What is that?
When I see a bit of green I don't recognize in my yard, I'm the type of gardener who will let it grow for awhile to see if it turns into something interesting. As a result, I have a lot of wildflowers—and weeds—in my yard.
The Most Wonderful Thing Ever ... Maybe
This is a pretty good metaphor for my creative work. Sometimes I'll finish a story or a jewelry design and be so pleased with myself: This is the most wonderful thing ever! Other times, I'll think something is terrible. I'll undo it, tear it up, or thrust it in a drawer and try to forget about it.
The truth is I cannot accurately judge anything right after I create it. This is why—if I'm not pressed by someone else's deadline—I like to have my pieces sit for a bit before I send them out into the world. Usually after a few days—or weeks or months—I have a much better idea of whether something is a weed or a wildflower.
What Was I Thinking?
If I don't let it sit, an editor or someone else will sometimes point out that I've sent them a weed! Those are the pieces that make me cringe when they're returned. What was I thinking?
Of course, holding onto something forever can be equally bad. What if you have a beautiful wildflower in your hand and you don't know it? A couple of years ago I was shocked to see someone post a call for submissions to a book that was very similar to one I'd written a proposal for five years earlier. The same one I quickly decided was too narrowly focused to be publishable and never sent to any potential publishers.
Plant the seeds for your creative projects and let them grow. You'll know soon enough what's ready for harvest and what needs a good dose of weedkiller.