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Diary VS. Journal
Like all artists scrolling social media, I'm often hit with waves of imposter syndrome.
"That's so clever! Why didn't I think of that?"
"Look at those views! Why aren't mine that high?"
"What an amazing way to tell a story! I should copy that."
I recently got hit with such a wave after seeing Righteous Robot's (Julian Curi) latest video. Julian's visuals are stunning, but he also has this incredible storytelling ability to frame his work progress as a captivating and obstacle-filled journey.
He doesn't just give you a literal update on what he's done, Julian pulls us into his perspective as an artist who's pushing through an uphill battle:
Diary VS. Journal
According to the dictionary (🤓), a diary leans more chronological recording of events while a journal focuses more on personal reflection.
After watching Julian's video above, check out how I've previously shared my behind-the-scenes process (below).
I'm sharing the literal steps, while Julian's reflecting on his process. Neither is right or wrong, just different.
But I still felt a wave of imposter syndrome because that ability to tell a captivating, personal story is a fantastic way to capture attention and build a community. I've really struggled at that over the years because I've always focused on 'the work'. Come to think of it, I actually rarely mention struggles.
How This Applies to You
In my opinion, there's a creative unlock here.
Let's say you're a furniture salesman who wants to make social media videos to drive a larger online footprint.
If I told you to make a video about selling couches, your brain might instantly go diary mode: receive the couch, record it in inventory, put it on the floor, speak to customers who gravitate toward it, etc.
Even as a full-time creative, I don't feel the spark.
Switching over to journal mode feels like there's more to work with, especially when starting with points of friction.
For example, how do all those couches get moved around the warehouse? I bet that's a struggle. They're so heavy! And big! You'd want to minimize the effort, so is there a plan that's drawn up? Or is it chaotic? Do they cycle through the warehouse in some efficient pattern? Or do they get replaced once they're sold?
Now tell us! Tell us all about the struggle of moving couches around and your approach to the solutions. Your professional opinion about navigating niche, job-related friction is the interesting part. Start there!
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