Show Your Work! a book by Austin Kleon

Show Your Work! is a book about how to share what you do with the world.

Watch my Creative Mornings talk for some of the backstory:

About the book

You know you need to get really, really good at what you do. You also know you need to put yourself out there and make the connections that will get you where you want to go. But how are you supposed to make connections while you’re busy spending your time, energy, and attention practicing a craft, learning a trade, or running a business?

A guide to self-promotion for people who hate the very idea of self-promotion, Show Your Work! is a book that will teach you how to think about your work as a never-ending process, how to build and maintain meaningful relationships by sharing that process, and how to deal with the ups and downs of putting yourself and your work out in the world.

If Steal Like An Artist was about how to steal influence from others, Show Your Work! is about how to influence others by letting them steal from you. I’m filling it with illustrations, quotes, and stories that I hope will inspire you to get over your fears of rejection, failure, and vulnerability, and start off on a path of lifelong learning, openness, and generosity. Whether you’re an artist or an entrepreneur, a student or a teacher, a hobbyist or a professional, it’s time to stop worrying and start sharing.

This book is in-progress! I’ll be posting bits and pieces of my research and inspiration as I go on Tumblr and Pinterest.

To get updates about the book, join my mailing list or follow me on Twitter: @austinkleon.

Video Series

Each short episode is a way for me to think out loud and procrastinate productively while I work. To be notified when new episodes drop, join my mailing list.

Episode 1: Vampires