Nobody wants to see your work.
Oof, that’s harsh. Why would I say such a thing?
Because we all need the reminder.
We attend writing groups, get feedback from peers, and they all pay attention to our work. This creates outlandish expectations. It’s not how things are in the real world.
Outside our feedback groups, we believe the myth that the world will embrace our work—even beg for it—because that’s how it is with established artists. Their stuff is released with great anticipation, waitlists, and throngs of fans lining up to see it first. So, we figure that’s how it is.
It isn’t. The world only appears that way for them because they’ve paid their dues, shown up consistently, and built a big following.
But does it really work that way for anyone?
No. Almost no one. Only the top tier, the top .01 percent of the 1 percent have throngs of fans lining up to get a first look. Taylor Swift and maybe two or three others.
The rest of us—even established artists—have to market our work, pitch ourselves, and sell like carnival barkers to get anyone to pay attention. I know from “heat map” analysis at The Onion that only about 15% of readers actually read the stories. Most just read the headlines.
This mindset of “nobody wants to see my work” is critical when you’re writing, when you’re releasing, and when you’re promoting. It will strengthen you.
When you’re writing, you need to make your work enticing, attractive, and easy to consume. You need to use grabber headlines and dazzling graphics to get people onboard.
When you’re releasing it and promoting it, in whatever medium, you need to push it. You need to post about it, market it, and shout about it from the rooftops.
It’s a lot of work, but hey—this is what we signed up for.
Here’s the good news:
TODAY’s TIP:
Enjoy the process.
If you’re daunted by having to fight the uphill battle of getting people to see your work, just let go. Have fun producing your work. Put it out into the world with zero expectations.
The audience can smell when you’re having fun versus when you’re desperate for attention. They can smell it like a wolf can smell fear.
Here’s three ways to know you’re in the right headspace:
• If you would do the work anyway, regardless if anyone ever saw it.
• If you produce your creative work with boundless energy and joy, regardless how successful it might be.
• If people tell you your work is terrible, and you don’t take it personally, but instead take this feedback as an opportunity to improve.
I’ll see you in the funny papers.
MASH was almost trashed too!
Put it out there with zero expectations. That's very Zen and I can dig it. Please yourself with what you create and put it out there.