Show Your Work Book Summary

Do you ever feel afraid to share your creative work with the world? Does putting yourself and your art out there seem scary and vulnerable? If so, you need to read Austin Kleon’s book “Show Your Work!”

This eye-opening book changed how I think about the creative process and showing your work to others. The core message is that sharing your work publicly doesn’t diminish it – it actually adds value and connection.

In this post, I’ll summarize the key ideas in “Show Your Work!” and how it shifted my approach to creating. I’ll also give a brief overview of each chapter if you want to dive deeper. Read on to learn why revealing your creative process leads to growth and opportunities. Let’s look at how to share your work so it resonates with kindred spirits

The Book in 3 Sentences

Sharing your creative process and being open about your work and influences helps you find your audience and can lead to new opportunities and connections.

You don’t have to be a genius or have everything figured out to start putting yourself and your work out there.

Be generous with what you know and you’ll attract people who appreciate your work and want to support it.

Impression

The book says making things is about the process, not just the result. You should share the process with others. This helps people understand you and your work better.

It shows you are a person, not just a name. When you share your interests and ideas, you can find people who like the same things. This helps you make new friends and connections.

The book made me want to share more of my art before it’s completely done. I will post anything related to the projects, I am working on. This lets people see how I create. It might help me find people with the same interest.

Overall the book made me excited to be more open.

Who Should Read It?

Anyone looking to share their creative work and get noticed. Whether you’re an artist, musician, writer, designer, entrepreneur, or just interested in promoting your work, this book has something for you.

It’s especially helpful for beginners who want to learn how to put themselves out there, but even experienced individuals can find valuable reminders and insights.

How the Book Changed Me

I used to think sharing my writing and artwork would diminish its value, but “Show Your Work!” convinced me of the opposite.

I’ve started sharing works-in-progress and mood boards on social media to interact with fellow creators and get feedback. I also realized the importance of linking to my sources and influences since it adds context and sends people to related work.

Kleon’s emphasis on documenting the creative process. This has led me to new insights. Overall, I’ve become more comfortable revealing myself in my work knowing it helps make genuine connections.

My Top 3 Quotes

“You don’t have to be a genius. You just have to be yourself.”

“Share what you love, and the people who love the same things will find you.”

“The act of sharing is one of generosity—you’re putting something out there because you think it might be helpful or entertaining to someone on the other side of the screen.”

Chapter 1: You Don’t Have to Be a Genius

You don’t have to be a genius to make great things. Making good art is about working hard and sharing ideas. It comes from practice more than raw talent. Focus on developing your interests and work habits.

Read obituaries of interesting people who have died. This gives you inspiration to make the most of your time. It shows that many amazing works come from ordinary beginnings.

Creativity is collaborative. Ideas build on other ideas that came before. Austin Kleon calls this “scenius”. It means creativity comes from people sharing ideas and influences. Not just one lone genius inventing amazing things alone.

Scenius lets more people participate in art. You don’t have to be Einstein to add something wonderful to the world. Find the group of people interested in the things you love. Share your work and passions with them. Working together leads to new creative breakthroughs. Learn from each other.

The internet makes it easier than ever to connect with kindred spirits. You can find fellow artists who like what you like. Online communities let you share work and swap ideas. Find people who share your interests. Then make new things together!

Chapter 2: Think Process, Not Product

Making things is about the process, not just the finished product. Document your creative process from start to finish. Share the highs and lows with your audience.

Let people see the behind-the-scenes of your work. Post photos and videos from your studio. Talk about your struggles and breakthroughs. Share works-in-progress and rough drafts. Reveal your materials and influences.

This gives the human side of creating. People want to know the story behind the art. By opening your process, they connect more deeply with you and your work.

Turn invisible steps into something visible to share. Write blog posts about your methods. Share works in progress and get feedback. Post audio clips reflecting on your creative sessions.

Documenting as you go also benefits you. Looking back on your evolution helps you grow. It builds self-knowledge. Record the textures and details most forget after finishing a work.

The internet provides new chances to interact through sharing. But you don’t have to share everything. Be open about your interests and process. But keep some mystery too. Creativity needs space away from the public eye. Balance openness with introspection.

Keep making and documenting the journey. When you’re ready, shape the raw material into stories and lessons to share. Turn your personal process into light that illuminates the creative spirit for everyone.

Chapter 3: Share Something Small Everyday

Posting small bits of your work steadily helps build an audience. Share a little piece of your process each day. It adds up over time as people follow along.

Social media is perfect for sharing tidbits daily. Post a work-in-progress photo on Instagram. Share an inspirational quote on Twitter. Upload a short studio clip to YouTube.

