Social Media and Makers: Creating for Self vs Creating for Others

 

Have you ever had an idea for something that you’ve wanted to create but didn’t make it for fear of the reaction you’d receive?

Have you ever made something simply because you knew (or felt) that it would be something other people would like?

I can say yes to both of those questions.

Not only is this hard in real life but it presents its own set of difficulties when you share the things that you create on social media.

Sometimes the things that you like aren’t looked at favorably by some and sometimes the things you don’t much care for are adored by the masses.

I love snarky cards. I make them because they fill my heart with happiness. However, I didn’t make them for a long time because I feared the reaction I’d receive on social media. When I did start making them it took a while for me to dare sharing them.

I must add that it’s absolutely, unequivocally NOT NECESSARY to share every single thing you make on social media or anywhere else. In fact I would urge you against it; to have pieces you do not share, that are solely for you.

I wanted to share my cards once I started making them but I was afraid to. I was afraid that I would lose followers.

You know what happened?

I did lose followers. Not as many as I’d feared, though.

(Nobody is required to like, follow, or comment on anyone’s posts. If people choose to follow you, great! If they don’t, that’s okay. This goes the opposite way as well.)

You know what else happened?

I didn’t care.

I was creating things that brought me such joy and when people would tell me that my card made them laugh or spit out their coffee it made my joy increase tenfold.

In the past I would also make things because I knew they were things others on social media would like. I’ve stopped doing that as well.

Some have warned me that companies won’t want to work with me due to my snarky cards.

Those aren’t the kind of companies that I’d want to work with anyway.

We need to create things that we love, friends. We need to listen to that little voice inside of us that lights up when we create a piece for ourselves.

If you aren’t already doing so I urge you to start making things that you don’t share with others. Make it for the fun of it. Do it for the process.

Things to remember:

• Create things that you like
• Don’t worry about what other people will think
• Have pieces that you don’t share with others
• Be true to yourself and your own art
• You are under no obligation to follow, like, or comment on anyone’s posts
• No one is obligated to follow, like, or comment on your posts

Until next time,

Shampoo, soap, big fat nope

Samantha