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TL;DR: Show Your Work! 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered argues that the best way to get noticed isn’t self-promotion; it’s openly sharing your process. Austin Kleon encourages creators to share something small every day, teach what they know, tell good stories about their work and stay generous and consistent over time.
Show Your Work! is Austin Kleon’s 2014 follow-up to Steal Like an Artist. While the first book is about finding inspiration, this one is about sharing your work with the world. It’s short, illustrated and written for anyone who creates, from artists and writers to programmers, teachers, small business owners and hobbyists. Kleon argues that being discoverable today means letting people see how you work, not just the final product. Here’s a summary of the book’s ten principles.
Table of Contents
Show Your Work at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Author | Austin Kleon |
| Published | 2014 |
| Genre | Creativity / marketing |
| Structure | Ten short illustrated chapters |
| Best for | Creators, freelancers, small business owners and anyone building an audience |
What Is Show Your Work About?
Kleon’s core idea is that sharing your process helps people find you, trust you and connect with your work. Instead of waiting until something is finished and perfect, you can document and share as you go. This builds an audience naturally and creates opportunities you might never have expected.
The 10 Principles, Chapter by Chapter
1. You Don’t Have to Be a Genius
Creativity often comes from communities, which Kleon calls “scenius,” rather than lone geniuses. Be an amateur: share what you’re learning as you learn it.
2. Think Process, Not Product
People are interested in how things are made. Sharing your process, including the messy parts, lets audiences connect with you.
3. Share Something Small Every Day
Post a daily update: a sketch, a note, a work in progress. Small, consistent sharing adds up over time.
4. Open Up Your Cabinet of Curiosities
Share your influences, the books, music and ideas that inspire you. It shows who you are and helps others discover great work.
5. Tell Good Stories
The story behind your work affects how people value it. Learn to explain what you do and why in a clear, compelling way.
6. Teach What You Know
Sharing your knowledge and techniques doesn’t weaken you; it builds trust and attracts people to your work.
7. Don’t Turn Into Human Spam
Don’t just broadcast. Be part of a community, support others and listen. If you want fans, be a fan of others first.
8. Learn to Take a Punch
Putting your work out there invites criticism. Learn to handle it calmly, take what’s useful and ignore trolls.
9. Sell Out
It’s okay to make money from your work. Build an email list, ask for support and don’t be ashamed of earning a living.
10. Stick Around
Creative careers are long. Keep going through slow periods, take breaks when needed and start again.
5 Key Takeaways From Show Your Work
- Share your process. People connect with how you work, not just the result.
- Post something small daily. Consistency matters more than perfection.
- Teach generously. Sharing knowledge builds trust and an audience.
- Be part of a community. Support others instead of only promoting yourself.
- Play the long game. Keep showing up, even when results are slow.
Ideas Worth Remembering
- Being findable comes from sharing your work, not from self-promotion. (paraphrased)
- Share what you’re learning while you’re still learning it. (paraphrased)
- If you want to be noticed, start by noticing and supporting others. (paraphrased)
Who Should Read Show Your Work?
It’s perfect for creators who hate self-promotion, freelancers building a portfolio, small business owners starting on social media, and students who want to build a body of work online. It pairs perfectly with Steal Like an Artist and Kleon’s third book, Keep Going.
What to Read Next
- Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon on finding creative inspiration.
- Keep Going by Austin Kleon on staying creative through good times and bad.
- Building a Second Brain by Tiago Forte on organizing ideas so you can share them.
Related: Steal Like an Artist summary and Building a Second Brain summary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Show Your Work by Austin Kleon about?
It’s about sharing your creative process openly so people can discover your work, with ten principles such as sharing something small every day, teaching what you know and sticking around for the long term.
What is scenius?
Scenius is a term Kleon borrows from musician Brian Eno to describe the collective creativity of a community, as opposed to the myth of the lone genius.
Should I read Steal Like an Artist or Show Your Work first?
Steal Like an Artist is usually read first because it focuses on creating, while Show Your Work focuses on sharing. But each book stands on its own.