An unseen force in your creative journey: Community

Hi! 👋

This week, it's getting personal. 👀 I had an epiphany, and I have a lesson to share.

Welcome (back)! 🤗

This is Petra from ​The Creators' Diary​. If this is your first TC’D newsletter, welcome! We’re happy you’ve subscribed!

Share what you think about this issue or the questions you struggle with as a creator by simply replying to this email. A ​real human (Petra)​ reads it.

Story of the week 🗞️

This week, I learned an important lesson about why one shouldn't lead a completely solitary creator life.

Besides heading The Creators' Diary, I work on getting my novel published, and I joined a beta reader program where we critique each other's works with other writers.

Thanks to a critique, I now have the powerful first line I've always wanted (and all writers want) but couldn't figure out. Funny part? The sentence was always there in the text, just not as the first line. 🙈😅

So what did I realise?

I was too blind to my own creation. Something was right there in front of my eyes, but no matter what, I just couldn't see it.

This is what happens with creators of all kinds, too. They think they're completely alone with what they do and have to find all the answers independently.That is not true. 🛑

While there are things that you cannot help but do yourself, reaching out or responding to a kind invitation and becoming part of a community can be life-changing.

Whether that's information you're seeking, like an answer to the question of how to price an artwork, or you need emotional support and someone simply listening to you rant about how unfair algorithms are, the right community can be the thing that pulls you out of your misery.

You're going to feel the impact a community can have on you once something specific happens and makes your life easier (as a creator and in general)—and when that happens, you won't be able to unsee it, the powerful ways like-minded, good-willed people can affect each other.Don't miss out on that chance, please! 🙏

I wasn't planning on highlighting this article in a newsletter, but after this week's revelation about the first line of my book, I have the feeling that this post will serve all of you well:

👉 ​10 creator communities to help connect with fellow artists, makers & creatives​

Hopefully, you can find a creator community on this list that appears nice enough to try. I’d advise you to ask around and learn if your creative friends are already part of a community, too, and as always, a Google search or social media check never hurts.

Creator quote of the week 📌

From artist ​@Briana​, on the importance of having a community and ​why Bluesky is an amazing place for creators​:

See you next week,

Petra

Creator Strategy Sessions - The Creators’ Diary

To make money as a creator, you need to start thinking about your creative business as a brand, and you as the brand owner or CEO. I’m here to help.

The Creators' DiaryPetra Gönczi