I Was Too Scared To Share My Creative Work Online Until I Read This Book - Everything Changed!
- Jainam Shroff
- Mar 5
- 3 min read
You don't have to be a genius to show your work. In his fantastic book "Show Your Work," author Austin Kleon offers a fresh perspective: sharing your work online is not only wholly acceptable but also the best path to recognition and personal creative growth.
In this first part of a two-part article, I'll explore key points from the book while adding my insights.
Your Creative Work Does Not Have to Be Perfect
We are all amateurs at heart. Many of us fear sharing imperfect work, worried about judgment and criticism. But we should embrace being lifelong learners—and doing this learning publicly accelerates our growth. Remember, everyone starts as a beginner.
The author makes a powerful point: read obituaries. When we confront our mortality, concerns like pride and embarrassment become trivial.
Learning in public also connects us with like-minded people, creating opportunities to learn from each other. History shows scientific breakthroughs typically emerge from group efforts, not solitary geniuses. While the myth of the lone genius makes for compelling stories, real progress comes from collaboration.
“Give what you have. To someone, it may be better than you dare to think.” —Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Focus On the Journey More Than The Destination
Every creative work has two aspects: the final product (like a completed painting) and the creation process (the act of painting). People are naturally curious about how things are made, so sharing your creative process tends to draw more viewers than just showing the result.
Consider astronaut Chris Hadfield's approach in 2013. To build interest in the Canadian Space Agency, he turned to social media with help from his sons. Throughout his five-month space mission, he shared his scientific work and daily life on the International Space Station—from photographing Earth to brushing his teeth. This authentic behind-the-scenes content drew millions of followers.
Make documentation a daily habit. Record your work process, capture your ideas with voice notes, and photograph your creative journey. This practice offers two advantages: You'll see your progress, and when your work gains attention, you'll have plenty of engaging content ready to share with your audience.
“A lot of people are so used to just seeing the outcome of work. They never see the side of the work you go through to produce the outcome.” —Michael Jackson
Share Something Daily
While anything worthwhile takes years or even decades to achieve, we must break down this intimidating timespan into something more manageable. The most natural unit for our minds to grasp is a single day—from sunrise to sunset.
Start by purchasing a domain under your name and sharing your work. Don't have anything to share yet? Share what inspires you instead. If you're juggling multiple projects, share progress updates for each one. Try different social platforms—Medium, X, Quora, Facebook—to find what suits you best.
Yes, sharing daily means you'll produce mediocre content—that's normal on the internet. Pay attention to audience reactions to learn what resonates. Just don't let sharing overtake your creative work. Set a strict time limit for sharing activities; when time's up, return to your craft.
“Put yourself, and your work, out there every day, and you’ll start meeting some amazing people.” —Bobby Solomon
When You Give, You Gain More
Think of yourself as a curator of interesting things—quotes, images, stories, and ideas that resonate with you. These collections showcase your unique perspective and interests. Instead of keeping these discoveries to yourself, share them with others. Becoming a "documentarian of what you do" creates a digital trail of your interests and creative journey. This sharing helps others discover new things and establishes you as a valuable connection in the creative network.
Through collecting and sharing, you'll refine your taste, connect with like-minded people, and build a distinctive digital presence that naturally attracts opportunities and collaborations.
“The problem with hoarding is you end up living off your reserves. Eventually, you’ll become stale. If you give away everything you have, you are left with nothing. This forces you to look, to be aware, to replenish. . . . Somehow the more you give away, the more comes back to you.” —Paul Arden
Humans Connect With Stories
We humans have a deep-seated affinity for stories. Stories permeate religion and connect all of us, regardless of our culture, religion, or upbringing. Consider two identical-looking artworks—one made by an AI and another by a human who has experienced struggles and triumphs. Once we learn the stories behind these works, we naturally gravitate toward human-made art.
Share your creative work and journey through storytelling—it's the most effective way to connect with others and build a community.
“To fake a photograph, all you have to do is change the caption. To fake a painting, change the attribution.” —Errol Morris
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3EZsTcL
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