Show Your Work! audiobook cover - 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered

Show Your Work!

10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered

Austin Kleon

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Creativity

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Mind Map

Show Your Work!
Redefining Creativity+
Documenting the Process+
Building Your Online Space+
Sharing Inspirations+
Storytelling+
Teaching & Connecting+
Sustaining Your Career+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8
The book argues against the "lone genius" myth. What concept does it propose as a more accurate model for creativity?
  • A. The 'social creative'
  • B. The 'scenius'
  • C. The 'collaborative artist'
  • D. The 'open node'
Question 2 of 8
According to the book, what are the primary benefits of documenting and sharing your creative process?
  • A. It guarantees your work will go viral on social media.
  • B. It develops an audience, provides accountability, and creates a feedback loop.
  • C. It replaces the need for a personal website or portfolio.
  • D. It proves that 90 percent of your ideas are good enough to share.
Question 3 of 8
Why does the author insist that creators should have their own personal website instead of only using social media?
  • A. Because websites are cheaper and easier to maintain than social media profiles.
  • B. Because social media platforms are transient, while a website is a lasting, self-owned space.
  • C. Because websites are the only way to get a 'Buy Now' button to work properly.
  • D. Because a website forces you to stop being an amateur and act like a professional.
Question 4 of 8
What is the most effective way to attract 'your people' online, according to the book?
  • A. By creating work that appeals to the broadest possible audience.
  • B. By following as many influential people as you can.
  • C. By sharing your genuine interests and inspirations, even if others find them odd.
  • D. By only sharing your most polished, finished pieces of work.
Question 5 of 8
What does the author mean when he says, 'Work doesn’t speak for itself'?
  • A. The quality of the work is less important than your marketing budget.
  • B. The story, context, and origin of the work profoundly affect how people perceive and value it.
  • C. You must be a skilled public speaker with a perfect pitch to be a successful artist.
  • D. Only other artists, not the general public, can truly understand a piece of work.
Question 6 of 8
The book encourages creators to teach what they know. What is the primary reason for this advice?
  • A. It is the fastest way to gain a large number of followers online.
  • B. It deepens your own understanding and makes your audience feel closer to your work.
  • C. It immediately creates paying students who will fund your future projects.
  • D. It eliminates potential competitors by showing them how difficult the work really is.
Question 7 of 8
How does the book reframe the concept of 'selling out'?
  • A. As a negative term for artists who prioritize money over their craft.
  • B. As an unavoidable consequence of gaining any level of success.
  • C. As a positive act of embracing opportunities, exploring, and taking creative risks.
  • D. As the moment an artist begins to ask for donations or sell their work.
Question 8 of 8
Why do amateurs often have an 'edge' over professionals on the internet, according to the book?
  • A. They have more free time to create content.
  • B. They are more willing to experiment and make mistakes because they have less to lose.
  • C. Their work is seen as more authentic and less commercial by audiences.
  • D. They are better at marketing because they are digital natives.

Show Your Work! — Full Chapter Overview

Show Your Work! Summary & Overview

Show Your Work! (2014) is your guide to becoming findable. It’s about leveraging your network instead of wasting time “networking” in the traditional sense. Filled with actionable advice, it shows how to let others into your process by being productive, open, and generous – and outlines the benefits you’ll receive in return.

Who Should Listen to Show Your Work!?

  • Creatives who want to get noticed – but hate self-promotion
  • Artists who’d like to build an audience but don’t know where to start
  • Anyone trying to cultivate a like-minded creative community

About the Author: Austin Kleon

Austin Kleon, a writer and visual artist, is a best-selling author of four books, including Steal Like An Artist and Keep Going. He's also a newspaper blackout poet. Kleon has spoken about creativity in the digital age for organizations like Pixar, Google, SXSW, TEDx, and the Economist, and his work has been featured in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.

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