the next day and looked at it, well, it was okaaay, but just not hanging together.

I worked and worked at it. But what I had loved the day before was now awful.

I almost deleted it to start over.

But something told me not to. To keep trying. After all, I had something unique to work with. A kernel.

I went back to the piece. I analyzed the first place it broke down. I fixed it. Then I found the next and I fixed that. And I continued until it was revised.

In looking back, the main problem was that I had made it too complex. Once I simplified, it all came together.

Best of all, my client loved it.

Easy Web Tip 358: It’s easy to give up on a piece of writing, but if you give it a chance, it just might turn out well.

P.S. Here’s a splendid example of not giving up.