I’m thrilled to embark on this blogging journey, ignited by the wisdom found within the pages of Austin Kleon’s remarkable book, “Show Your Work.” This book has been a game-changer, nudging me to share my creative journey and insights with the world. In a world brimming with talent and ideas, “Show Your Work” provides the compass we all need to navigate the landscape of self-expression and creativity. So, let’s dive into the essence of this book and discover how it can unlock your creative potential and transform your approach to sharing your work with others.
Unveiling the Power of Show Your Work
Austin Kleon’s “Show Your Work” is a manifesto for creative individuals who are passionate about their craft and eager to share it with the world. This book is not just about showcasing finished masterpieces; it’s about embracing the process and inviting others to join you on your creative journey. Here, I’ll distill the key insights and actionable steps from “Show Your Work” that have inspired me to create this blog and share my journey with you.
Key Concepts of Show Your Work
Share Your Process
Concept: Austin Kleon emphasises the importance of sharing your creative process, not just the final outcome. By documenting your journey from inspiration to completion, you offer your audience a behind-the-scenes look at your work.
Reflection: Consider how sharing your creative process can benefit both you and your audience. Transparency allows others to connect with your journey, offering a chance to learn from your experiences. What aspects of your creative process are worth sharing? How can you make this journey accessible and engaging for your audience?
Be Open and Vulnerable
Concept: In “Show Your Work,” Kleon encourages creators to be open and authentic. Share not only your successes but also your doubts, struggles, and failures. This vulnerability makes your work relatable and human.
Reflection: Reflect on moments of vulnerability in your creative journey. How have these moments led to growth or deeper connections with your audience? What fears or hesitations have held you back from being more open about your creative struggles? Embracing vulnerability can be a powerful tool for building trust and fostering a sense of community with your audience.
Build a Creative Community
Concept: Kleon advocates for cultivating relationships with fellow creatives. Collaborating, supporting, and promoting each other’s work can lead to a stronger creative community. Such a network provides valuable feedback and encouragement.
Reflection: Evaluate your current creative network. Are there opportunities to collaborate, support, or promote the work of fellow creatives? How can you contribute to the growth and vitality of your creative community? Consider the potential benefits of receiving feedback and encouragement from peers, as well as the joy of supporting others in their creative journeys.
Teach and Share Your Knowledge
Concept: Sharing what you know, no matter how limited it may seem, can benefit others. Teaching is a powerful way to solidify your understanding and connect with an audience.
Reflection: Think about what you know and how you can share it with others. What skills or insights do you possess that could be valuable to someone else? Reflect on the act of teaching as a means of reinforcing your own understanding and connecting with a broader audience. Teaching not only imparts knowledge but also strengthens your position as a knowledgeable creator.
Tell a Compelling Story
Concept: Kleon suggests that creators should craft narratives around their work. Stories resonate with people and make your work more engaging. Share the journey behind your creations.
Reflection: Take a moment to consider the stories behind your creative work. How can you craft narratives that resonate with your audience? Are there specific experiences, challenges, or breakthroughs that you can weave into your storytelling to make your work more engaging and relatable? Storytelling is a powerful tool for connecting with your audience on a deeper level and making your work memorable.
Actionable Steps to “Show Your Work”
Start Before You’re Ready
Book Teaching: Begin sharing your creative process and progress now, even if it feels imperfect.
Action: Share a recent creative endeavor or idea with a friend or on your preferred social media platform. Don’t overthink it; just put it out there.
Reflection: What is the immediate response? How does it feel to share your work without waiting for perfection?
Share Something Small Every Day
Book Teaching: Share a snippet, a sketch, a thought, or a work-in-progress daily.
Action: Post a quick snapshot or a few sentences about your current creative project today, and commit to doing so every day for a week.
Reflection: How does the act of sharing daily affect your creative process and engagement with your audience?
Embrace Your Process
Book Teaching: Document your creative process – the messy drafts, the failed attempts, the eureka moments. Let others see the evolution of your work, from inception to completion.
Action: Capture a photo or video of your creative workspace right now, no tidying up allowed. Share it with a brief description.
Reflection: What does this reveal about the reality of your creative process? How do you feel about sharing this unfiltered glimpse into your world?
Teach What You Know
Book Teaching: Share your knowledge, no matter how limited you think it is.
Action: Write down three key tips or insights related to your creative field that you could share with others. Share one of them on your social media or blog today.
Reflection: How did it feel to share your knowledge, no matter how limited it may seem? Did you receive any feedback or engagement?
Use Your Network
Book Teaching: Connect with fellow creatives and build a supportive network. Share each other’s work and collaborate to expand your reach and creative horizons.
Action: Reach out to a fellow creative you admire or have collaborated with in the past. Express your appreciation or propose a new collaboration idea.
