What 6 Creatives Wish They Knew Before They Started Their Careers
"I wish I knew that careers are long and you have time to build yours into what you want."
Welcome to the Collective World Careers Newsletter. Collective World is a one-of-a-kind creative network powered by the minds and voices behind The Thought & Expression Company. We’re so glad you’re here.
This week we asked six established creatives to talk about what they wish someone had told them early on in their careers—and the wisdom they want to pass down to new writers and artists.
Trisha Bartle, Staff Writer + Author
I wish I'd known right from the beginning that I could start my creative career at my own pace and in my own way. I wasted so much time in those first few years trying to tailor myself to job opportunities that didn't speak to me. Let's face it: Copywriting is boring and I'm not interested. But figuring out who I was as a writer, what topics I like to cover, and what I feel like I'm worth has transformed my career. Sometimes it takes a little time to figure out who you are, creatively, but I'm glad I finally found my stride.
Holly Riordan, Staff Writer + Author
I wish I knew that creative work deserves a paycheck as much as any other work. I poured a lot of time and energy into writing for free before realizing that it could be a potential career path for me. Also, what’s written on the internet is there forever and even though it’s work you’ve written yourself, you won’t be in control of whether it’s taken down if you pass the rights over to a publication, so make sure this is something you’re comfortable having connected to your name.
Chrissy Stockton, Site Director + Poet
I wish I knew that careers are long and you have time to build yours into what you want. I really thought I was failing because I wasn't getting book deals or job offers in Hollywood after 1 year of writing. That can happen for sure but usually those things come as a result of building relationships and/or art that takes several years. I wish I would have relaxed about where I was going and trusted myself to just make good creative content without stressing so much about where I was going, what people think about my work, etc. You are the authority, not commenters or randoms! If you are doing the best you can do, that's all you have to worry about.
Molly Burford, Staff Writer + Author
I wish I knew that a creative career is hardly ever a linear route. There will be lots of highs and lows and detours, and that’s okay. For example, for a few years, I’d alternate between writing and marketing jobs based on what was available at the time. When I’d take the marketing jobs, I’d feel less like a writer and as though I failed and would never make it. But this is not true. You’re still a writer, creative, artist, or whatever way you identify, no matter what your full-time role is. There’s a phrase that goes “Real artists have day jobs” and I think this is so important to remember, especially when you’re just starting out. You can get to where you need to go, the journey just might not look the way you thought it would.
Callie Byrnes, Managing Editor + Site Director
I wish I knew that you don’t have to mine your private life just to make interesting content. Especially at the beginning of my career, I wrote a lot about difficult experiences I’d gone through because I wanted my work to feel relatable and raw, but I realize now that you shouldn’t have to relive trauma just to create something you think will be clickable for your audience. I wish I’d fully understood the downsides—that the internet might pick apart your experiences, that anyone who knows you will be able to find that information just by googling your name (including your grandparents!), and that you honestly might just change your mind about wanting your story out in the world. I think newer writers feel a lot of pressure to put it all out there, but just know it’s okay to keep some things just for yourself—and that it’s okay to wait to tell your story until you 100% feel safe and ready to.
Kelly Peacock, Social Media Manager + Poet
I wish I knew that it was okay to take my time writing and creating something. I wish I knew that writer's block is very normal and it doesn't mean I'm a bad writer. I wish I knew that hitting a lull in my content creation isn't a bad thing—taking the time to rest and do things that spark inspiration are what will get me back on my feet. I wish I gave myself a bit more grace.
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