Chapter 1: The Struggle for Recognition

As a writer or creator, if you're feeling overlooked, this message is for you.

You’ve just wrapped up your latest project, and the pride is evident. You think to yourself, "Could this be my breakthrough moment?" After adding a catchy title and some trending hashtags, you hit publish, filled with a mix of excitement and anxiety.

An hour passes, and you check back—only three likes and a comment from someone who seems to be watching you. What went wrong? Does no one appreciate quality art, tweets, photography, filmmaking, or writing anymore? You followed the advice of online experts who insist on producing GREAT content, and yet here you are.

Perhaps your skills aren't as sharp as you thought. Your motivation to create again plummets, and it might be days or even weeks before you muster the courage to try again.

The truth is, many who strive to share their work with the world have encountered this frustration. Your confidence may have taken a hit, but now is not the time to create less. While many argue that quality is key, this isn't entirely accurate. For a select few, it may hold true, but for the majority, creating high-quality content isn’t sufficient to draw an enthusiastic audience.

With the vast array of talent available today and the accessibility of better tools, exceptional quality is now a standard expectation. You could paint like Van Gogh in public and still go unnoticed—a harsh reality.

But fear not; there’s a way to break through this barrier. To make a real impact and gain traction, you must go beyond just quality. You need to understand your audience, create from a genuine place, and show authenticity. Being unique and staying informed about trends is important, but most crucial is demonstrating your belief in your work.

Creating one or two outstanding pieces might catch some attention, but it typically won’t be enough. So, how can you effectively showcase your belief in your work?

By building a substantial portfolio of visible pieces. Before you can expect any significant traction, it's essential to have a considerable collection of work—let's call it the 300 Rule.

To put it bluntly, you shouldn't anticipate any real traction until you've published at least three hundred quality pieces. This number is a baseline, not a hard rule.

No groaning in the back, please.

This level of output leads to several benefits:

• Refinement and mastery of your craft
• Increased speed and efficiency in your creative flow
• A growing sense of momentum and energy
• A clearer understanding of what resonates with your audience
• More opportunities to attract attention online and elsewhere
• An increase in ideas and 'aha' moments that produce more impactful, emotional work
• Others will begin to believe in you as you demonstrate that you believe in yourself through consistent output.

Repetition breeds persuasion. When you invest considerable effort into your work, you’ll find that support for your endeavors will grow.

What type of content am I referring to?

When I mention "three hundred," it's an arbitrary figure—this number could be lower or higher, depending on your medium. For writers, it might translate to 200-300 articles. For artists, it could mean 300 days of painting. Photographers might need to generate 300 strong images out of thousands.

Reflecting on my own journey, I uploaded over 350 illustrations to a stock site a decade ago before I began to see real interest in my work, and I've only just started gaining traction with my articles after writing over four hundred.

Additionally, the pieces in your body of work will likely attract more interest if they share a common thread. This could be:

• A consistent style
• A unified message or theme
• A specific medium
• A recognizable voice

And so forth.

It's entirely possible that your first 200-300 pieces lack a cohesive theme because you’re still discovering your style, and that’s perfectly fine. I didn’t find my own style until I had created at least 300 unique illustrations.

By engaging in the work, experimenting, and refining your approach, you will eventually find your voice.

Don't be too hard on yourself if the recognition you seek isn’t coming as quickly as you’d like. It takes time and dedication to cultivate a robust and consistent body of work that reflects your character and voice.

Have faith and persist, even if it feels like no one is paying attention. This time spent in "darkness" might be essential for growth and improvement.

It requires bravery to share your creations when the audience seems absent, but it is crucial to keep going. Produce abundantly and continuously. The faster you create, the quicker you’ll see results.

In time, the collection of smaller works you’ve built will reach a tipping point—an inevitable moment when people can no longer overlook your contributions.

If you remain patient and aware, that moment will arrive sooner than you anticipate.

Chapter 2: The Importance of Building a Body of Work

In the video "Can You Be a Writer if You Don't Read?", we explore the essential relationship between reading and writing, emphasizing the importance of exposure to different styles and ideas.

The second video titled "8 Signs You're a Better Writer than You Think" highlights the often-overlooked indicators of writing talent and encourages creators to recognize their worth.