Stepping Out as a Creative
Being a creative used to seem like a coveted skill. Quiet artists, writers, and musicians sharing their work to the world in a way that is expected and well received.
In the social media age, things feel a little different. There are many ways to look at how creates share their work and there are definitely a lot of critics The benefits are that it’s easier to be seen and share your work with others. The downside is the over saturation and the possibility for harsh critique.
One thing I don’t feel I hear enough about is how absolutely terrifying it can be to announce yourself as a creative and build whatever platform you are trying to build.
As a writer, I need readers. I need people to know about me and my book in order to keep making a living as a writer. In our modern-day and age, this is usually done through social media. It’s great because it’s so easily accessible but it can be hard by how all-consuming it can become.
I now have spreadsheets and schedules of when and what I should post. It’s a real job and I personally feel it’s so worth it. But I have to step out as a creative in order to do my job well.
Who do I think I am? How can I possibly think of myself as worthy among the greats especially when I am just starting out? I don’t think I am alone in these thoughts, especially with fellow writers. It’s scary to pivot your platform from one that’s just for fun, to one that is about what you create. It’s a fine balance of being yourself and promoting yourself. And it’s one I am constantly teetering on.
Every time I make a post or talk about what I am doing to share my work, I anticipate the worst reaction. I think people will get annoyed with me or think I am trying too hard. Maybe people do, or maybe this is all in my head but what I am coming to realize is it doesn’t matter.
My mission is to serve my reader. Everyone is not my reader. Everyone will not love my work and that’s okay. It’s not for them, but it is for someone.
Coming out as a creative is hard. Trying different strategies to continue being creative is hard, but it’s all worth it and you deserve it for yourself. Even if your work is the worst, share it for you. Share it for that maybe one person that will love it. What else is life about if you can’t be yourself and share yourself with others.
