Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered (Austin Kleon) Paperback – Illustrated, March 6, 2014

Great read, precise and to the point.It gives you great ideas on how to expose your work in ways that you may have not thought of.

As Austin Kleon explains, his previous book, Steal Like an Artist, "was about stealing influence from other people" whereas "this book is about how to influence others by letting them steal from [begin italics] you [end italics]." I agree with him that "all you have to do is to show your work" but only if (HUGE "if") it's worth stealing and you know how to do that in terms of what, when, and where. Actually, he wrote this book "for people who hate the very idea of self-promotion." It's not enough to be very good. "In order to be found, you have to [begin italics] be findable [end italics]. I think there's an easy way of putting your work out there and making it discoverable [begin italics] while [end italics] you're focused on getting really good at what you do."Kleon's two books can be of incalculable value to those who need help with creating content (whatever its nature and extent may be) and then help with attracting the interest and support of those on whom the success of the offering depends. It could be a product, a service, or both. Its target market could be singles, seniors, the unemployed or under-employed, new parents, do-it-yourselfers, beginners at whatever...you get the idea.So, how to become findable? First, Kleon explains the need for developing a new mindset, one that will enable the reluctant self-promoter to think differently so that she or he can then operate differently. Here's his key point: "Almost all of the people I look up to and try to steal from today, regardless of their profession, have built [begin italics] sharing [end italics] into their routine. Next, he urges his reader to find what the musician Brian Eno characterizes as a "scenius": a group of creative individuals who make up an ecology of talent. "What I love about the idea of scenius is that it makes room in the story of creativity for the rest of us: the people who don't consider ourselves geniuses."Then Kleon suggests ten specific observations and initiatives, devoting a separate chapter to each. The purpose of the first, "You don't have to be a genius," is an important reassurance that David and Tom Kelley also provide in their recently published book, Creative Confidence: Believing that only geniuses are creative "is a myth that far too many people share. This book is about the opposite of that myth. It is about what we call 'creative confidence.' And at its foundation is the belief that we are [begin italics] all [end italics] creative...Creative confidence is a way of seeing that potential and your place in the world more clearly, unclouded by anxiety and doubt. We hope you'll join us on our quest to embrace creative confidence in our lives. Together, we can all make the world a better place."The other nine call for initiatives that almost anyone can take. Kleon suggests the most important do's and don'ts to keep in mind. Two key elements are repeatedly emphasized. First, share generously and continuously with those who comprise an appropriate (key word) ecology of talent: people who share common interest and goals, yes, but also common questions and concerns. Share what will be of greatest interest and value to them. Also, be yourself. Why? I like Oscar Wilde's response best: "Everyone else is taken." Each person is a unique work-in-progress. That's hardly an original insight but well-worth repeating.Let's allow Austin Kleon the final observations: "Human beings are interested in other human beings and what other human beings do. Audiences today not only want to stumble across great work, they, too, long to be part of the creative process. By showing people your 'behind-the-scenes footage" [i.e. portions of incomplete and imperfect work], they can see the person behind the products, and they can better form a relationship with you and your work." So show it...and your authentic self in process.

This is my second read from Austin and it was good but I like Steal Like an Artist just a little more. Still would recommend this to a friend!

Amazing, easy to read and understand. And a fantastic ideas 💡. Loved it 😀 I'm ready for his next books

Quite frankly, I didn't understand how a 10-part list could make a full book. But I saw the reviews, it was on sale, and I thought, "Heck. Why not?" Now, I can join the countless others who whole-heartedly recommend this book. It's filled with both inspiration and actionable advice. It's an easy/enjoyable read, and because of how it's structured, it's easy to eat a "potato chip" section and put down. For someone who reads before bed, having short sections and easy stopping points is a real mercy. I've finished the first read-through for joy. Now, I'm planning to go through it again and practice the actionable steps. So happy to have found this. Thanks Austin!

I picked this up right after reading Steal Like An Artist and my recommendation is read that book before reading that one. this boom deals with getting your work out into the world. Kleon has shown many ways to promote your work and succeed. This is,a fantastic book for people to get inspiration,ideas and then help them to promote their various creatio

Important book. Austin is exploring the issue of showing your work through internet, and particularly social media. An issue that is being discussed endlessly in many blogs and books (of which I’ve read many).But there is something different and unique about his discussion. In his own way, he’s coming at the subject from new angles. His way resonates with me much more than others. There’s actually no comparing at all.Austin’s approach makes me leave my hesitations behind and act, by convincing me that making mistakes is ok, as long as I make something. He then proceeds to frame those possible mistakes in manageable ways of thinking.He gives me the simple and pure feeling that there is an abundance of possibilities, and I can deep into them. that it’s actually no big deal to deep into them.Austin has a way of showing what to do and how to do it, without a boring To-do list. Through examples, inspiring quotes, and his own experience, he is SHOWING us, but not telling us. He is bringing it all down to earth, and very convincingly.Some examples to the uniqueness of the book: It’s giving good advice about the need to compromise between perfectionism and neglecting quality or over-sharing. I find that very useful advice as I engage in social media everyday-sharing.The atmosphere in this book brings the power to YOUR hands:“Don’t think of your website as a self-promotion machine, think of it as a self-invention machine. Online, you can become the person you really want to be.”For me personally, this book has been a real creative thinking teaser. In direct ways, and some indirect ones, it made me jump out my seat with new ideas, or sometimes, a new angle of an idea I was already working on, and feeling stuck.Coming to the end of the book, though, I seem to be running into problems with chapter 10: “Stick around”. Mostly, I don’t think this chapter belongs in this book, because mostly it’s not about “SHOW your work” but about DO your work. It gives fantastic advice, but I think it belongs in a separate book.