Reflection: How can fostering these connections lead to opportunities and growth within your creative network?
Be Open and Generous
Book Teaching: Be generous with your knowledge and insights. Help others along their creative journeys.
Action: Find a creative-related question or request from someone in your network or audience and offer your insights or assistance without expecting anything in return.
Reflection: How does generosity impact your creative relationships and the sense of community around your work?
Tell Good Stories
Book Teaching: Craft compelling narratives around your work.
Action: Write a short story or anecdote related to one of your creative projects or experiences. Share it with your audience.
Reflection: What was the response to your storytelling? How did it enhance the connection with your audience?
Don’t Fear Criticism
Book Teaching: Embrace constructive criticism as a tool for growth.
Action: Seek out a creative peer or mentor and ask for constructive feedback on one of your recent works or projects.
Reflection: How did it feel to embrace criticism as a tool for growth? What valuable insights did you gain?
Keep Learning
Book Teaching: Stay curious and continue learning.
Action: Set aside 30 minutes to explore a new topic or skill related to your creative field. Share your discoveries or thoughts on what you’ve learned.
Reflection: How does continuous learning enrich your creative journey and resonate with your audience?
Show Appreciation
Book Teaching: Acknowledge and appreciate your audience.
Action: Respond to comments or messages from your audience or fellow creatives, expressing your gratitude and genuine interest in their thoughts.
Reflection: How does acknowledging your audience strengthen your connection with them?
Celebrate Your Successes
Book Teaching: Celebrate milestones, big or small, and share your joy with your audience.
Action: Take a moment to write down a recent creative accomplishment, no matter how small. Share it on your preferred platform as a personal milestone.
Reflection: How did celebrating your success impact your motivation and engagement with your audience?
Make It Easy to Share
Book Teaching: Ensure your work is easily shareable.
Action: Add social media sharing buttons to your website or blog if you haven’t already. Encourage your audience to spread the word about your work.
Reflection: How does simplifying the sharing process benefit your audience’s ability to promote your work?
Document, Don’t Create
Book Teaching: Instead of constantly trying to create new content, document what you’re already doing.
Action: Take a photo or make a short video documenting a tool or process you’re currently using in your creative work. Share it with a brief description.
Reflection: How does this documentation offer insights into your creative process and routines?
Find Your Niche
Book Teaching: Discover your unique voice and niche within your creative field.
Action: Define in one sentence what makes your creative voice and perspective unique. Share this sentence with your audience.
Reflection: How does identifying your niche help you stand out and attract a specific audience interested in your work?
Stay Playful
Book Teaching: Maintain a sense of playfulness and experimentation in your creative process.
Action: Allocate a brief period today to experiment with a creative idea or approach you’ve been curious about but haven’t tried yet.
Reflection: How does embracing playfulness and experimentation infuse new energy into your creative journey?
Summary of “Show Your Work”
“Show Your Work” by Austin Kleon is a guidebook for creative individuals seeking to navigate the digital age and share their work effectively. Kleon advocates for a shift in mindset where creators open themselves up to vulnerability and transparency, showcasing their creative process, influences, and inspirations.
The book emphasises the importance of embracing the journey, not just the destination, and encourages artists, writers, and creators to document and share their progress and experiences. By doing so, creatives can connect with an audience, build a community, and gain valuable feedback.
Kleon offers practical advice on how to share your work in a digital world, from utilising social media to creating shareable content. He also explores the concept of “amplifying” the work of others, helping to foster a culture of generosity and collaboration among creatives.
Key Quotes – Austin Kleon
- “You don’t have to be a genius. You just have to be yourself.”
- “Share what you love, and the people who love the same things will find you.”
- “You can’t find your voice if you don’t use it.”
- “Become a documentarian of what you do.”
- “Don’t think of your website as a self-promotion machine, think of it as a self-invention machine.”
- “The act of sharing is one of generosity—you’re putting something out there because you think it might be helpful or entertaining to someone on the other side of the screen.”
- “Make stuff you love and talk about stuff you love and you’ll attract people who love that kind of stuff. It’s that simple.”
These quotes capture the essence of Kleon’s message in “Show Your Work!” which emphasises the importance of sharing, authenticity, and connecting with like-minded individuals in the creative process.
Reflection
Ultimately, “Show Your Work” inspires individuals to let go of the fear of judgment and perfectionism, and instead focus on the process of creation. It’s a call to be open, generous, and authentic in sharing one’s creative journey with the world, understanding that in doing so, we not only enrich our own creative practice but also contribute to a vibrant and supportive creative community.
As we embark on this blogging adventure, I’m committed to putting these principles into action and sharing my creative journey with you. Let’s explore the exciting world of creativity, self-expression, and the power of sharing our work with the world together.
