Creation is lonely

June 14, 2021

If thereā€™s one thing I never expected from the process of creation, it was loneliness.

I used to think content creation would involve meeting new faces and spending time with existing ones.

And whilst that is the case for a select few, it isnā€™t for the majority.

THE PROCESS

Over the last year and a half, the majority of my creative work has taken place in isolation.

I write alone, I film alone, I hit publish alone.

The creative process is one that requires independent thinking and dedicated time to createā€Šā€”ā€Šcreators are all familiar with the state of ā€˜flowā€™ necessary to produce their best work, also known as the uninterrupted state of being in the ā€˜zoneā€™.

Outside of collaborative efforts, itā€™s difficult to dive into the creative process and get in the zone without periodically isolating yourself.

THE SHARING

Creative work needs promotion. Your work doesnā€™t spread itself- you have to be its biggest promoter.

If you canā€™t find the confidence and belief to share your own work, how can you expect others to?

When you begin to share your work, thereā€™s a heightened disparity between the attention you get and attention you hope to receiveā€Šā€”ā€Šthis can simulate the feeling of shouting into a void, amplifying the relative feeling of loneliness compared with that of non-creators.

THE PEOPLE

Whilst people are becoming more receptive to the idea of content creation and creative careers, itā€™s still misunderstood by many.

Much of my friends and family still donā€™t get why I do it, which is understandable, but I donā€™t have the mental bandwidth to make everyone see exactly how I see.

Theyā€™ll ask me why I dedicate so much time to creating when I could be spending it doing clinical work.Theyā€™ll ask me why I work on something which doesnā€™t pay (yet), despite a clear route for compensation in my medical career.

Having to turn down events and meet-ups to focus on writing, filming or creating is frequently met with the same response: ā€œcanā€™t you just do that another time?ā€

ā€œNo. I canā€™t.ā€ Having to mouth those words on a regular basis is difficultā€Šā€”ā€Šitā€™s often met with contempt and frustration, something Iā€™ve never had to deal with whilst working my 9ā€“5 hospital job.

Without like-minded individuals and communities that understand what you do and why you do it, you experience a mental isolation that canā€™t be navigated easily.

Itā€™s isolating.

THE TAKEAWAY

Creation is lonely, but it provides you with time to grow, self-reflect and cultivate the creative craft.

Aspiring creators have to realise that thereā€™s more to the craft than putting out polished work and the attention that follows.

Whilst the attention can be global, youā€™re mostly receiving it on the end of a computer screen, soon before you close off the world to repeat the process again.

šŸ‹ If you enjoyed this article, hit with a šŸ‹ and your thoughts. I read every one.

šŸš€ Share this with your friends and tag me so I can share it. It really does go a long way in helping me spread my work.

šŸ”— Read all previous articles on my personal website.

šŸŽ„ My Latest Youtube Videos

I make regular video projects on topics similar to those in this newsletter.

Theyā€™re short, packed with value and always getting better.

šŸ‘‰ Join 1800+ Subscribers on Youtube by subscribing here.

šŸ“Œ Quote of the Week

 ā€œI paint with my back to the worldā€-Agnes Martin

If you'd like to support my free newsletter and videos, check out some of my genuine product/service recommendations that help me through affiliate commission: