Short journal · Original editorial · A kinder measure of progress
A new sketch is judged against a polished work by an expert.
Progress can be described without making every attempt a score. Choose a feature you can inspect and compare it with an earlier attempt in a fair context. A changed method, a clearer question, or a useful limit may matter more than speed.
Compare one chosen feature with the writer's own earlier attempt.
The proposed move is an experiment, not a claim about every person or setting. Its value depends on the task you actually face.
Try a question
What would you notice after trying this in one small, real situation?