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Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered by Austin Kleon (2014)
, 29 Apr 2023
"It sounds a little extreme, but in this day and age, if your work isn’t online, it doesn’t exist. We all have the opportunity to use our voices, to have our say, but so many of us are wasting it. If you want people to know about what you do and the things you care about, you have to share." (Page 25). This is the last of Kleon's trilogy and the most personal of the three. It feels so to me at least, as it's the one in which I hear Kleon's voice louder and clearer. What I mean is that his personal life, thinking and experiences are as important as what other people say; therefore, the book has less quotes and paraphrasing than the other two and feels more personal.
The aim of the book is to teach us how to think about creative work as a never-ending process, how to share our process to attract people who might be interested in our art, and how to deal with the ups and downs of sharing our work.
THE GOODIES
> Kleon has a very engaging style that connects us to him as a person immediately.
> I really like his approach to life, the artistic life especially, and the fact that he sounds like a decent human being that happens to be a famous writer by now. All of that is commendable.
> Once more, Kleon debunks the myth of the lone genius, the bohemian starving artist that lives in the collective unconscious. Kleon shows that most great ideas are birthed in a collaborative way with other creative people or from other people's minds or ideas
> Kleon also debunks the myth that success happens overnight.
> His advise on online sharing is excellent. Kleon gives sound advice on when, how often, and what sort of stuff we should be sharing.
> The author's advice on how to give credit to artists whose work we share or quote.
> Kleon's reflections on how the value of any given work is affected by the story attached to it. That's why it's important to be a good storyteller.
> The information on the psychology of forgery is fascinating.
> Sound advice on how to deal with criticism.
> Kleon's diaries snapshots at the end of the book give insight into his work process.
> I really like his approach to life, the artistic life especially, and the fact that he sounds like a decent human being that happens to be a famous writer by now. All of that is commendable.
> Once more, Kleon debunks the myth of the lone genius, the bohemian starving artist that lives in the collective unconscious. Kleon shows that most great ideas are birthed in a collaborative way with other creative people or from other people's minds or ideas
> Kleon also debunks the myth that success happens overnight.
> His advise on online sharing is excellent. Kleon gives sound advice on when, how often, and what sort of stuff we should be sharing.
> The author's advice on how to give credit to artists whose work we share or quote.
> Kleon's reflections on how the value of any given work is affected by the story attached to it. That's why it's important to be a good storyteller.
> The information on the psychology of forgery is fascinating.
> Sound advice on how to deal with criticism.
> Kleon's diaries snapshots at the end of the book give insight into his work process.
THE SO-SOS
For the rest, the book suffers from some of the sins as his previous books:
> The
content is still lean, and this feels, again, another diary/booklet/blog
turned into a book, what I call a blook. Kleon himself confirms "a lot of the ideas in this book started out as tweets, which then became blog posts, which then became book chapters." (Page 57).
> There are too many quotes, no matter how good they are. Also, I miss the quotes being properly referenced, not just the name but also occupation and source (book, TV interview, podcast, newspaper, etc.). In this way, he'd be following his own advice about giving due credit, but he does not.
> Most of what Kleon says in this book is directed to people who show/want to show their work online and the book revolves about that not about showing your work in any other sort of way, like ezines, small art galleries, etc.
> Although I like most of what Kleon says, the chapters are sometimes a bit off point.
> Repetitive at times.
> Repetitive at times.
> Section 1 seems fitter for Kleon's "Keep Going" book.
> Section 3 is very nice if you already have a name, but what about plagiarism? Not 'stealing' but totally using someone else's work? How do we counteract the online exposure with this very real every-day-happening fact?
> Section 3 is very nice if you already have a name, but what about plagiarism? Not 'stealing' but totally using someone else's work? How do we counteract the online exposure with this very real every-day-happening fact?
> Section 4 on Tell stories is great, a first good approach to what good stories are made of. I found that this is great if you're a writer but not so much if you're a painter. For sure, there are paints, ours or others', who go attached to personal or collective stores, but others are not. So in which way can we share and make stories about artwork that has no story? I can make a story about a problem with a painting, how I tackled the problem and how it ended, but not all my paintings are a struggle, and some others have no happy ending and, to be honest, I don't think this might interest other artists or the people I share with.
