build your platform: separate your writing into content and art
build your platform: separate your writing into content and art
plus, a vulnerability workshop and inner story writing circle announcement
While I have always had my private writing practice with journaling, my public writing journey started with blogging. When I realized that I could pull some blog posts together and package them into a physical book that I could sell, I didn’t hesitate to try it. I did this with The Beautiful Disruption and Wallflower.
Soon after, I gathered more blog posts, designed them into a PDF, and sold that as an e-book. My first e-book turned into an e-course that I called The Purpose Sessions, and then I made one called Words That Move.
When I would pitch essays to publications and hear nothing back or get rejections, I would say, okay, no problem, I will just post it on my blog or I would guest post on a peer’s blog and connect with new readers that way. So you see, blogging was the birthplace of how I developed my approach to content creation and how I started to hone my voice, turn my ideas into art, and build community.
Some artists and writers do not like to be called content creators, and I understand wanting to distinguish yourself from influencers and social media personalities. But the reality is that artists and writers need content creation skills in their toolbox to effectively pitch, share, and build community around their work.
So how do we distinguish between our art and our content? How do we decide what to share on our online platforms vs what we save for pitching and publishing elsewhere?
The answer depends on your needs and desires, your purpose and goals.
If you struggle with this question, I want to share a distinction that made it much easier for me to direct my energy and efforts and refine how I approach my creative process for my content vs my art.
Content can be artful. Art can be used as content. It’s up to you to experiment and create these lanes for yourself.
Here is how I look at it.
If you want to have your work published through a gatekeeper and you are in the practice of writing, polishing, and finishing pieces to submit to editors, publications, agencies, etc. then let's call those pieces your Art with a capital A.
Even if you haven't had anything published yet, remember that number one, you're still a writer, and number two, it takes persistence, thick skin, and a genuine love of the craft to be patient until you find the right fit for you. You might ultimately decide to put your pieces into a collection and publish it yourself. There are always options, but the trial-and-error process takes the time it takes. Your Art will teach you how to delay immediate gratification and tolerate uncertainty. Some pieces may take months or years to finish or to get published.
So how do you stay motivated and find a sense of connection when your Art is not being published yet?
That’s where your creative community comes in. It's not just about the communities that you join, it's also about the community that you create by sharing your writing journey. And you can do that by creating Content. I'm talking about social media, your own private blog, Medium, Substack, newsletters, etc.
You want to be thoughtful about publishing your Art in those places, because most publications will not publish your Art if it's already been published elsewhere, even a personal blog. But you can share the Art that you don’t plan on pitching anywhere else, and your online platform can be your main portal of expression.
But if you want to make a distinction between the two, you can create artful Content for your creative community that is separate from your Art. You can talk about your creative journey. What you do for inspiration. Your writerly habits. Your anticipation as you wait to hear if your submission was accepted or as you figure out what themes you want to explore in your Art. Literally, anything to do with your creative life. Your Content will provide short-term gratification, more along the lines of hours or days to finish.
Meanwhile, you're building your creative endurance and consistency, you’re practicing vulnerability and developing your craft, plus you're getting the little dopamine hits of connecting with readers more often instead of waiting for someone to give you permission to join the conversation.
A few reflections:
Does the distinction between Content and Art ever get hazy for you? How do you approach it?
What language do you use to describe your Art? How do you/can you create Content that positions and supports your Art?
What parts of yourself do you want to express through your Art vs your Content? What parts of yourself are you seeking to feed through your Art vs your Content? What parts of yourself do you want to develop through your Art vs your Content?
How can you make this distinction work for you in how you direct your energy and efforts?
write with us
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The Inner Story Writing Circle Mastermind offering is open
As a creative coach, I help my clients understand the deeper layers of their creative work. I created the Inner Story Writing Circle to be a haven for soulful writers and creatives.
The offerings are designed for individuals who are committed to their creative practice and are seeking mentorship and community support for the emotional, strategic, and developmental challenges that come with doing their creative work.
There is a Core month-to-month membership that offers weekly accountability and cowriting sessions, monthly storytelling sessions, and more. This is an ongoing membership that can be canceled and reactivated as needed.
There is also a Mastermind three-month membership that includes all the features of the Core membership as well as more focused support from me through 1x1 sessions and group hot seat sessions.
As of this week, the Mastermind membership for the Fall is open for enrollment. You can learn more here, and if you have questions you can contact me here or respond to this post to email me. This is a small group, so spots are limited.
Vulnerability in Personal Storytelling
free for paid subscribers | $40 for drop-ins
This Wednesday, July 31 from 5 - 8 pm et, I will be facilitating one of my most requested workshops. This workshop offers tools to help you turn the fear of vulnerability into creative material.
You will learn how to view creative vulnerability as generosity, and the mindset needed to offer up your humanity through story as a gift to yourself and others. This session will be recorded.
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Thank you for being here! I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic in the comments.