Youβre reading an excerpt of Creative Doing, by Herbert Lui. 75 practical techniques to unlock creative potential in your work, hobby, or next career. Purchase now for instant, lifetime access to the book.
In Minor Feelings, poet Cathy Park Hong writes, βWe say we donβt care about audience, but it is a lie. Poets can be obsessed with status and are some of the most ingratiating people I know. β¦ A poetβs precious avenue for mainstream success is through an award system dependent on the painstaking compromise of a jury panel, which can often guarantee that the anointed book will be free of aesthetic or political risk.β
All too often, considering an audience gets in the way of creative work. Itβs not an easy habit or thought pattern to break; even if you think youβre not making for an audience, youβve gotten into the practice of it. The key is to practice making something youβll never show anyone else. In doing this, youβre gaining valuable feedback from yourself.