It's a lot of work publishing a book, having a gallery show,
releasing an album. It's a lot of work to finish and screen the documentary,
stage the dance and unveil the new collection.
It's a lot of work to create something good. It's also a lot
of work to release what you've created to the public.
This is for anyone who creates something and then shares it.
You may have an audience of millions of people. You may have an audience of five
people. Most of us fall somewhere in between.
This applies in a direct way to artists, writers, designers
and musicians. It also applies to people who work outside of what we think of
as creative fields in the traditional sense. It isn't for the person working
day in and day out in total isolation. You would need a different sort of blog
post.
It's for people who hit publish. It's for people who perform.
It's for people who sell their wares. It's for people who reveal. Other people
read it or don't, show up or not, buy it or decide not to.
You're working in a single-minded way on the finishing
touches of that memoir and the publication date and book release party are finally
in sight. You've got the author readings and book signings scheduled. It seems
tempting and intuitive to just focus on that book. You'll decide what to do
next after the book tour. After the party. When time frees up a bit. Take a
breather. Bask in the accomplishment.
I get it. But here's why my idea is better.
Once the work gets shared with the world, the room, the
stage or the conference audience, it’s out there. By the time other people have
the chance to review, comment, respond, share, ignore, purchase, watch, listen
to, re-tweet, wear, read, write about, rank, hate on, misunderstand or worship
your work, it needs to be like old news to you.
It needs to feel like old news to you when it feels like
breaking news to everyone else.
Here it is in practical terms.
You're a painter hanging your show of exquisite paintings
using re-claimed wood as a surface. They're all about color and knotty texture
and beautiful interaction - collaboration
- with the wood. Your show opens, and you're accepting congratulations and
sipping - okay guzzling - white wine.
But earlier that day, you were in the studio that doubles as
a guest room. You were already working on the second painting in a new series.
These are on white linen, are soft and ethereal. They seem lit from within. You've
made a bit of a departure.
This is good.
You can show your finished work in its best light, have the
most beautiful packaging and the state of the art sound system. You can work
with the best graphic designer for that book cover or collaborate with the
dream producer. The acoustics may be perfect. The cinematography sublime.
You still don't have much control over how your work will be
received. The truth is, it probably won't be unanimously praised. Most people
may love it, but a few might hate it. Most people may hate it and a few may
love it. People might feel apathy. People might find it derivative.
People adore it. That love may be close to universal. But
then no one will want to buy it.
Critics hate it, but it's flying off the shelves.
Try as you might to influence it, you can't control it.
Better that it feels like old news, this work you're
presenting. It's still yours. But it's not you.
You're a moving train. You could bomb. It's better to be
halfway through your comeback when this happens. You don't want to be staring
at a blank screen or canvas.
You don't want to get all bogged down in how you'll follow
the wildly successful show, blog post or lecture. For better or worse, it's
already happening. You're in motion. It doesn't mean you can't change
direction. But that's not the same as starting from scratch.
No one thing should canonize you. No one thing should
destroy you. Working on the next thing prevents either of these things from
happening. It keeps you current. It keeps you running ahead. You’ll never be
yesterday’s news.
I like dispensing advice about the creative process. You can
read more at the links below.
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