My Interesting Lesson in Creative Patience

For my birthday a week or so ago, I asked my family for a miniature DIY dollhouse shop that you see pictured above. I am in love with dollhouses and follow a ton of them on Instagram. So, getting to try this myself, was going to be a fun treat.

Except, when I opened it, this was more than simply arranging little pieces of furniture or puzzle pieces that snap together. It was pieces of furniture I'd be putting together myself. There are even instructions later on for me to get out my drill. (Me? Having a drill?)

I couldn't wait! 

Over this past week, I've made some time for my little dollhouse bakery. And I'm proud to say I've put together four pieces of furniture. You can see photos of them below:

It's been quite the process, actually. Last night, I had to carefully pull apart glued-together pieces because I had followed the instructions wrong. At one point, as I was nearing the ending stage of a little dresser and strategically trying to bend a golden wire that was meant to look like a small drawer handle, I realized the importance of creative patience in dollhouses and in writing.

You see, much like this dollhouse, writing takes time. It's not an overnight process. It's a day-to-day process of putting the pieces together, one step at a time. And if something needs to be undone, well it needs to be undone. Just make sure you put it together again.

Plus, you have to make time for writing. For my dollhouse shop, I haven't worked on it every day in the last week or so, but I've definitely made time for it. Last night, instead of working on various freelance projects, I put my phone and computer aside after work and worked on this instead. 

And the same needs to be done for writing too. It's easy to make excuses to not write, but truthfully you just need to make time for it. Because even if you're busy, you make time for the stuff you want to do. As I leave room in the afternoons on occasion for my little dollhouse shop, I'm reminded I can make room for writing too. 

Much like this project, though, I don't necessarily need to write every day. I think that's what trips me up (and maybe, many other people too). Maybe I'm getting caught up in this idea that if I'm not writing every day, I'm not making progress (or worse, I think I'm not a real writer). But much like this dollhouse shop, progress can be made, even if it's a bit at a time. 

So, if you are struggling with writing, make time for it. Show up when you can. Don't worry if you aren't making it a daily activity, because just by making room for it whenever you can, you are still moving forward.

But just remember, creativity takes patience.

Nicole Pyles is a writer living in Portland, Oregon. Follow her writing and book blog World of My Imagination.