Photo by Freepik

There’s a quiet ache that lives in most creatives—the desire to be seen, not just scrolled past. You don’t just want to make something beautiful or moving or honest; you want to make a life out of it. Maybe you’ve got a body of work sitting in a sketchbook, a hard drive full of demos, or short films only your friends have watched. And maybe, at the same time, you’ve felt that strange tension of believing your work matters while also wondering if anyone will ever notice. This is where calling meets career, and where clarity becomes essential.

Think Local Before You Think Global

You might dream of your work resonating across cultures or platforms, but your first few yeses almost always come from people who already believe in you. The local gallery that hosts your first showing, the community space that lets you do a reading, the podcast that gives you 20 minutes to talk about your creative process—these aren’t small wins. They’re real steps. In chasing recognition, many creatives overlook the smaller, more accessible stages right in front of them. Sometimes your work doesn’t need more polish, it just needs more proximity.

Your Voice Is Stronger Than The Algorithm

The digital space is noisy, no question. It’s easy to get swept up in the anxiety of numbers—likes, shares, saves, streams. But chasing trends is a losing game. Your creative voice, shaped by your own experiences, perspective, and inner convictions, is far more interesting than something optimized for mass appeal. Audiences connect with honesty more than cleverness. Whether you make something spiritual, political, weird, raw, or quiet—if it’s true to you, it will resonate.

Make Real Connections, Not Just Digital Ones

There’s a difference between building a platform and building a network. One is numbers; the other is people. Even in our hyper-online world, opportunities often come from real relationships—collaborations, mutual respect, someone remembering your work because of a conversation you had months ago. So show up to other people’s shows. Buy a ticket to that reading. Comment without an agenda. Don’t just post your work—let people see the human behind it.

Let What You Believe Shape Your Work, Quietly and Honestly

For creatives who come from a faith background, the question often arises: How much of that belief needs to show up in the work? The short answer: as much or as little as feels true. You don’t need to brand yourself as a “Christian creative” to let your values or worldview influence what you make. In fact, some of the most powerful art doesn’t preach—it suggests, questions, wrestles. You’re allowed to show complexity. If your work is rooted in grace, beauty, or hope, that’ll come through naturally.

Approach Your Craft Like A Trade, Not A Hobby

It’s easy to romanticize creative work as something driven by passion alone, but if you want it to become sustainable, you’ll have to think practically. That means setting schedules, learning about contracts and taxes, studying your industry, and not being afraid to charge for your time. It also means taking your creative self seriously. No one else will believe in your work if you treat it like an afterthought. You don’t need to become a machine—you just need to commit.Treat It Like a BusinessIf you want your creativity to pay the bills, you’ll need to approach it like a business. Registering as an LLC creates a clear boundary between your personal and professional life while giving you legal and financial protections. It’s worth using a trusted formation service like ZenBusiness to handle the process so nothing gets missed. Structure brings freedom, and legitimacy invites opportunity.

Detach Your Worth From The Response

One of the hardest parts of being a creative is this: making something deeply personal, sharing it with the world, and then hearing silence. Or worse, critique. You will have work that doesn’t land. You’ll get passed over. But none of that determines your value. The goal is longevity, not virality. Keep making. Keep improving. You’re not defined by who claps, but by how you show up when no one is watching.
Discovery is rarely a lightning bolt. It’s more often a slow burn—a collection of tiny moments that add up to visibility. You’ll try, fall short, try again. Some days will feel charged with momentum; others will feel like shouting into a void. But if you keep creating, keep connecting, and keep carving out space for your work, people will notice. The right people, at the right time. And until then, your work is still worth doing. You don’t need to go viral to matter. You just need to keep going.

Discover inspiring stories and creative insights at Psalm 81:10, where faith and artistry unite to illuminate your path.

Camille Johnson
info@bereaver.com