Closing the Gap: Creativity, Work, and the Changing Landscape of Art and Writing

Closing the Gap: Creativity, Work, and the Changing Landscape of Art and Writing

In the world of creativity, there is a common struggle that many beginners face. It's the frustrating gap between their taste and the quality of their work. Ira Glass, the creator and host of This American Life, described this phenomenon perfectly when he said, "For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be. It has potential. But your taste -- your taste is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you."

Glass's quote resonates with many artists and writers because it captures the essence of the creative journey. When we start out, we have high expectations for ourselves. We have a vision of what our work should look like, but we lack the skills to execute it. This discrepancy can be disheartening and often leads to self-doubt and frustration.

However, Glass offers a glimmer of hope in his advice. He emphasizes the importance of doing a lot of work and putting oneself on a deadline. By consistently creating and completing projects, we can close the gap between our taste and our abilities. It's through practice and repetition that we improve and eventually produce work that meets our own standards.

Creativity is not just about being "creative." It's about the act of creating itself. This idea was succinctly summarized by Glass during a talk at SXSW in 2017 when he said, "Don’t wait. Just make the thing. Make a version, and then make it better and then make it better." This philosophy applies to all creative endeavors, whether it's writing, painting, or any other form of art.

But the landscape of creativity is rapidly changing, thanks to advancements in technology and the rise of platforms like TikTok. The market dynamics and algorithms now play a significant role in determining the content that is created and consumed. James Patterson, the bestselling author, understands this well. He recognizes that he has a product to sell, and he leverages the economic incentives to his advantage.

The emergence of TikTok's BookTok community is a testament to the power of algorithms in shaping consumer attention. With over 77 billion views globally, BookTok has become a driving force in book sales. Retailers like Barnes and Noble and Indigo have taken notice of its influence. However, this shift towards algorithmic recommendation feeds raises concerns about the quality and substance of the content being produced.

In a world driven by attention and algorithms, the holders of consumer attention have become the new gatekeepers. To succeed as an artist or writer, one must create work that resonates with the internet audience and aligns with the algorithms' preferences. This shift in power dynamics has led to the democratization of creativity, allowing more people to become artists. However, it also raises questions about the future of the traditional writer archetype.