Sometimes I get discouraged as a creator. I read a fic that’s just so achingly beautiful that I think, “What’s the point of writing if I can’t write like this?” Or I see a stunning piece of art and I almost want to give up because I know I’ll never be that good.
The truth is, there will always be someone who’s better than me at something I want to be good at. And that’s okay. The things I do can still be valuable even if someone else does them better.
When I think about my favorite works and creators, I realize how different they all are. Maybe some of those creators worry that their work isn’t that good or get frustrated because they can’t create the way someone else creates. But I love them all in different ways for different reasons, and they are all wonderful.
It helps me to remember that my favorite creators also have favorite creators that they look up to and that even they have room for improvement and that even they have bad days or weeks or months when they flounder and don’t feel satisfied with what they create. Growth is not a linear process, and beauty is possible even in our ugliest periods of struggle.
There is no one writing or art style that is The Best™️, and talent/skill can manifest in different ways. Whether you try to mimic a style you admire or create something completely unique to you, your work will still have your fingerprints all over it, and they are good fingerprints, and they are yours and no one else’s, and your work will be valuable and beautiful because of them.
In the end, all that matters is that people enjoy what you created and, most importantly, that you as a creator found fulfillment in creating it. That’s the point of creating—to express yourself in a way only you can and to find meaning in that expression. Even if that meaning is just to unwind after a long day or enjoy some time thinking about your favorite characters or laugh at your own stupid joke.
I hope all you lovely creators know how much you are valued, even when you’re in a low. Putting something you made out there for the world to judge can be really scary, especially when you’re not feeling confident in the first place. But things don’t have to be perfect for people to love and enjoy them. And honestly, as an imperfect creator, I find it strangely encouraging when I spot flaws in something I admire. Because it reminds me that I’m not the only one who’s still growing. And if I can love a flawed piece of work that much, then other people can enjoy my flawed work too. We’re all works in progress, and we can create amazing things no matter where we are in our creative journey.
I guess what I’m really trying to say is …
@ creators: you’re doing amazing, sweetie 💖💖 Be proud, and don’t give up.