> Section 5 about sharing what you know is full of platitudes and statements that can be true for some online teachers. It is true that we gravitate towards artists whose art we like and can teach us, but not all of them are good teachers or know how to teach. Also, there are too many online (mostly bad/mediocre) teachers whose art is also mediocre. I'm all about teaching your work if you have something good to teach. Being great at what you do doesn't equal being a great teacher.
> Section 9 mentions the famous model of 'free' giveaways to get people's emails and then promote work or sell products or services. It definitely work. I guess it worked great when first came along. It works now? Not for me at least. What I do is this. I get interested in something being offered for free. I use a secondary barely personal email address, I get the freebie, when I start to get marketing or promotional emails, I unsubscribe. Did it work?
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1. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A GENIUS.
> It is not about having talent about the way we contribute to the world.
> It's very important to have and keep a beginner's mind, have a passion for what we do and keep going as our work will improve the longer we stick around. Amateurs get less stuck than professionals.
> Before sharing your work, think about what you want to learn, and do so in front of other people. Pay attention to what others are NOT sharing and fill in the void with your online presence.
> The only way to find your voice is to use it
> Reading obituaries or biographies of people who made great things is a way to connect with the present, give direction to our lives and not waste our time.
2. THINK PROCESS, NOT PRODUCT.
> It is not about having talent about the way we contribute to the world.
> It's very important to have and keep a beginner's mind, have a passion for what we do and keep going as our work will improve the longer we stick around. Amateurs get less stuck than professionals.
> Before sharing your work, think about what you want to learn, and do so in front of other people. Pay attention to what others are NOT sharing and fill in the void with your online presence.
> The only way to find your voice is to use it
> Reading obituaries or biographies of people who made great things is a way to connect with the present, give direction to our lives and not waste our time.
2. THINK PROCESS, NOT PRODUCT.
By sharing with others our process online every day we can create an audience and bond with them. Many people are interested not in the final piece of art, but in how we get, the messiness to get them, how we deal with the messiness, etc.
3. SHARE SOMETHING SMALL EVERY DAY.
> If in the very early stages, share your influences or what inspire you. If in the middle of it, write about your methods or share works in progress. If the project is finished, show it.
> Share something every day (blog post, twit, video, etc.).
> Pick the online platform that best suits your kind of artwork.
> Stick to the question " What you are working on/" and you’ll be good.
> Don’t show your personal life; show your work.
> Don't worry about being perfect, most of what we do is crap, but sharing our work opens up to how people react.
> If you're too busy or your life is hectic, devote just 30 minutes to online sharing a day.
> Don’t post work online that you’re not ready for everyone in the world to see.
> Don't overshare.
> When you share regularly, you'll notice patterns, themes and trends emerging from/in your work.
> Create your online space and build a good domain name. Stick to it forever. Keep it simple and professional.
4. OPEN UP YOUR CABINET OF CURIOSITIES.
> Before we’re ready to share our work with the world, we can share our tastes, things that drive us, artists we love, our artistic interest and influences, and what drive us to work.
3. SHARE SOMETHING SMALL EVERY DAY.
> If in the very early stages, share your influences or what inspire you. If in the middle of it, write about your methods or share works in progress. If the project is finished, show it.
> Share something every day (blog post, twit, video, etc.).
> Pick the online platform that best suits your kind of artwork.
> Stick to the question " What you are working on/" and you’ll be good.
> Don’t show your personal life; show your work.
> Don't worry about being perfect, most of what we do is crap, but sharing our work opens up to how people react.
> If you're too busy or your life is hectic, devote just 30 minutes to online sharing a day.
> Don’t post work online that you’re not ready for everyone in the world to see.
> Don't overshare.
> When you share regularly, you'll notice patterns, themes and trends emerging from/in your work.
> Create your online space and build a good domain name. Stick to it forever. Keep it simple and professional.
4. OPEN UP YOUR CABINET OF CURIOSITIES.
> Before we’re ready to share our work with the world, we can share our tastes, things that drive us, artists we love, our artistic interest and influences, and what drive us to work.
> Show who you are, what you like, and don't let anyone pressure you on to saying the contrary or feeling bad about yourself for that.
> Being open and honest will bring around those people who are in the same frequency.
> Don’t share things you can’t properly credit. Find the right credit, or don’t share.
5. TELL GOOD STORIES.
5. TELL GOOD STORIES.
> If you want to share effectively, you need to be a good storyteller, therefore, know what a good story is and how to tell one.
