There's no way to lose
So, why not?
No. 125: There’s no way to lose
I’ve been totally and completely enamored with the world of video and video editing lately.
I’ve found a new thing to learn, to dive in to, to love.
It’s yet another place to do what I like most: make stuff.
Plus, what better time than now, when video seems to be the medium du jour? When social media is dominated by TikToks and Reels (videos)? When YouTube has exited adolescence and reached some semblance of adulthood?
This feels like a massive creative moment, one that I don’t want to watch develop from the sidelines. Vertical video as a format is making its entrance onto the stage of art for the very first time. Popular music can be incorporated into any clip without worry of copyright because the social media companies are footing the bill. A massive platform exists to reach an audience at least as big as the United States, a possibility that’s kind of shocking for an artform that’s entirely DIY.
Put simply, it’s a new arena. And a fun one, assuming people can get past their aloofness toward social media platforms.
Especially writers, that clan of traditionally behind the scenes individuals.
But I get it.
Social media has left a bad taste in many mouths. It’s associated with likes, popularity contests, shit posters, self esteem issues, and the rest.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
It can simply be another place to express yourself, like the blank page.
But that assumes an individual is ready to express themselves, and that’s where the real breakdown tends to happen, I think.
Over the last year or so, I’ve realized the (perceived) problem isn’t that the creative product — i.e. the video, the work of writing, the painting — falls below some self-made artistic standard.
It’s that the artist isn’t ready to accept any creative product as good enough.
And that’s an artist’s block unlike any other.
That readiness, though, is something that can be excellently stress-tested in the social media space.
Can you put something out there that you’re proud of and stand by it regardless of anything?
Can you resist the self-doubt that’s telling you to delete it?
Can you ignore a negative comment?
Can you still feel proud if no one but your mom and grandma “like” your post?
In short, are you doing what you do for the love of it, because it’s true and fun and authentic to you? Or are you doing it for some other, external reason?
Beyond being attracted to new artistic mediums, I like to play in new arenas to ask myself just these questions.
I know I’m comfortable behind my keyboard.
It’s fun, then, to take the skills I’ve developed when it comes to making and sharing things and attempt to apply them anywhere making and sharing things is possible.
Will I be great at whatever I try right off the bat?
Almost definitely no.
But always, I can be great I trusting my intuition.
“In short, are you doing what you do for the love of it, because it’s true and fun and authentic to you? Or are you doing it for some other, external reason?”
Some just don’t want to venture into new mediums. It’s not a matter of fear or doubt as much as it is a lack of desire.
Which, yeah.
Why do something you don’t want to do? Save yourself the trouble and just, you know, don’t.
But here’s the other side of it, the one that I’d be remiss to neglect.
The publicity. The discovery. The moment someone finds your work, connects with it, and finds their life forever changed (a moment that can change your life, too).
This has happened to me more times than I can count. I find an artist I connect with, and not only do I have a new fountain of creativity in my life but another source of inspiration. Almost always, that moment of discovery happened somewhere on the internet.
I mean, look at Substack. It’s where connected with you and never looked back.
My philosophy is pretty damn simple.
The more people bringing their stuff to the table to share, the better for everyone.
Artists win by supporting each other. People win by finding stuff they enjoy and being inspired. The world, in general, wins by becoming a more colorful, joyful, and human.
So, yeah, I guess I advocate for artists doing more, sharing more, risking more, especially in the traditionally “uncool” social media space. I advocate for, as my friend Anthony put it, not only coming to the lakeshore, but casting your line into the water to see what you might catch.
Why not? (And this has to be one of my favorite questions of all time — QOAT?).
In the best case, you make a bunch of stuff that you’re proud of, put it out into the world, and find an audience that helps spread the good word about what you’re doing.
In the worst case, you make a bunch of stuff you’re proud of and put it out into the world.
It’s a win, win.
There’s no way to lose.
So, again.
Why not? ♦
Weekly Three
HEAR: “crybaby” by Kiefer (YouTube)
READ: “In The Cart” by Anton Chekhov a.k.a “The Schoolmistress” (Gutenberg)
VIEW: My latest podcast — posted this morning — with Josh Davis (YouTube)
Interesante e inspirador. Particularmente cuando creo un post, lo que me mueve es el amor por lo que hago, espero que lo que he posteado resulte interesante y digno de dedicarle unos minutos de la vida del lector
This one is personal for me because my friend asked me to do a video podcast with her and I would have never thought of doing this if she asked me this time last year, or 6 months ago. I have turned a corner and want to try creating more and see what sort of audience may come! Thanks for additional inspiration!