A Journey With No Map
This path that we’re all on - the exploration of our literary and visual ideas requires trust. Trust in our ourselves, that whatever our abilities we’ll improve over time. Trust that we have the motivation to follow through. Trust in our subjects to let us in with honesty and transparency. Trust that the topics that we’re exploring will interest others. And trust that once we begin down the road to our goal, circumstances will present themselves that’ll spur us on.
In the beginning of each project, particularly self-directed work, the path is dark. We don’t know where it goes, where it will end, or what we’ll find along the way. The same is true with the career of freelancing overall - there is no conventional route.
Embarking on these projects is pure exploration, we’re always expanding into new territory philosophically and geographically. We’re meeting new people, going new places, and pushing our own limits with each new piece of work. But this is the appeal. It’s a life of learning and adventure in the face of the unknown.
Sometimes we hit road blocks, they’re inevitable. Perhaps a subject won’t let us in, maybe a narrative angle we were interested in chasing turns out to be false. But each of these problems can be overcome as we get to it. Don’t anticipate issues, they might never appear, but if they do, deal with them in real-time. In the moment, just focus on the next step only.
Creating self-directed projects can be wonderfully liberating, it’s the chance to express yourself through your chosen medium, a way to communicate your philosophies with the world, or highlight issues that you believe important.
When you’re lying in bed at night unable to sleep, or sitting on the front porch day dreaming, where does your mind travel? Grab ideas that form in this space, the ones that give you a goosebumps or a shiver down the spine. This is the place you should make work from.
Don’t worry about whether people will be interested, don’t worry too much about an audience. If the work is important to you, and you pour effort in, make it quality, others will care. Do the next thing, jump hurdles as they occur, trust in the process, and enjoy creation.