There is a time and season for your creative work.

Introspection leads to depth. Depth informs your art.

Quote and image courtesy of the author, Jeannie Ewing, and edited in Canva.

For an audio version of this essay, please click on the link below:

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Dan Blank

shared in his May 24, 2024 essay entitled, “To be seen as a writer or artist” an example from the television series The Office, in which one of the characters decides to share her art with her colleagues—and is ignored and worse, criticized. That is, until her boss approaches her. She meekly stands by as he stares at one of her pieces, then tells her how her work touched him on a personal level and that he is proud of her. She cries and hugs him.

Dan’s point was that every artist has something valuable to say through their creative work, even when it isn’t recognized. If we continue practicing our craft and sharing it, eventually it will click with someone else.

And this: Everything has its time and season.

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Enjoy this free, downloadable bookmark that you can print and use as an affirmation when you’re feeling stuck. Simply right click on the image and save to your computer or device, then print and use as you wish.

Dan has mentioned a few times that in working with artists, he notices that success (however each defines it for themselves) happens when this wonderful combination of luck and hard work coalesce. Because no one truly understands how or why a concept or message catches on to the populace, it’s important for artists to keep doing what they’re doing and not give up. Chances are, they will meet their pinnacle of luck and hard work.

Here was my response to Dan about this article:

This essay was a breath of fresh air to me. I have been stuck in my head and emotions this week. I have been doubting my work, my voice, my effort. Myself.

I hired three editors to review my unpublished manuscript. Two of them had NOTHING positive to say about it, even though I asked for feedback that included a) what I was doing well and b) what needed improvement.

Everything I received was critical, language like, "too emotional" or "unremittingly bleak" or "glaring defect."

I thanked them, incorporated some (not all) of their suggestions, and asked once again, "Was there anything you noticed that I did well?" One replied, "I can't add anything to what I've already given you." Whoa. The other one bypassed the question by asking me a question: "Maybe you should ask your manuscript if you've done it justice."

So I had a moment where I thought, Am I delusional? Have I wasted over a year of my life, thousands of dollars, and four drafts to learn that this book is simply garbage?

It's really a jarring thing to ask oneself, and I admit it tormented me.

Then I read your newsletter this morning, and it gave me a sliver of hope. Like, my book isn't ready yet, which I know, but it may still have potential. Maybe it's just not my time yet. Maybe the kismet of the perfect conditions—whatever that means for me—hasn't aligned yet. And that's okay.

Because I can still show up today.

You gave me that strength to dust myself off and keep pressing on, Dan. Thank you. Maybe one day I'll return when my book is published and remind you that your essay here was pivotal in the fact that I didn't give up.

Dan’s reply to my comment:

Jeannie: thank you for sharing this. I obsess about finding examples of great work from creators (writers, musicians, artists) that were dismissed by others early on, and went on to become legendary, with a wide audience. This is why I deeply believe that we each have a unique voice, and that we should pursue it. Thanks!

The takeaway here is this: each one of us wants to be seen. We have an innate longing to be valued and cherished for who we are, not what we do. I think that those who pursue creative careers struggle so fiercely with rejection, because they equate criticism and judgment of their work with criticism and judgment of their identities, the very essence of their personhood.

The key to overcoming this pitfall of giving up is to believe in yourself rather than relying upon validation from others. This doesn’t mean blindly or arrogantly assuming that everything you make is fantastic and untouchable. Instead, you practice every day and step away from your work long enough to gain perspective. If you need outside feedback, you seek it from someone who is honest but kind. And then you incorporate what you learn, day by day, into improving your form of artistry.

Mastery will come one day.

The definition of growth is, according to the online Oxford dictionary, “the process of increasing in physical size.” I would delete the word physical and add that it’s an upward movement of sorts, an expansion or broadening of self. You can’t become great at anything if you aren’t willing to look within. Introspection leads to depth. Depth informs your art. And that’s what will reach into a person and seize their heart, moving them emotionally or challenging their assumptions and prejudices.

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If you enjoyed this essay, you might want to take a peek at other ways I’ve explored the concept of intrinsic motivation, overcoming doubts, and recognizing your sensitivity to online activity by reading the articles below:

• In order to be a writer, do the writer shit: Invest in practicing your work, allow yourself to fail and create garbage, and keep going.

• Moving from external validation to intrinsic motivation: Learn to appreciate the unique contribution you bring to conversations, relationships, and the field of work you participate in.

• The psychology of online rejection: Understand a psychological phenomenon called Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria and how to navigate your digital interactions by setting boundaries that encourage you to persevere in your creative work.

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Tell me, friends: what doubts about yourself are you struggling with? Are there ways you are discovering to believe in yourself and the gifts you have to share with the world, and if so, what efforts are you doing towards that upward movement and expansion of self?

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