You Can Make Your Art But Can’t Control Who Interacts With It
Learning to recognize, acknowledge, and work from this is important.
Last week I published my 22nd novel. It’s the beginning of a new series (which will currently be 5 books). Previously, I’ve written 2 standalones, 2 books in an incomplete fantasy series, 1 book in an incomplete Steampunk series, and three complete sci-fi series, totaling 3, 5, and 8 books, respectively.
While I published the first of these in 2014, I didn’t start working at my current pace until 2019. Still, that’s 22 books in 12 years. Not quite 2 books a year (though if you go with when I started moving at my current pace, in 2020, it comes out to just over 3 books a year).
So, yes, lots of books out in the world. And more coming. I have published across a wide range of distributors, so they’re widely available. Along the way, I’m always looking for new ways to market, promote, and share my books with the world.
All of this is great. But it still smacks head-on into an important truth: You can make your art, but you can’t control who interacts with it.
And that can be infuriating.
You control very little
When all is said and done, the only thing you control is yourself. Most specifically, your inner being. You have zero control over anyone or anything else. Ergo, you can’t make people look at or buy your art.
Go ahead and make all the art your heart desires. The world needs more art. We need to keep challenging the status quo, presenting unique visions of the world in words, paint, sculpture, food, and the like. Without artists, the world would be a dull, grey, sad place, really.
However, no matter what you do, you can’t control who interacts with your art. Even if you stand somebody directly in front of it, you can’t and don’t control their interaction with it. You have no control over how they see it, if they care about it, if they like it, or if they’ll buy it.
Do I think I write enjoyable books that people should want to buy and read? Of course I do. I don’t just write these for me; I write them to share my imagination and maybe offer some inspiration and even empowerment (even fiction can empower). However, I can’t control who interacts with it or how they do so, if at all.
Of course, I want to sell enough books that I can pay my bills, put some money away for a rainy day, and enjoy tasty meals and other fun activities. However, I can’t control who does and doesn’t buy my books.
Recognizing and accepting this, however, takes work.
Where do you go from there?
First, it’s important to be mindful of what you’re thinking, what and how you’re feeling, your intentions, the positivity or negativity of your approach, and your actions. When you are, you’re here, now, in the present, and capable of active conscious awareness to handle what the universe throws your way.
It’s so easy to get mad, to take it personally, and to become frustrated. You ask, “Why don’t they buy my art?” Which leads to, “What about my art is not to their liking?” That can then take you to, “Why don’t they like me?”
The thing is, this is utterly not personal. Even when friends and loved ones don’t necessarily buy your art, it’s not about you. Maybe your creations are not their thing. Perhaps their finances are such that they can’t buy your art. Or something else is going on – but it probably has nothing to do with you personally.
A big part of the frustration over not controlling who interacts with your art is the personal factor. As an artist, your creation is your baby. You grew it inside you (your mind), birthed it (did the work), raised it (made it ready to share with the world), then sent it out to live (put it up for sale, on display, or whatever).
Not taking it personally is tough. But it’s important, because you can’t control who interacts with your art (or how that goes). As one of my affirmations goes:
I give my best. I do my best. The thoughts and feelings of others are outside of my control.
Work with what you can and do control
One of the single largest problems in the world today is how people neglect self-awareness and self-care. Hell, some actively demonize self-awareness with the whole “woke” label.
Artists, by our nature, are self-aware. You have to be to take that creative energy from the void inside yourself and make it manifest. Doesn’t matter if this is a book, a painting, a scarf, the most incredible sandwich, your art and how you make it is yours to control. And it comes from within.
You can’t and don’t control who will or won’t interact with it. While that’s daunting and can be infuriating, recognizing and acknowledging this goes a long way toward keeping at it, even in the face of less-than-ideal sales, few likes and views, and all other elements of interaction you might be able to gauge.
Even without controlling who interacts with your art, know that it’s good that you are inspired to make it. Keep doing your thing, share it with the world, and be that beacon of imagination and inspiration that you are. This you can and do control.
Thanks for reading. As I share my creative journey with you, please consider this: How are you inspired and empowered to be your own authentic creator, whatever form that takes?
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