Austin Kleon | 2014 | Non Fiction, Self-Development | Workman Publishing Company (Kindle Edition)
Hi friends! Starting to share my writing with others was daunting—I worried it wouldn’t be good enough or no one would read it. But Austin Kleon’s Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered motivated me to leap. This inspiring book explores why and how to share your creative work. It’s a game-changer for anyone hesitant about putting themselves out there. Let’s dive into its key ideas and how they can encourage us to show our work! Happy reading!
Overview
In the book Show Your Work! 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered, Austin Kleon talked about some important reasons to show our work to others, for example, finding people with the same interests. Kleon believes that sharing our work helps us to find our circle.
Have you ever imagined how it felt to have friends with similar interests? It would feel amazing to connect with like-minded individuals. For book lovers, you can have reading times or hunt second-hand books together! You just can simply discuss beautiful book covers. Why not? It would be awesome. For those of you who like travelling, you will be happy to have friends who enjoy travelling too. You can plan a trip together and visit hidden gem locations. We can have friends with the same interests in many ways, including showing our work to other people.
Share what you love, and the people who love the same things will find you.
In today’s digital age, we have many platforms to share our passions, like websites or social media. Then, what can we share? According to Kleon, content can take many forms—writing, videos, photos, or any other medium—but should be valuable.
High values are not limited to academic content. Kleon suggests sharing anything informative or engaging, from book reviews to travel tips, cooking recipes, or even everyday activities. For example, "study with me" videos are popular among students because they resonate with viewers’ daily routines. However, Kleon also reminds us to be mindful of what we share—not everything needs to be public.
Three Essentials For Sharing Your Work
Kleon said that there are several things we need to remember to show our work successfully: authenticity, consistency, and storytelling.
- Be authentic. Be yourself, and don't lie or manipulate your work. Share your genuine self and avoid manipulating your work to gain attention. Authenticity builds trust and makes your work relatable.
- Be consistent. Regularly showing your work helps build momentum and keeps your audience engaged. Commitment is key.
- Be a good storyteller. Present your work in a way that captivates your audience. Good storytelling makes your ideas memorable and encourages others to connect.
In addition, Kleon also mentions the importance of resilience—showing your work means being open to criticism. Not all feedback will be positive, but it’s part of the journey.
Meet The Author: Austin Kleon
Austin Kleon is an American writer and poet. Before becoming a best-selling author, he worked at a public library and began blogging to share his creative journey. His books, including Steal Like an Artist and Keep Going, focus on creativity and self-expression in the digital age.
On his blog, Kleon also introduces himself as a writer who illustrates. He doesn't think of himself as just a writer. He demonstrates this in his work, Show Your Work! 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered. His unique approach blends text, illustrations, and mind maps to convey ideas. This format makes his books visually appealing and accessible, allowing readers to engage with his concepts on multiple levels.
I’m a writer who draws. I make art with words and books with pictures.
Key Takeaways From Show Your Work!
Here are some critical lessons from the book that resonate with me:
You Have to Be Findable
Kleon’s message is clear: you can’t expect others to discover your talent if you don’t put it out there. Publishing your work—a blog post, art piece, or performance—is the first step to building connections.
In order to be found, you have to be findable.
Criticism Is Part of the Process
No one enjoys being critiqued, but it’s an inevitable part of sharing your work. The more people see our work, the more responses we will get. Unfortunately, not all are positive. Kleon advises focusing on the quality of your audience rather than the quantity. Instead of worrying about likes or followers, aim to connect with people who genuinely care about your work.
Stop worrying about how many people follow you online and start worrying about the quality of people who follow you.
Quality matters more than numbers. Your ideal audience comprises people who share your values, inspire you, and want to grow alongside you. Kleon reminds us that building a meaningful community is more rewarding than chasing vanity metrics.
Similar Books To Show Your Work!
Are you interested in Show Your Work! 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered, written by Austin Kleon? I think you will also enjoy the book The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck, written by Mark Manson, and Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell.
Although in The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck", Mark does not discuss the importance of showing our work, he talks about how to face criticism. He said whether we should reflect on the criticism or ignore it is our choice.
On the other hand, in his book Outliers, Gladwell talks about success and failure through the stories of famous figures. Even though it doesn't specifically speak about showing work to the public, several topics in Gladwell’s book relate to Kleon’s: the importance of good communication to express our ideas.
Reread Values: A Simple Yet Inspiring Guide
Show Your Work! 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered is a short, engaging read with practical advice for creatives. Its straightforward language and actionable tips make it accessible to everyone. While some points feel repetitive, they reinforce the book’s core messages.
One area where the book could improve is by including more real-world examples, similar to the storytelling approach in Gladwell’s Outliers. In addition, this book only contains less than a hundred pages. It’s an excellent choice for readers looking for encouragement to start sharing their work.
Conclusion: Why You Should Read Show Your Work!
Overall, the book "Show Your Work" is easy to read and understand. Austin Kleon’s Show Your Work! is a must-read for anyone hesitant to share their creativity. Its practical advice, relatable examples, and motivating tone encourage readers to take that first step. This book inspired me to begin this blog and share my thoughts. I hope it motivates you to showcase your passions, whether writing, art, or other creative works.
Rating: 8.0/10
Have you read Show Your Work!? Share your thoughts in the comments below! If you enjoyed this article, check out my reviews of other self-development books. See ya!
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