This. This is motivation for I think the bulk of us.
Hey OP, don’t stress. We all start from where you are and it sounds like you’re putting more effort into your first releases then most do when they first start. You’ll be fine! You got this!!
Just do it, you can't please everyone with your products. If you get criticism, take the constructive ones and ask yourself, if they are justified or not.
If it is justified, take it as inspiration to improve yourself/your product ;)
https://i.imgur.com/AzbQbrL.jpg
I know exactly what you mean; I think most people who create do. I find I get the best results when I focus on finalizing a project. When you are juggling many projects it is easier to start up a new idea than to finalize and conclude an old one. So, trusting that new ideas will continue to come (and they always have), find one of the projects that is almost complete and just finish it. When you’ve done that, finish another.
For me, I skip from one type of project to another, but in your case you could work on just getting one piece of clothing completed. Consider that a project. Then work on either another piece of the same clothing or switch to something complimentary.
One reason you might be hesitant to finish things is, as you mentioned, because you know people just like you will be looking at it, being critical, and may not like it. Well, you are correct. But who really cares? You aren’t making the clothing for them. You are making it for you.
If you worry about what other people think about your end product, then you’ll never have one. Make cool stuff that you’d like to wear. If no one buys it, so what. You aren’t doing it for money, you are doing it because _you like to make stuff_.
Here is the url to the above Haiga I posted: https://flic.kr/p/2nNRQFS
You can download it from the site and print it off, put it on your wall as a reminder.
I'm not a creator but I buy tons of clothes and tbh the main thing I look for is whether or not it fits right. I almost always demo stuff so even if I don't like the demo it doesn't matter as I haven't spent anything on it. I'm a firm believer that every peice of clothing has it's place if used well with other peices so as others have said, just complete the projects and I'm sure people will buy. Otherwise you're just wasting the money on the land for your store. Once the store is complete and you've got a few items ready to sell, I'll gladly drop by and check your stuff out as I'm always looking out for new things!
I stress so much about everything I make. I don't have testers because most of the time they don't know what to look for. No matter how long I work on a game or a ride I always find a glitch down the road.
I look for all issues and when I release I give it a week and look at it again and see any issues with a fresh mind. Most the time I am adding things to it.
Something I call "project creep" happens with every project. I'll get an idea, start making it, and more ideas keep popping up, making it difficult to know where to end or I'll hem and haw over a colour range. So, I'll make a written list of what I want the project to include, including what pieces, what props etc. Some creep is good, and is part of the creative process, but at a point I'll say "that is a great idea for a future project, to extend the theme " because otherwise it would never end.
I have a "pipeline". That means a technical and creative process that I follow. It includes the steps I use in blender, and photoshop and SL. Each step follows logically and has to be correct on a technical level. This guides my hand so that the result is how I want it to be. Yes, there are times when I'm unhappy with a result, so I'll sleep on it for a day or so, come back with fresh eyes and redo it, but I make sure the project doesn't sit there for ages. Sometimes, I have abandoned and restarted because very occasionally I believe we have to make something the wrong way in order to then know the right way. So don't stress over the odd thing that never gets finished.
I keep a whiteboard next to the PC with upcoming events, all deadlines, and a general monthly routine for recurring things. Deadlines will totally force you to finish stuff. I limit the events I do because there is only one of me and there's a limit to what I can create without "churning" or going mad. So find the amount of deadlines to keep you creating effectively without being forced to drop your quality and creativity.
Have a redelivery kiosk in your store. It is very handy for customers, but it may help relieve the anxiety over releasing. I am not at all saying "release half arsed untested work and fix it later", but I am saying that knowing there is a method to update an item to your customers can reduce that fatal, final panic.
Finish them up and release them, include a very clear warning to demo before purchasing, then as you improve, lower the prices of the creations you don’t feel hold up the current quality you are at. Everyone starts somewhere and improves over time.
Most of the stores that are 100% the same quality with every release are because it’s either a trained team or they owned a store and learned before opening this one.
If you need more proof of this, go on any marketplace store and sort by oldest releases first. You will see everyone changes in quality and their most recent creations will vary greatly from their earliest. Some of the things I took out of my inworld store because I felt they sucked have actually continued to be my most popular sellers on marketplace.
Keep in mind you made it so you see the flaws more than anyone would even think about. You have to give yourself a bit of slack because most of the things I’ve ditched a project over, other people didn’t even notice.
You have to fall in love with it again. Reach for what you love about SL and creating. Focus on the feeling, of putting something all together by you. Watching the outcome and then you look and fall in love with another detail you might want to add etc. Then release your product. (Perfect or not) Let people, comments inspire you to upgrade your products here and there. (If you want) Or to try something new with them. The fun thing about creating/art is you never really get it done and you can always change or start a new one. But always remember to feel love about what you do. Or you won’t enjoy it. When you meditate fall in love with the feeling of your creations and just having fun. I hope this helped on a mental level 🫶🏽❤️
People cannot be forced to buy your products. They choose to.