The form doesn’t matter – blog post, video, image, etc. Choose platforms based on your work and audience. Jump between them or stick to one.

Consistency helps. Schedule 15 minutes daily to share something. Make it a habit, but don’t let it take time away from creating. Reserve weekends for catching up on sharing.

You don’t have to post masterpieces. Half of the making is learning. Share works that teach you lessons too. Be open to feedback and collaboration. Stay curious.

Document the ups and downs of projects. Give previews and report on progress. Share illuminating scraps and stories. Capture texture.

Posting small bits creates a steady stream. It forms a richer picture than occasional big reveals. You build rapport with your audience by including them in the daily art adventure.

Keep making, learning, and sharing each day. Stay present, productive, and generous. Inhabit both public workshops and private studios. Share the journey on the winding creative path.

Chapter 4: Open Up Your Cabinet of Curiosities

Artists get inspiration from everyday items and experiences. They find gems in forgotten or mundane things by viewing them in a new light.

Share your eclectic tastes openly – don’t force curation. Embrace being an amateur enthusiast, not a pro critic. Stay curious and adventurous.

Credit sources meticulously with links when sharing influences. Attribution provides context so people can learn more. Don’t share anything you can’t source.

Use the internet to document your cabinet of curiosities. Post collections of favorite objects, books, music, films, etc. Show your hunt for hidden treasures.

Share the weird stuff you love without shame – obscure movies, old posters, kitschy objects. Stay true to your quirky self. Connect through sincerity and humanity.

Take us on a tour of your mental museum. Reflect on souvenirs, memories, and artifacts from your life adventures. Organize, scan old photos, and digitize VHS tapes from childhood. Excavate the archives.

Dumpsters dive down rabbit holes online and IRL. Scavenge weird ephemera and artifacts. But respect rules and property. Ask permission, and obtain rights. Cite sources.

We each have unique inner worlds informing our art. Map your cabinet of curiosities to provide insight into your creations. Guide others to see common things differently.

Chapter 5: Tell Good Stories

Telling stories is important. A story has a beginning, middle, and end. The beginning introduces the characters and problems. The middle shows how the characters try to solve the problem. The end shows how the problem is solved.

Good stories keep the audience interested. They have interesting characters that feel real. The characters have goals and face challenges. The stories have a problem that gets solved.

Stories can teach lessons. They show how real life works. Stories let us learn from other people’s experiences.

When telling your own stories, think about who will listen. Use simple words they will understand. Explain who you are, what you do, and what you want to share. Be honest and humble. Treat the listener with respect.

Practice telling your stories. Listen to how other good storytellers tell their stories. Learn from them. With practice, your stories will get better.

Telling good stories connects you with your audience. Stories help people understand you and your work. Share stories to introduce yourself and explain what you do. Stories bring your work to life.

Chapter 6: Teach What You Know

Sharing what you know helps others learn. It also helps you build connections.

Everyone has skills and knowledge from their experiences. Think about what you have learned in life and work. What skills do you have? What do you know a lot about?

Make a list of things you could teach others. Pick easy topics to start with. Break big ideas into smaller steps.

Use simple words and examples. Explain one step at a time. Let others try each step as you teach. Watch to make sure they understand.

Teaching takes patience. Not everyone learns the same way. Explain in different ways if needed. Encourage practice. Praise effort and progress.

Share tips, tools, methods, and resources. Create tutorials. Make videos. Write blog posts. Give talks. Lead workshops.

Teaching forces you to better understand what you know. It helps you improve your skills. Teaching others keeps you learning too.

When you teach, you often get new ideas back. Students ask questions you never thought of. Teaching creates conversations and connections.

Be open to sharing what you know. Don’t worry about competition. Focus on helping others learn. Teaching adds value to what you do.

Look for chances to teach. Share your knowledge generously. Make people’s lives better by teaching them.

Chapter 7: Don’t Turn Into Human Spam

It’s easy to get caught up in yourself and your work. But avoid becoming “human spam” – someone who only talks about themselves.

Listen to others. Show interest in what they do. Ask questions. Learn from their experiences.

Connect with people who share your interests. Talk about ideas, not just yourself. Discuss things you both care about.

Be helpful. Share tips and resources that may benefit others. Give more than you take.

Don’t just promote your own stuff. Recommend work you admire by others. Share interesting things you find.

Have real conversations. Listen closely. Don’t wait for your turn to talk. Learn from others.

Avoid bragging or complaining too much. Be positive. Keep improving your skills. Stay humble.

Focus on giving, not getting. Making connections takes time. Be patient. Wait for opportunities to develop naturally.

