Ever tried setting a timer for ten minutes and just writing whatever comes out with zero plan? That's basically the same trick, and it works because your brain stops guarding the door and lets the messy stuff through. The junk prompts are not a waste, they're warm up laps before the real race, and sometimes one of them surprises you. Keep doing it, you're not fooling yourself, you're just finally writing.

Did you ever watch those old home shows where they act like tile work is no big deal? I read a thing from a tile setter once who said to plan on 15 to 20 percent waste for cuts and breakage, and even he said the pros still toss more than they want to admit. Your 17 bags sounds about right for that much footage, so dont beat yourself up over it. What got me was the part about the square footage matching your whole house. That is a wild way to measure a project, in houses worth of tile. At least now when your knees hurt you know exactly why. Any idea what you would do different on the next room?