Let us talk of Tips as in #JustTheTipTuesday. Let us speak of the void. The void of which we all scream, yell plead, and pray. There are creators from every generation. it really does not matter which one we reference because you can go all the way back to someone like Van Gogh. That man had loneliness in his head to the point insanity crept into his eyes. My own Hero Drew Hayes wrote about some creators not willing to speak to him.
We all know the void. It is one of the motivations behind creating works of fiction. I am quite sure there si a correlation there. But the real point if deeper than that. We try to connect to others through our work. We promote where we can to other creators and as much as possible with the potential fans and readers we need for both validation as well as financial backing.
We bleed for it. What my point is however I am talking about past heroes. Creators considered legends, and they struggled. SOme had the help and love of their families, others patrons, others searched but would not find anyone until after their passing, and that is no way to live. However we do not live their lives. We have tools and methods of communication that connect us in way that were mere thoughts to the kinds of people they were. However despite how badly we all want those connection we have the very human habit of freaking going to an online group and just posting a picture, or a link. How many times has that worked on you? Id suggest rarely. My tip is get off your ass and become involved talk to others, share with others. Not just a pic cropped from your current project.
Gimme your thoughts, explain to me why you are making rainbow hippy dragon, why your uncle inspired you to draw musstaches that way, or the reason you keep writing stories that involve bridges. Those words, with a bit of art and perhaps responding to other peoples thoughts and posts will slowly build who you are far faster than the empty posts. Empty Toks, empty everygoddamn things x’s or tweets and threads. Does not matter. You can’t be so shallow and feel authentic to another human being.
But you can bare your soul. You can weep, You can cry HAVOC! You can find your way in the void, because believe it or now all of us are in there. It is just hard to find the authentic while so much of the world is pumping out cardboard versions of their souls in a vain atempt to garner the attention they need. You cannot stand out among cut outs with a cut out.
Grow with us.
Grow with others. Grow until the space cannot hold you any more, but grow.
Looking for more.
James Burton