Appreciate your supporters. Show them extra kindness and respect. Be grateful for their help.

To avoid being “spammy,” balance talking about your work with discussing ideas. Share your interests, not just your accomplishments.

Connect with people, not just profiles. Meet in person when you can. Build real relationships.

Keep learning and improving. Stay open-minded. The more you grow, the more you have to offer others.

Chapter 8: Learn to Take a Punch

Not everyone will like your work. Some people may criticize it. Learning to accept criticism is important.

Negative opinions can hurt. But don’t take bad feedback personally. It’s about your work, not you.

Criticism stings less if you expect some. Knowing it’s part of putting work out there. Prepare to hear the good and bad.

Getting more feedback makes you tougher. Put lots of work out there. Listen to reactions. This thickens your skin.

Stay calm when criticized. Take deep breaths. Don’t let your imagination make it worse. Criticism won’t actually hurt you.

Focus criticism on improving your skills. Don’t get angry. Think about what you can learn from it.

Get opinions from people you trust. Not all critics are helpful. Consider the source of each critique.

Weigh feedback carefully. Listen to advice from experts in your field. Disregard mean or useless comments.

Don’t engage with “trolls” – people who just want to provoke you. Delete or block them. Don’t give them attention.

Share work that’s less personal until you have a thick skin. Receive feedback on that first.

Remember that your work is not you. Criticism of it does not define your worth. Keep things in perspective.

Accept that all work gets judged. Learn from critiques. Stay confident in yourself. Keep trying to improve.

Chapter 9: Sell Out

Some people think making money from art is wrong. But artists need to earn a living too. There’s nothing wrong with getting paid.

Many great works were created to make money. Artists have to pay rent and buy materials. They can still make amazing art.

Fans often get upset when artists become successful. But real fans keep supporting the artist’s work. Don’t stop liking someone just because they made money. Be happy for their success.

There are lots of fair ways to make money from your work. You can ask for donations or set prices. You can offer rewards for support. You can sell products related to your work. Find the best way for you.

Start collecting email addresses of fans and followers. Send them updates and offerings. Treat your list with respect – no spam.

When you share work freely first, it helps attract an audience who may become customers. Then it’s fair to ask them to pay later to support you.

Don’t feel guilty making money from your passion. But make sure you feel good about how you make money. Do work you believe in.

It’s okay to be ambitious. Try new things to grow your audience and expand opportunities. But avoid work just for money – stay true to your purpose.

Consider any chance to do more of your best work. But turn down chances that compromise your work. Find the right balance.

Financial success lets you make more art. Make money to make more. Don’t listen when people call you a “sellout.” Keep making great stuff.

Chapter 10: Stick Around

Success takes time. Don’t give up too soon. Sticking with your work can lead to great things.

Focus on the work, not fame and fortune. Make stuff because you love making stuff.

Projects will fail sometimes. Other times they go nowhere. Keep working through the ups and downs.

Stay patient and positive. Improve your skills. Work hard. Share often. Opportunities can come when you least expect them.

Many famous artists worked for years before getting noticed. Overnight success is rare. Expect a long journey.

Avoid lengthy breaks between big projects. Jump into a new project as soon as the last ends. Stay in motion.

Take mini-breaks from work instead. Unplug and recharge for a bit each day, week, or month. Then dive back in with energy.

When you feel stuck in your work, learn something totally new. Become an amateur again. Document your beginner experience and share it.

Don’t be afraid to start over sometimes. But don’t actually start from zero – you’ll bring old lessons into new work.

Stay flexible and ready to change course. Tear things down when needed to rebuild better. Reinvent yourself.

Your path won’t be straight. Accept the twists and turns. Learn from experience. Help others along the way.

Persist through highs and lows. Love the work. Improve your skills. Share generously. Success might find you. Keep playing till the final inning.

Conclusion

“Show Your Work!” by Austin Kleon is a book that emphasizes the importance of sharing your creative process with others. By opening up about your work and influences,

you can connect with your audience, find new opportunities, and make genuine connections. The book encourages being generous with what you know and sharing your interests and ideas to find people who appreciate your work. It also reminds us that making good art is about the process, not just the finished product. Documenting your creative process and sharing works in progress and rough drafts helps people understand the story behind the art and connect more deeply with it.

The book also talks about the importance of staying patient, persistent, and positive in the face of criticism and setbacks, and to keep making and sharing your work because success takes time.

Overall, “Show Your Work!” is a helpful guide for anyone looking to share their creative work and get noticed, especially for beginners who want to learn how to put themselves out there, but even experienced individuals can find valuable reminders and insights.

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