Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered Author: Visit Amazon's Austin Kleon Page | Language: English | ISBN:
076117897X | Format: PDF
Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered Description
Review
"[Show Your Work is] timeless; readers can return to it repeatedly throughout life and still glean useful ideas and tips... Anyone starting out (or starting over)...will find upbeat encouragement here."
--Library Journal
“Sassy and spot-on.”
--Publishers Weekly
Review
“Austin Kleon is one of the brightest new minds on the creative landscape. SHOW YOUR WORK! demonstrates why. With simple yet profound insights, and an array of his amazing images, he casts aside old stereotypes of the creative life and tells what it’s really like.”
—DANIEL H. PINK, author of To Sell Is Human and Drive
See all Editorial Reviews
- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Workman Publishing Company (March 6, 2014)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 076117897X
- ISBN-13: 978-0761178972
- Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
- Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
I loved Austin's first book, Steal Like an Artist, and did exactly what he told me, including buying extra copies of his book and giving it to all my friends. As a writer and an artist, his advice is simple, inspiring, and fun to follow. I still use that book as a reference when I need a pick-me-up.
His new book, Show Your Work!, feeds the need for those of us who wanted more! It's the same format - quick chapters with full page black and white photos, quotes from famous folks that you will be pinning to your studio walls,lots of his newspaper blackout phrases, and the same simple noteworthy advice that Kleon is so good at!
Building off of his first book, Kleon encourages the artist, writer, or anyone creative to dig a bit deeper to reach their audience. He teaches you how to introduce yourself at a party, how not to be human spam, to tell good stories, to share something small everyday, to build a mailing list. But then there are good life lessons like stepping away from what you are doing, or starting over, teach what you know, think process not product, and so much more.
If you are looking for a step-by-step how-to guide to getting rich and famous at novel writing or art selling, this isn't it. But if you want a fun cheerleader-type book chocked full of good advice that's to the point and easy to follow, Kleon is your man. This book would make a great gift for the artist in your life, if you aren't one yourself.
But as an artist or writer, you have to follow through! Follow him on Twitter, do the little things he suggests, scratch each others' backs, and show your work! It really works - removing the stress from your creativity and helping you to step back and see the bigger picture!
One thing I've always strived to improve has been my transparency. It's also one of the things I've always struggled most with. It's just not instinctual to me. I literally have to pour my time and energy into showing pieces of myself and my work to the world. And it's not even just my work--I don't even update my personal Facebook on a regular basis.
When I realized what Austin Kleon's newest book was about, I knew I had to have it. The theme is Show Your Work. How apropos. Once I had it in my hands, there was so much for me to learn. Here are a few of my favorite lessons from each chapter:
1. You don't have to be a genius.
Anyone can share their art. There are no limits here.
"You can't find your voice if you don't use it."
"Raw enthusiasm is contagious."
2. Think process, not product.
It's not about the final product; it's about the journey.
"We're not all artists or astronauts. A lot of us go about our work and feel like we have nothing to show for it at the end of the day. But whatever the nature of your work, there is an art to what you do, and there are people who would be interested in that art, if only you presented it to them in the right way."
3. Share something small every day.
You don't have to post something big. Share small things on a regular basis and you'll keep up your momentum.
"Put yourself, and your work, out there every day and you'll start meeting some amazing people." - Bobby Solomon
You should be continually asking yourself this question: "What are you working on?"
Whatever you do, do not overshare.
4. Open up your cabinet of curiosities.
If someone shares something and you like it, share it, too.
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