Show Your Work, Austin Kleon
Have you ever felt paralyzed by the idea of sharing something about your work or about a topic you care about on the internet? Not because it’s makes you deeply uncomfortable, like sharing something really personal (which you are never obliged to do), but because you don’t know where to start or how to go about it or if would anyone cares? If so, I feel you.
I have been wanting to « share more » (whatever that means) for a while now but always ended up feeling a bit bad and mostly very, very lost. What should I write about? How do I consistently come up with something interesting? I don’t want to share anything personal, but would anyone care about the work and process of a new farmer/beginner cheese-maker/first-time entrepreneur? At the same time, I know that participating in the internet, instead of just « consuming » content can lead to so many opportunities to learn about new subjects, discovering new people and ideas, so it felt a shame to not even try.
Enters « Show Your Work » by Austin Kleon. I discovered this book thanks to Ali Abdaal, who recommended it on several occasions, and finally decided to read it. This one is a keeper: I just flipped through some of the pages to write this post, and it’s clear to me that this is a book that I should re-read regularly: it’s a breath of fresh air and a firm (but gentle) kick to the butt.
MOOD:
The push you need to just start sharing your work, your sources of inspiration, your process. This book is concise and full of good energy, with recommendations of how to start and ideas of what to share. And it only takes about 30 minutes to read.
GENRE:
Non-fiction; on creativity and life in general; improving yourself.
READ IF YOU LOVED:
Anything that Seth Godin has written.
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert.
FAVORITE QUOTE(S):
« Imagine something simpler and just as satisfying: spending the majority of your time, energy, and attention practicing a craft, learning a trade, or running a business, while also allowing for the possibility that your work might attract a group of people who share your interests. »
« Whether you share it or not, documenting and recording your process as you go along has its own rewards: You’ll start to see the work you’re doing more clearly and feel like you’re making progress. And when you’re ready to share, you’ll have a surplus of materiel to choose from. »