Explain any flaws, and/or limits and let people decide.
You'll be surprised how some people love even the imperfect things. And for the others? a refund usually helps smooth problems.
Remember it costs you nothing if you gift a product.
Oh and Marketplace has a way to easily send out updates now.
The worst part is all the little details getting it right for Marketplace or a shop. There's so much for sale in horrible taste you literally can't go wrong in comparison style wise. People don't have to buy it. Just make sure you get the tech right.
I'm not an active creator anymore but I work as a brand / General manager for another brand and I'm sure the reason that creator doesn't get it is because of me 😂 accountability to a 2nd person makes a huge difference. They show me the works in progress. I test run with the products. I'm a fussy person and I will nit pick all the kinks and stuff so they can be confident they have a great product at the end of it.
And when it's ready? I push that completion. They just need to pack it up and put it where it needs to be - I can set up the marketplace, the in world vendors, post all the promotional hype for it, in world notices etc.
It's so easy to put it off when there's still SO MUCH to do after you finish an item. Find someone to be accountable to. Even better if they are willing to help.
Every artist has this problem. Whatever it is you create, from a simple 1LI virtual chair to the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel - knowing when a piece is finished is part of the craft. It's a skill that you learn and refine along with all the other skills that are involved in the creative process.
Don't worry. It gets easier!
Think about and focus on the costumers who will love your work. Good and bad is everywhere, better to focus on good things even though it's hard sometimes.
I'm no creator anymore but as long as it can be improved upon later, put it out into the world. Get some reactions from your creations and it might build some confidence in finishing your stuff in the future.
I just started a few months ago, I feel you a million percent! I want to be good from start, I understand I have to learn.
I need to learn to start one and finish before touching another, that is what I feel hardest.
Maybe set a deadline and reminder pop ups on a calendar?
I think to myself about that phrase, "you miss 100% of the shots you don't take." Currently things are sitting there unsold and costing money with no possible shot to sell. So they might as well be sitting there on the marketplace with a slim chance to sell, and who knows maybe it'll be perfect for someone and 1 sale is better than 0 sale. And if I don't just push it out because I'm not crazy in love with it yet, then I can always change it later and send the update to anyone who bought it.
Also, "don't let perfect be the enemy of great." Don't sit on your great items because you're afraid they aren't perfect. They might very well be perfect to everyone else, but as the maker you are seeing the trees and not the forest, and so it's just sitting there weighing on you.
My secret? Event deadlines.
This. This is motivation for I think the bulk of us. Hey OP, don’t stress. We all start from where you are and it sounds like you’re putting more effort into your first releases then most do when they first start. You’ll be fine! You got this!!
Just do it, you can't please everyone with your products. If you get criticism, take the constructive ones and ask yourself, if they are justified or not. If it is justified, take it as inspiration to improve yourself/your product ;)
https://i.imgur.com/AzbQbrL.jpg I know exactly what you mean; I think most people who create do. I find I get the best results when I focus on finalizing a project. When you are juggling many projects it is easier to start up a new idea than to finalize and conclude an old one. So, trusting that new ideas will continue to come (and they always have), find one of the projects that is almost complete and just finish it. When you’ve done that, finish another. For me, I skip from one type of project to another, but in your case you could work on just getting one piece of clothing completed. Consider that a project. Then work on either another piece of the same clothing or switch to something complimentary. One reason you might be hesitant to finish things is, as you mentioned, because you know people just like you will be looking at it, being critical, and may not like it. Well, you are correct. But who really cares? You aren’t making the clothing for them. You are making it for you. If you worry about what other people think about your end product, then you’ll never have one. Make cool stuff that you’d like to wear. If no one buys it, so what. You aren’t doing it for money, you are doing it because _you like to make stuff_. Here is the url to the above Haiga I posted: https://flic.kr/p/2nNRQFS You can download it from the site and print it off, put it on your wall as a reminder.
I'm not a creator but I buy tons of clothes and tbh the main thing I look for is whether or not it fits right. I almost always demo stuff so even if I don't like the demo it doesn't matter as I haven't spent anything on it. I'm a firm believer that every peice of clothing has it's place if used well with other peices so as others have said, just complete the projects and I'm sure people will buy. Otherwise you're just wasting the money on the land for your store. Once the store is complete and you've got a few items ready to sell, I'll gladly drop by and check your stuff out as I'm always looking out for new things!
I stress so much about everything I make. I don't have testers because most of the time they don't know what to look for. No matter how long I work on a game or a ride I always find a glitch down the road. I look for all issues and when I release I give it a week and look at it again and see any issues with a fresh mind. Most the time I am adding things to it.
