Share Your Creative Processes!

Traditionally, artists were encouraged to keep their creative process private, revealing only the final product to the public. This notion was rooted in the belief that the audience is only interested in the finished artwork, not the journey or the process that leads to it. However, the advent of the internet and social media has revolutionized this concept.

In “Show Your Work! 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered”, Austin Kleon presents a guide for individuals who dislike the concept of self-promotion. He emphasizes the importance of sharing one’s creative process and ideas openly, leveraging the network of the internet to build an audience that can provide support, feedback, and patronage. Kleon dismantles the myth of the “lone genius”, advocating instead for the concept of “scenius”, where creativity is a collaborative effort within a community of like-minded individuals. He encourages people to contribute to this community, sharing ideas and starting conversations, rather than waiting to be recognized as a genius. He highlights the advantages amateurs have over professionals, as they are willing to take risks and learn openly, often leading to new discoveries. Kleon suggests that embracing the spirit of an amateur can lead to a fulfilling creative journey, where sharing what you love will naturally attract others with similar interests. Kleon also discusses the importance of finding and using your voice, urging individuals to talk about what they love and share their work online to exist in the modern world. He mentions the transformative power of near-death experiences in altering individuals’ perspectives and encouraging them to live fully and creatively.

Kleon also highlights the potential benefits of sharing your work and journey openly, including building a supportive network and possibly turning a hobby into a profession. He stresses that in the digital age, having an online presence where you share your work is almost a necessity, as it allows others to find and connect with you. Furthermore, he discusses the transformative power of near-death experiences, which often bring a renewed perspective and urgency to life. However, he suggests that one doesn’t need to have a near-death experience to gain this perspective; simply remembering the inevitability of death can be a powerful motivator to live fully and share one’s work without fear.

Artists now have the platform to share not only their final products but also the process that leads to them, including their inspirations, methods, and day-to-day activities. This openness allows for a deeper connection with the audience, who are not only consumers but also aspire to be part of the creative process. It fosters a community where the audience can engage with the artist and their work on a more personal level. The author encourages individuals to document their work process, utilizing the various multimedia tools available today, such as smartphones, to capture different stages of their work. This documentation not only serves as a means to share with the audience but also helps individuals to see their progress more clearly. Furthermore, the author emphasizes the importance of daily sharing, which can be more insightful than a portfolio as it reflects the current work and thoughts of the individual. This daily dispatch can take various forms, including blog posts, tweets, or videos, and can be shared on different platforms depending on the target audience. However, the author also warns about the potential pitfalls of sharing online. Anything posted on the internet becomes public and can be copied indefinitely. Therefore, individuals should be cautious about what they share, avoiding oversharing and ensuring that the content is either helpful or entertaining to the audience. It is advised to run every piece of content through the “So What?” test to gauge its relevance and impact.

The author introduces the concept of “stock and flow”, where “flow” represents daily updates that remind people of your presence, and “stock” is the durable content that remains relevant over time. The author suggests that the “stock” can be developed by organizing and expanding upon the “flow”, turning small daily insights into substantial content over time.

This structure is a wonderful tool for shaping your own narrative. It helps you to pinpoint the crucial moments in your story, the turning points, and the climax. It guides you to craft a story that has a clear beginning, middle, and end, with a coherent and compelling progression.

In the context of sharing your work and your journey, this structure can be applied to craft a narrative that not only showcases the end product but also the process, the struggles, the breakthroughs, and the milestones. It can help you to build a narrative that is not just about showcasing a polished final product, but one that celebrates the journey, the learning, and the growth.

For instance, if you are an artist sharing your work online, you might craft a story like this:

“Once upon a time, there was a young artist with a passion for watercolor painting. Every day, she would paint small pieces, experimenting with colors and techniques. One day, she decided to take on a massive project…. Because of that, she embarked on a journey of deep learning, pushing her boundaries, and expanding her skills. Because of that, she faced numerous challenges, from selecting the right materials to mastering the intricate details of large-scale painting. Until finally, after months of hard work and perseverance, the mural was completed, a vibrant testament to her journey and growth.”

This narrative not only showcases the final mural but also brings the audience along on the journey, allowing them to witness the growth and the passion that fueled the project. It creates a deeper connection between the artist and the audience, fostering a community that is invested in the artist’s journey, not just the end product. Similarly, if you are sharing a personal project or a piece of writing, you can craft a narrative that showcases your thought process, the inspirations, the drafts, and the revisions, creating a rich and layered story that invites the audience to delve deeper and engage more meaningfully with your work.

Remember, the stories you tell about your work are not just about self-promotion. They are about connection, about inviting others into your world, sharing your journey, and maybe inspiring others to embark on their own journeys. It’s about building a community that values the process as much as the product, that celebrates the learning and the growth, and that finds inspiration and joy in the shared human experience of creating and evolving.

So, as you share your work, remember to also share your story. Craft narratives that are authentic, that showcase your journey, and that invite others to connect, to engage, and to be inspired. Because in the end, it’s not just about the work you create, but the stories you tell and the community you build along the way.