This is part of my “Art of Noticing” series, in which I learn, find, or discover the things around me that usually go unnoticed and turn them into an endless source of creative inspiration.
NOTE: The last of these “Noticings” blog posts will run on April 13th. I’m going to keep recording the 9-minute daily podcast on which these posts are based, though, so if you want to keep your dose of daily Noticings, be sure to subscribe to the Art of Noticing podcast here on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
(You could also listen here on Substack, but that’s a miserable way to listen to a podcast so I don’t recommend it. Do yourself a favor and use a podcast app so you can listen on your commute or at the gym or something.)
I wrote a few new posts recently on The Author Stack that you might have missed, but that bear on this topic. They are:
The upshot of both posts, if you don’t want to read them, is that we’re entering an age wherein creators like me (and maybe you?) — artist types, who don’t want to produce tons of stuff to serve Amazon algorithms — can best stand out by BEING FULLY THEMSELVES.
In other words, your best Unique Selling Proposition these days is TO BE YOU.
Explanations of that whole argument are in the articles linked above, but I did think of a few ways we can all apply it in the short term as well.
Here's how this "noticing" can benefit my stories and art:
Flaws Create Relatability
We all share one thing in common: our imperfections. So while warts-and-all vulnerability feels scary, it instantly makes a connection with (and is more relatable to) readers. So yes, you as the creator can be flawed and vulnerable, but so can your characters. Flawed characters come across as more human, more authentic, and ironically, more heroic as they overcome weaknesses.
My vote has always been: Don’t make your protagonists one-dimensional stereotypes or “the most common and confident perfect person,” which authors default to more than you’d think. Instead, give them defects, setbacks, issues to grapple with. Those struggles will resonate with readers’ own struggles .. and, as a bonus make those characters’ eventual triumphs even cooler. (And hey, if you choose reveal your own flaws and truths through your writing, that honesty will resonate, too.)
Your Unique Perspective Has Value
No one else sees the world exactly like you or has your distinct blend of experiences. So instead of blindly sheep-following the usual conventions, embrace your original point of view! Your "offbeat" observations could inspire your next idea … or a reader, or another creator like yourself.
I’m doing this more and more recently: Giving myself permission to stand apart. I suggest you give it a shot, if you’re brave. Don't worry about being too strange or too serious or too messed-up. Staying true to your unique and singular self is the only way to create great work that has your unique fingerprints all over it.
You have a one-of-a-kind perspective. Share it!
Want to learn on the go?
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