There’s probably a project sitting in the back of your mind. An idea you care about so much that starting feels risky, what if it doesn’t turn out the way you hoped? Or maybe you’re just too busy to give it the attention it deserves.
But the truth is, you should probably just start.
For better or worse, the way we’re perceived professionally is largely shaped by what we share online. Our Instagram feed, LinkedIn profile, or personal website. These platforms can feel limiting, like you're expected to distill your entire personality and creative range into a few curated tiles and a LinkedIn bio.
There’s a temptation to spend far too much time thinking about these things. However, as I continue to work and have conversations with others who are undertaking incredible projects, they all share one similar piece of advice.
“Share the work you want to do more of.”
Sounds easy, but it can be really difficult, leading to thoughts like, “What do I actually want to do?” or “I’m not at the level I want to be yet, so I’ll just wait.”
But the artists and creatives you admire have made a lot of things they didn’t love. Projects that were revised beyond recognition. Passion pieces that never landed. Client work they took just to pay the bills. Their online presence might look pristine, but just like yours, it’s curated, not complete.
It’s far better to spend your time perfecting your craft, learning the tools, making the work you want to see more of, putting it out there, and then starting the process all over again.
Start.
Put pen to paper, finger to mouse, idea to instrument. If you use your creative skills for work, it’s easy to reserve that energy only for your job. But if you’re not doing the kind of work you love on the clock, find outlets elsewhere. Little side projects that keep you inspired.
Do it well.
Everyone starts somewhere, but that doesn’t mean you should stay there.
So many ideas die on the learning curve, when your skills can’t yet match the concept in your head. The only way through that is to keep going. Spend time on your own projects. Do them well. It’s long and it’s difficult, but if you’re working on things you love, you’ll get better. Eventually, your skills will catch up to your ideas.
Stay consistent.
This is the part where I could give some generic advice like, “It takes six months to build a habit and years to master a skill.” But seriously, it takes time to get even halfway decent at anything. And if you’re just starting, chances are you’re not that great at it yet. But that’s okay. That’s part of the process. Share your process, the learning curves, and how you got through them.
Get Paid (If Possible).
I think creative people should be paid for their work. That said, the paid work won’t always look the way you want it to. And that’s okay. It might feel weird, even wrong, to take on a project you’re not passionate about, but sometimes it’s worth doing if it helps you learn.
If you can get paid to pick up a new tool or sharpen a skill that brings you closer to the kind of work you want to make, that’s a win. And if we’re honest, it’s a lot easier to make time for creativity when work is helping pay the bills.
There are so many people who need creative help. Even if the brief isn’t exciting, treat it like a challenge. How can you make it fun? What can you learn from it? That’s the job, too. Be creative, even when the project isn’t.
If you get the chance to meet someone whose work you admire, ask them about all the things they’ve made that no one’s ever seen. You’ll probably find out the portfolio you admire is built on a pile of unfinished drafts, scrapped concepts, and quiet failures. Stuff they never posted. Stuff they weren’t proud of. Insert generic iceberg graphic with the portfolio on top and all the messy work underneath.
Ask if they’ve ever taken a gig just for the paycheck. They’ll probably say yes.
The people you admire aren’t some perfect creative class. They’re just people who kept going. They’ve just put in the time and discipline to make something out of their endeavors.
That’s the key. You’ll make things you don’t like. You’ll look back on something that once felt great and cringe. But that’s how it works. Every project you regret is another rep. Another lesson. Another step closer to the kind of work you actually want to be doing.
Yes, it’s scary. But sharing your work has always been part of the creative process. Long before the internet, artists still had to put themselves out there. They hung their paintings in galleries. Musicians played open mics. Writers made zines and handed them out one by one. Journalists had to find publishers. If you wanted to create for a living, you had to find a way to be seen.
Now, the reach is bigger. What used to take years of gatekeepers and good luck can now happen online much quicker. Social media can feel like a burden. Like another job, another algorithm to please. But at its core, it’s just a tool. It gives you the ability to put your work in front of more people than any generation before you could even dream of.
You don’t need to be viral. But you do need to be visible.
If you want to do more of your craft, especially as a career, you have to put it out there. Not just any work, but the work. The kind you want to be known for. Share it in a way that feels honest. You don’t need to mimic trends or chase engagement. You just need to show up, consistently, with something real.
Be honest. Be consistent. Be generous with your ideas. And over time, people will notice. They’ll start to associate you with that kind of work. They might ask to collaborate. They might even pay you for it.
But none of that can happen if you keep it all to yourself.
Keep creating and repeating,
- James
🗓️ How to Finally Make Something: A breakdown of the traps creatives fall into, and a guide to actually starting and finishing your work.
🛞 Michelin Man: Graphic design inspiration from the history of the Michelin Man. A brand character that has evolved with the mediums available.
🎨 The Matter of Taste: “Taste is cultivated by a natural curiosity for a problem space.”
🔴 Alright Studio: A full-service creative-tech agency behind work for A24, USAL Project, and more.
Creative Rebels
This week, Create.Repeat founder Zack Evans sat down with David Speed, host of Creative Rebels. Tune in as they dive into the dark arts of going viral and explore what it really means to find your purpose.
Create.Repeat is a community for creatives.
The Create.Repeat Substack is a project designed to be a weekly diary on creativity. Sharing inspiration for artists to keep creating and repeating.
Written and curated by Zack Evans & James Warren Taylor
Each week we will be sharing recent thoughts on creativity, some links helping us stay creative, and a talent show featuring an artist from the community. Thank you for engaging with us.
History repeats. Create the future.
So glad I found this newsletter!
this is great - been struggling a lot with simply sitting down and making something. but facing that imposter syndrome head on by doing something rather than nothing always proves to be the right answer.