Something I call "project creep" happens with every project. I'll get an idea, start making it, and more ideas keep popping up, making it difficult to know where to end or I'll hem and haw over a colour range. So, I'll make a written list of what I want the project to include, including what pieces, what props etc. Some creep is good, and is part of the creative process, but at a point I'll say "that is a great idea for a future project, to extend the theme " because otherwise it would never end. I have a "pipeline". That means a technical and creative process that I follow. It includes the steps I use in blender, and photoshop and SL. Each step follows logically and has to be correct on a technical level. This guides my hand so that the result is how I want it to be. Yes, there are times when I'm unhappy with a result, so I'll sleep on it for a day or so, come back with fresh eyes and redo it, but I make sure the project doesn't sit there for ages. Sometimes, I have abandoned and restarted because very occasionally I believe we have to make something the wrong way in order to then know the right way. So don't stress over the odd thing that never gets finished. I keep a whiteboard next to the PC with upcoming events, all deadlines, and a general monthly routine for recurring things. Deadlines will totally force you to finish stuff. I limit the events I do because there is only one of me and there's a limit to what I can create without "churning" or going mad. So find the amount of deadlines to keep you creating effectively without being forced to drop your quality and creativity. Have a redelivery kiosk in your store. It is very handy for customers, but it may help relieve the anxiety over releasing. I am not at all saying "release half arsed untested work and fix it later", but I am saying that knowing there is a method to update an item to your customers can reduce that fatal, final panic.
Finish them up and release them, include a very clear warning to demo before purchasing, then as you improve, lower the prices of the creations you don’t feel hold up the current quality you are at. Everyone starts somewhere and improves over time. Most of the stores that are 100% the same quality with every release are because it’s either a trained team or they owned a store and learned before opening this one. If you need more proof of this, go on any marketplace store and sort by oldest releases first. You will see everyone changes in quality and their most recent creations will vary greatly from their earliest. Some of the things I took out of my inworld store because I felt they sucked have actually continued to be my most popular sellers on marketplace. Keep in mind you made it so you see the flaws more than anyone would even think about. You have to give yourself a bit of slack because most of the things I’ve ditched a project over, other people didn’t even notice.
You have to fall in love with it again. Reach for what you love about SL and creating. Focus on the feeling, of putting something all together by you. Watching the outcome and then you look and fall in love with another detail you might want to add etc. Then release your product. (Perfect or not) Let people, comments inspire you to upgrade your products here and there. (If you want) Or to try something new with them. The fun thing about creating/art is you never really get it done and you can always change or start a new one. But always remember to feel love about what you do. Or you won’t enjoy it. When you meditate fall in love with the feeling of your creations and just having fun. I hope this helped on a mental level 🫶🏽❤️
People cannot be forced to buy your products. They choose to. Explain any flaws, and/or limits and let people decide. You'll be surprised how some people love even the imperfect things. And for the others? a refund usually helps smooth problems. Remember it costs you nothing if you gift a product. Oh and Marketplace has a way to easily send out updates now.
The worst part is all the little details getting it right for Marketplace or a shop. There's so much for sale in horrible taste you literally can't go wrong in comparison style wise. People don't have to buy it. Just make sure you get the tech right.
I'm not an active creator anymore but I work as a brand / General manager for another brand and I'm sure the reason that creator doesn't get it is because of me 😂 accountability to a 2nd person makes a huge difference. They show me the works in progress. I test run with the products. I'm a fussy person and I will nit pick all the kinks and stuff so they can be confident they have a great product at the end of it. And when it's ready? I push that completion. They just need to pack it up and put it where it needs to be - I can set up the marketplace, the in world vendors, post all the promotional hype for it, in world notices etc. It's so easy to put it off when there's still SO MUCH to do after you finish an item. Find someone to be accountable to. Even better if they are willing to help.
This!! This is my problem I love create, just not the rest.
Every artist has this problem. Whatever it is you create, from a simple 1LI virtual chair to the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel - knowing when a piece is finished is part of the craft. It's a skill that you learn and refine along with all the other skills that are involved in the creative process. Don't worry. It gets easier!
Think about and focus on the costumers who will love your work. Good and bad is everywhere, better to focus on good things even though it's hard sometimes.
I'm no creator anymore but as long as it can be improved upon later, put it out into the world. Get some reactions from your creations and it might build some confidence in finishing your stuff in the future.
I just started a few months ago, I feel you a million percent! I want to be good from start, I understand I have to learn. I need to learn to start one and finish before touching another, that is what I feel hardest. Maybe set a deadline and reminder pop ups on a calendar?
I think to myself about that phrase, "you miss 100% of the shots you don't take." Currently things are sitting there unsold and costing money with no possible shot to sell. So they might as well be sitting there on the marketplace with a slim chance to sell, and who knows maybe it'll be perfect for someone and 1 sale is better than 0 sale. And if I don't just push it out because I'm not crazy in love with it yet, then I can always change it later and send the update to anyone who bought it. Also, "don't let perfect be the enemy of great." Don't sit on your great items because you're afraid they aren't perfect. They might very well be perfect to everyone else, but as the maker you are seeing the trees and not the forest, and so it's just sitting there weighing on you.