Saturday, October 12, 2024

Writing is Stupid

150 words. First person. Third person. Bio. Statement. It’s sometimes enough to make even the most seasoned practitioner a little insane. Writing about yourself is not only uncomfortable, doing it in a very specific set of narrow parameters and in under 200 words feels next to impossible.

So why do it at all? I mean, come on. Is it really that important? I’m an artist, not a writer. Who cares what I have to say?

Well…everybody who counts. That’s who.

Thing is, when you make the effort to hone your writing, going over it with care and crafting well worded and succinct blurbs describing who you are and what it is you do as an artist, you do more than just practice your skill at the written language.

Your website (and if you don’t have a website, this is something you need to consider correcting immediately but that’s a whole other piece of writing) should contain these little gems. They should be on hand whenever needed for grants, applications, proposals, all manner of situations that will call for these written documents of your life and your artistic presence.

And they matter.

Think about the words that surround us. If you are unsure what I mean, pick up any bottle of shampoo, read the back of any package of food, open a newspaper or go online for thirty seconds. Words are everywhere. They shape our entire approach to the world and often we don’t even realize it.

If your words are crafted in such a way that they tell your story in a precise and easy to consume way, and if you are strategic about where and how you use these written pieces, they can be an exceptional tool when it comes to being “found” as an artist.

Offering professional quality writing lets your audience know that you yourself are a professional. That this isn’t just a hobby but your career. People will associate you with more than just your art, they will begin thinking of you as someone who puts in the effort and does the work to present yourself as a consummate professional, as a thinker as well as an image maker.

But what if writing these things feels completely out of reach for you? Don’t worry, you aren’t alone. Just like many writers can’t draw more than a stick figure, there is no reason to assume that artists are comfortable in a completely different discipline. At Praxis Center we offer a course in writing as well as professional support from experts in the field in our virtual classroom. Don’t go this alone. Get the support you need to tell your story and put your very best foot forward.

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