> A good story has a set structure that works most of the time, from the old fairy tales to the modern novels.There’s the initial problem, the work done to solve the problem, and the solution. The first act is the past, the second act is the present, and the third act is the future.
> Keep your audience in mind.
> Used proper language, good spelling and punctuation. Write clearly and in a way that is understandable.
> Speak about yourself and what you do. You should be able to explain your work to anyone and everyone but keep it honest, matter of fact, short and sweet.
6. TEACH WHAT YOU KNOW. Teach your craft, or techniques or how-to as this will generate more interest in your work. When you share your knowledge/work with others, you receive an education in return.
7. DON'T TURN INTO HUMAN SPAM. Don't turn into that sort of people who show no interest on anything or anyone but themselves. The sort of people who cave attention, notoriety and followers but show no appreciation or interest for those very people who follow them. If you want to get, you have to give.
6. TEACH WHAT YOU KNOW. Teach your craft, or techniques or how-to as this will generate more interest in your work. When you share your knowledge/work with others, you receive an education in return.
7. DON'T TURN INTO HUMAN SPAM. Don't turn into that sort of people who show no interest on anything or anyone but themselves. The sort of people who cave attention, notoriety and followers but show no appreciation or interest for those very people who follow them. If you want to get, you have to give.
> If you want to be accepted by a community, you have to first be a good citizen of that community.
> Forward-thinking artists aren’t just looking for passive-consumer fans, they’re looking for potential collaborators.
> Notice and you'll be notice. Give and you'll be given. If you want to be interesting, you have to be interested first.
> Make stuff you love and talk about stuff you love and you’ll attract people who love that kind of stuff.
> "Don’t be creepy. Don’t be a jerk. Don’t waste people’s time. Don’t ask too much. And don’t ever ever ask people to follow you. “Follow me back?” is the saddest question on the Internet." (Page 107).
> Don't do what drains you. Don't give air to people who drains you.
> Keep close those people who support and encourage you. Those you share your passions and view of the world. Praise them. Honor them. Be grateful for them. Collaborate with them. They're your inner circle.
> Meet your online peers in person.
8. LEARN TO TAKE A PUNCH.
8. LEARN TO TAKE A PUNCH.
> Relax and breeth. Criticism is not the end of the world.
> The more criticism you take, the less it can hurt you.
> You can only control how you react to criticism .
> Being hated by certain people is sometimes a badge of honor.
> You can always hide work that is too close to you to prevent it from being criticized, but avoiding vulnerability won't allow you truly to connect to other people.
> Your work is something you do, not what you are.
> Care only about what the right people think of you.
> Don't feed the trolls. Block people. Turn comments off if necessary.
9. SELL OUT.
> The more criticism you take, the less it can hurt you.
> You can only control how you react to criticism .
> Being hated by certain people is sometimes a badge of honor.
> You can always hide work that is too close to you to prevent it from being criticized, but avoiding vulnerability won't allow you truly to connect to other people.
> Your work is something you do, not what you are.
> Care only about what the right people think of you.
> Don't feed the trolls. Block people. Turn comments off if necessary.
9. SELL OUT.
> Turn fans into patrons.
> Ask for support when necessary.
> Keep a e-mailing list. Free giveaways are great to collect emails and have a group of people to connect, share or sell.
> Paid it forward. Praise those people, platforms or organizations that support/ed you before you were well-known.
10 STICK AROUND.
> Ask for support when necessary.
> Keep a e-mailing list. Free giveaways are great to collect emails and have a group of people to connect, share or sell.
> Paid it forward. Praise those people, platforms or organizations that support/ed you before you were well-known.
10 STICK AROUND.
> Getting there takes time. If you keep going,you'll get there. Don't quit too early.
> Success is never guaranteed, and nothing guarantees that after a success there will be another one.
> Persevere no matter you're successful or not.
> Use the end of one project to light up the next one. Ask yourself what you missed, what you could’ve done better, or what you couldn’t get to, and jump right into the next project.
> Take long breaks or sabbaticals if necessary. Otherwise, take advantage of your idle time (commuting, exercising, enjoying nature or going to a park).
> When you feel like you’ve learned whatever there is to learn from what you’re doing, change course and find something new to learn; move forward.
MIND
> This book is not a how-to and doesn't have an in-built method.
> The book focuses mostly on our presence online, how to show our work online .
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