The Case for Sharing Your Work in Public and the Frustrating Quote About Creativity

The Case for Sharing Your Work in Public and the Frustrating Quote About Creativity

Creativity is a journey that often begins with high ambitions and good taste. However, many creatives find themselves in a frustrating phase where their work falls short of their expectations. It's during this period that many individuals give up on their creative pursuits. But what if there was a way to bridge the gap between our taste and our actual output? This is where the case for sharing your work in public comes into play.

At first glance, it may seem counterintuitive to share your work before it reaches its full potential. After all, keeping your intentions private can provide a sense of satisfaction without the actual work. However, studies have shown that sharing your progress can be incredibly beneficial. It not only helps you stay motivated, but it also allows for reflection and planning of your next steps. Austin Kleon, author of "Show Your Work," encourages individuals to become documentarians of their creative journey.

One of the key advantages of sharing your work in public is the ability to take an iterative approach. By putting your work out there, you can gather feedback and make improvements along the way. This ensures that your creative endeavors are aligned with the needs you have identified. Great ideas often stem from a network of information within a transparent community. By sharing your ideas, you increase the likelihood of connecting the dots between your own ideas and those of others. It opens up opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and partnerships with like-minded individuals.

While sharing your work in public may initially feel uncomfortable, it becomes easier over time. It's essential to find the people who care about your work and connect with them. This may involve joining online groups or attending offline meetups. However, it's crucial to strike a balance between sharing your work and actually doing the work. When done properly and integrated into your workflow, sharing your work in public can significantly enhance productivity and creativity. In fact, it can become strange to work in isolation once you become accustomed to the benefits of sharing.

Now, let's circle back to the frustrating quote about creativity from Ira Glass, creator and host of This American Life. Glass emphasizes the existence of a gap between our taste and the quality of our work. This gap can be disheartening, causing many individuals to quit. However, Glass offers a solution: the key is to do a lot of work and put yourself on a deadline to finish projects regularly. It is through this volume of work that we can gradually close the gap and reach a level where our work matches our ambitions.

Creativity is not a one-time event; it is a practice. It requires repetition and reinvention over time. Each project is an opportunity to improve and make the next one better. The job is not to "be creative," but to create. Ira Glass's words at SXSW in 2017 perfectly summarize this truth: "Don't wait. Just make the thing. Make a version, and then make it better, and then make it better."

With this understanding, it becomes clear that anyone can make what matters. We all have the capability to create meaningful things. The key is to close the gap between our taste, intuition, and ambitions, and what our skills are currently capable of producing. And the way to close that gap is by creating a volume of work. Thus, the most important and only real project is our body of work.

To conclude, here are three actionable pieces of advice to incorporate sharing your work in public and closing the gap between your taste and your output:

1. Embrace vulnerability and start sharing your work in public. Whether it's through social media, online platforms, or local communities, find a space where you can showcase your progress and receive feedback.

2. Seek out like-minded individuals and actively engage with them. Join online groups, attend meetups, and participate in discussions related to your creative pursuits. Connecting with others who share your interests can lead to valuable collaborations and mentorship opportunities.

3. Maintain a balance between sharing your work and actually doing the work. Sharing should enhance your creative process, not derail it. Integrate sharing into your workflow in a way that feels natural and productive.

By incorporating these practices, you can unlock the benefits of sharing your work in public and continuously improve your creative output. Remember, creativity is a journey, and the key is to keep creating and closing the gap between your taste and your ambitions.