31 Comments
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Zoë K.M. Foster's avatar

Definitely feeling invisible recently! Not helped by Insta which was my main way to connect, and now I might as well be blowing bubbles into an abyss 🤪. I will always follow what I want to do and HOW, but sometimes it’s hard to believe it will get me any where 🫣.

David Speed's avatar

You might like my instagram article I posted recently! I totally feel ya, but honestly, it matters, so you have to keep going.

Ciel Skål's avatar

Thank you for this. I try my best to keep showing up in both my art and writing. Trying not to burn myself out.

Sara Santa Clara's avatar

Hit the spot. Seems obvious and yet is so hard to do when it feels like no one cares. Giving up is not really an option though. It is who we are. But every so often everyone needs to hear it - Just keep making. Thank you for this.

David Speed's avatar

You got this 😊😊

Jenn's avatar

Thank you for the pep talk! I needed to hear that.

Dan Jandl's avatar

Thanks for this!

Taylor Fournier's avatar

This is precisely why we need to fall in love with the process of making, & not the outcome.

That, & being your own cheerleader. When your drive, passion, & internal validation is louder than the outside noise, external validation becomes a bonus.

Raquel Dias's avatar

I really needed to hear (well, read) this today 😁🙏

Cait McNamee's avatar

Thank you for this 🥰

Diana Strinati Baur's avatar

I listened to you speak this as I read along and found that it made such a difference to me. What you say is the chasm of what we do as creatives. To create while no one cares - and then to keep on going when someone does. I love this. Thank you.

David Speed's avatar

I’m so glad you took something from it Diana 🙏

Joseph Baldwin's avatar

Thank you for this! I have been growing and creating into the void and now a new chapter is upon me, excited to see what I create in this new season ☺️🙏🏾

Blessings!

Linsey's avatar

Oh yes to this, it can be tricky when doing anything creative, writing, art, a new project, when no one is listening, watching, reading or perhaps they are and we just don't know it, you never know who is tuned in and taking note.

The best thing is to make, create, write or whatever it maybe anyway, rather than thinking about the end goal, make it because it's enjoyable and you'd love more people to see it but perhaps for today only one person will see it and maybe that's you, maybe that's more but guaranteed no one will see it if you don't continue.

More to type on this, it's got me fired up, I'll save it for a post! :)

Nikki Attree's avatar

Thank you for this post David, that was so heartfelt...

Roseanne Thorne's avatar

Thanks for the reminder. No matter how many or how few people our art reaches, we are still touching just one person at a time.

Rebecca Lötscher's avatar

I have to disagree with your very first sentence: There are at least three people caring about my work... me, myself and I. 😉But of course you're right in what you're saying and you're speaking to my heart. Sometimes it feels lonely. And finding my own crowd is difficult. However, here on Substack it feels less so. Even if I only have a few subscribers, I feel that I'm seen by a few people and those even seem to appreciate my work (even if I'm a mere beginner and there's still lots to learn and a lot of practice required). And what I love most, there are so many like minded. And it doesn't matter if they are beginners or seasoned artists. Everybody is welcome. Thanks for your post! Looking forward to seeing more of you.

Erica Perry's avatar

“Luck won’t show up if you don’t post” 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 love your perspectives here !!!

David Speed's avatar

Thanks Erica (: