I’ve come to the realisation that everything is a draft. Every drawing I do, everything I write, and yes, even every printed book. I’ve published nine books now, and yes, they’ve all been drafts… for my next book, and the one after that, and the one after that.
Once you realise that everything isn’t final, that everything you do is a learning experience and, in most cases (unless you’re a surgeon), not fatal, the pressure’s off. Nothing will ever be perfect, even though, at the time, you truly believe you’re doing your best work. And you are, with the knowledge you’ve got so far.
Now, I look back at my body of work and I can clearly see how much I’ve evolved. How much I didn’t know back then is obvious. In order to do your best work, you’ve just got to do the work. Over and over again. Draft, after draft, after draft.