Become a Documentarian (aka How to Not be a Creative Hoarder)
Happy Sunday Friends,
I’ve never been particularly good at sharing my work.
Like a creative hoarder, I consume interesting books, films, tv, graphic novels, and other media—but I rarely share more than 10% of what I find.
When it comes to my own work, it’s even worse.
For me, it takes what feels like a monumental effort to put the things I’ve spent tens, hundreds, and thousands of hours working on into the world.
So, I’m making a deliberate effort this month to share both what I find and what I’m working on.
In part, this was inspired by re-reading one of my favorite books of all time, Show Your Work! by Austin Kleon. In it, Austin recommends becoming a “documentarian of what you do.”
This week, there’s not one new post, but 7!
Each one is from my new daily Sketchbook.
The Premise — Each day, I share one of the following:
Behind-the-scenes work
Thoughts on new finds (books, tv, movies, news, etc.)
Concepts and new ideas that need refinement
Journal entries
They’re not formal essays. They’re brief reflections to help me improve. They’re my effort to break my creative hoarding habit once and for all. My hope is that you get a mini-lesson or an insight from each one as well.
At the very least, each one has been particularly freeing to write. I don’t find myself worrying as much about the rigid rules so much as documenting life and its lessons.
If any post in particular resonates with you, let me know!
Enjoy!
Sketchbook Entries
(Please Note: The Sketchbook was Removed from the Site in 2022. My daily-ish content now lives on LinkedIn. I post ideas, questions, concepts, frameworks, and drawings there to help creative pros improve the quality of their lives.)
Becoming a Documentarian
It all starts somewhere. Today, I’m starting a new, virtual sketchbook to share my unfiltered concepts, resources, thoughts, and behind-the-scenes work.Harry Potter and the Nostalgia Machine
The gang of magical misfits is back for one heck of a trip down Diagon Alley. And I’m here for it.Project Update — How to Win with Words Presentation
I’m working on a presentation about the importance of writing for creatives professionals/architects. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look of where I’m at.Life Lesson From Gaming — Nothing to Fear in the Darkness
Video games aren’t just for fun, they’re for serious life lessons… and also fun. Eyes up Guardians.Writing Check-In — The Magical Bi-Products of Consistent Effort
Time for a writing craft check-in. According to my good friend, Dancing Ice Cream Cone, it appears I’ve been busy. Let’s discuss what it means.Software Patch — Using Notion to Help Structure My Life
Am I an obsessively organized person? Yes. I love technology that feeds my nerdy soul. Let’s talk about the one program that organizes almost everything I do.Project Update - How to Win with Words - Designing Impactful Handouts
We all love a little something extra. This is how I develop handouts to compliment my presentations.
Recent Finds
Austin Kleon — 100 Things That Made My Year (Blog) | Following in our theme this week of all things inspired by Austin Kleon, I wanted to share his annual post of “100 Things.” The power of a newsletter like Austin’s is that he’s constantly taking note of the things that matter in his life. I love this type of list because it’s an insightful look into another creative’s life and the things that inspire them.
Sacred Symbols+ with Colin Moriarty — The Man Who Always Gamed (Video) | A fascinating interview between video game expert Colin Moriarty and a 74-year-old gamer. A retired police officer, William Holbert has been playing video games consistently since 1972. William is a warm and friendly person, openly sharing his wealth of knowledge on all things video games.
Quote of the Week
“Now let’s face it: We’re not all artists or astronauts. A lot of us go about our work and feel like we have nothing to show for it at the end of the day. But whatever the nature of your work, there is an art to what you do, and there are people who would be interested in that art, if only you presented it to them in the right way... Become a documentarian of what you do.”
Austin Kleon
Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered.
That's all for now.
Stay creative, my friends—and have a great week!
