Creativity Business Personal Development

Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered (Summary)

by Austin Kleon

Stop waiting to be a genius. The world has moved on from the myth of the lone, isolated artist. Your greatest creative asset isn't your expertise; it's your willingness to learn in public. By sharing your process—the sketches, the mistakes, the influences, and the small discoveries—you can build an audience that cares about your work long before it’s 'finished'. Your learning journey is the content.

Think Process, Not Product

Don't wait until a project is perfect and polished to share it. People are fascinated by the 'how-to' and 'behind-the-scenes' of creative work. Sharing your process provides daily content and builds a stronger connection with your audience.

A chef doesn't just present a finished dish. They could post an Instagram story of shopping for ingredients at the farmers' market, a short video of a knife-skills technique they're practicing, or a blog post about a recipe that failed miserably. This narrative is more engaging than just a final photo.

Be an Amateur

The 'genius' label is intimidating and paralyzing. Embracing the status of an amateur gives you the freedom to experiment, make messes, and learn in front of others. Amateurs are learners, and by sharing what you're learning, you attract others who are learning, too.

Instead of claiming to be an expert photographer, you can start a project called 'Learning Light.' Each day, you post one photo attempting a specific lighting technique, along with a note about what you learned or struggled with. Your public learning becomes a resource for others.

Become a Node, Not a Hermit

Creativity doesn't happen in a vacuum. To be found, you must be findable. Instead of hoarding your ideas and influences, become a valuable node in your network by generously sharing and crediting the work of others you admire.

A graphic designer shouldn't just tweet their own portfolio. They could create a weekly Twitter thread of '5 Amazing Fonts I Discovered This Week,' with links to the type foundries and designers who created them. This makes their social media feed a go-to resource for their entire industry.

Teach What You Know

Sharing your knowledge and skills is one of the fastest ways to build an audience and clarify your own understanding. The act of teaching forces you to organize your thoughts and often reveals gaps in your own knowledge, making you better at your craft.

A woodworker who learns a new joinery technique can film a quick, one-minute video showing how it's done. This not only helps aspiring woodworkers but also solidifies the technique in their own mind and establishes them as a helpful authority.

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