The Artistic/Creative Voice

1. Significance

1.1. Creating work that is authentic to one's interests and passions is beneficial for the creator

1.1.1. The artist is more likely to put their best effort.

1.1.1.1. Makes the artistic practice sustainable, as it is pursued out of passion and an authentic place, and can sustain setbacks like rejection.

1.1.1.1.1. The experience of creating authentic work is rooted in ideas and concepts the creator truly cares for, serving their mental health well, and leading to a longer creative career

1.1.2. The creator pursues their creative career with the fewest regrets possible, even if their efforts are not highly lucrative in the end. They live a full life.

1.2. Creating work in line with one's artistic voice is beneficial for audiences of said work

1.2.1. The audience is more likely to be drawn to passionate work that is of a higher quality than work merely meant to be consumed and discarded

1.2.1.1. Audiences are more likely to relate to work that comes from one's deepest inner reflections

1.2.1.2. Audiences will remember the work

1.2.1.3. Potential clients are more likely to be those that believe in your work as opposed to those that are merely seeking a creator to produce generic content.

1.3. Creating work authentic to one's voice leads to higher quality work

1.3.1. One is willing to put in the time and effort to make the work the best it can be because it reflects mostly closely what they care about

2. How to "find"

2.1. Self-discovery/growth

2.1.1. Diverse life experiences

2.1.1.1. life's challenges

2.1.1.1.1. learning to accept what you can't change, which includes factors that may place limitations on one's artistic/creative production

2.1.1.2. life's joys

2.1.1.2.1. learning what brings you joy vs. what might bring others joy, but not yourself in the same way

2.1.1.3. travel

2.1.1.3.1. exposure to diverse lifestyles

2.1.1.3.2. experiences in different environments

2.1.2. Exposure to varied philosophies/political alignments

2.1.2.1. Interacting/befriending individuals of varied identities

2.1.2.1.1. Individuals of various sexual orientations

2.1.2.2. Reading/ consuming media

2.1.2.2.1. Fiction series from different eras

2.1.2.2.2. Fiction series from varied cultures, possible even translated from varied languages

2.1.2.2.3. Non Fiction, including non-fiction special interest books, news and scholarly articles in subjects that grab your attention

2.1.2.3. Exposure to criticism

2.1.2.3.1. of one's art

2.1.2.3.2. of one's beliefs

2.1.3. Self-Reflection

2.1.3.1. "What content do I truly enjoy creating?"

2.1.3.1.1. "What sort of content do I create for fun when not under pressure from others?"

2.1.3.1.2. "If money and time were not an issue, what sort of work would I want to make?"

2.1.3.1.3. "What did I used to create for fun as a child before the pressures and ideals of the world around me influenced my work?"

2.1.3.2. "How much time do I want to spend on a single piece most of the time?"

2.1.3.2.1. "Which medium(s) best suits my working style?"

2.1.3.3. "What historical and contemporary issues in society get me heated/ignite my passion?"

2.1.3.3.1. "How can I use this information to create meaningful content I care about?"

2.1.3.3.2. "Why do I feel this way about these subjects? How does my background and upbringing affect my tastes?"

2.1.3.4. "What media content do I like to consume?"

2.1.3.5. "What legacy do I want my work to have?"

2.1.3.5.1. "Do I even want to have a legacy?"

2.1.3.5.2. "Who do I want to remember my work through the ages?"

2.1.3.6. "Do I want the message(s) of my work to be straightforward or more nuanced or esoteric?"

2.1.3.6.1. "Who do I want my work to appeal to? Why"

2.1.4. Stylistic/Aesthetic exploration

2.1.4.1. Exposure to diverse styles/practices

2.1.4.1.1. trying out different mediums

2.1.4.1.2. testing out different styles

2.1.4.1.3. (If applicable) working with different kinds of people