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Lessons in Creativity: Expansive v. Egocentric Creation
Quick Download: If you’re stuck artistically because you’re trying to please others, I offer a few tips to help you break out and create the work you really want to make.
Introduction
Joseph Gordon-Levitt has an awesome Ted Talk about how his love of acting changed with the arrival of social media in the late 2000s.
He describes how his performances became influenced by the way his acting would look to others on social networking platforms. Instead of letting himself be immersed in a scene, he suddenly became more involved with questions like “Whose performance will be more meme-worthy?” and “What cute phrase will I be able to Tweet about this movie?”.
His struggle resonated with me as a writer, because when you’re seeking to get published, there is a demand for a lot of this outside awareness. Agents and publishers aren’t 100% looking at the quality of your book. When they peruse their slush piles, they are also asking:
- How many followers does this person have?/What market are they already reaching?
- Where does this book sit on a bookshelf? Can I sell it based on what’s currently popular?
- Who does this person know who can write a blurb? What are their other connections?
