Call me crazy for piling something else on top of my massive to-be-doing list, but I am really going to join the Inktober2016 challenge.
You know how when you have so much to do, you end up not doing anything that you enjoy? I'm sure all of us bloggers have been there more than once.
The stuff we enjoy gets pushed back so we can take care of detail work, other people, networking, and so forth.
When it comes to blogging, my favorite part is definitely writing the actual post. I love creating content. When it comes to my art business, my favorite part is, you know...
You know how when you have so much to do, you end up not doing anything that you enjoy? I'm sure all of us bloggers have been there more than once.
The stuff we enjoy gets pushed back so we can take care of detail work, other people, networking, and so forth.
When it comes to blogging, my favorite part is definitely writing the actual post. I love creating content. When it comes to my art business, my favorite part is, you know...
Drawing stuff!
But with both blogging and art, I sometimes have to put my favorite activity (creating NEW stuff) to the side so that I can worry about things like coding and tags, SEO and images, links and affiliates...you get it.
And with art, there is all the time spent editing it, uploading it to various sites, resizing it when it doesn't quite fit on that keychain template...
So what does this have to with Inktober, and how does it help my business motivation? Here is the usable lesson I think anyone can learn from various challenges:
But with both blogging and art, I sometimes have to put my favorite activity (creating NEW stuff) to the side so that I can worry about things like coding and tags, SEO and images, links and affiliates...you get it.
And with art, there is all the time spent editing it, uploading it to various sites, resizing it when it doesn't quite fit on that keychain template...
So what does this have to with Inktober, and how does it help my business motivation? Here is the usable lesson I think anyone can learn from various challenges:
Joining a challenge that involves doing something you are already passionate about can have some major benefits:
Who needs all those benefits? Yeah. Entrepreneurs!
But most importantly, it puts you in a chair doing something you want to be doing anyhow. It gives you an excuse, so to speak, for focusing on the part you want to do.
That is why NaNoWriMo is so hugely popular. Every year people close their door, hang out a "Do Not Disturb" sign and work like mad to draft a whole novel in one month.
No excuses! None of that " I love doing this, but I really should be doing something else" nonsense.
- Improves focus
- Enforces productive use of time
- Unlocks creativity
- Motivates you to think outside the box
- Teaches self-discipline
- Strengthens your "hustle muscle"
Who needs all those benefits? Yeah. Entrepreneurs!
But most importantly, it puts you in a chair doing something you want to be doing anyhow. It gives you an excuse, so to speak, for focusing on the part you want to do.
That is why NaNoWriMo is so hugely popular. Every year people close their door, hang out a "Do Not Disturb" sign and work like mad to draft a whole novel in one month.
No excuses! None of that " I love doing this, but I really should be doing something else" nonsense.
Practice
Another reason the Inktober challenge is great? It gives artists an excuse (whoa, that word again!) to try some new stuff. To practice something that needs improving.
Trying new things and practicing them are important to any creative venture. But sometimes, we get so strapped for time that we just do the things we already do well over and over again.
Time equals money is what we are always being told, so it makes sense to stick with something you can do fast and effortlessly.
Not only does that get boring after awhile, it just targets one, small audience of people in a great wide world. Honing new skills will always be important, useful, and possibly lucrative.
Trying new things and practicing them are important to any creative venture. But sometimes, we get so strapped for time that we just do the things we already do well over and over again.
Time equals money is what we are always being told, so it makes sense to stick with something you can do fast and effortlessly.
Not only does that get boring after awhile, it just targets one, small audience of people in a great wide world. Honing new skills will always be important, useful, and possibly lucrative.
Benefits for Business
Art challenges are for artists what NaNoWriMo is for writers; a series of hashtags and samples that you right in front of the people you want to reach:
It is an (here's that word again) excuse (or free pass, if you'd rather) to promote yourself rather shamelessly every day for a month. It's also an okay time to stalk other people who are involved and start up a conversation.
And lastly, you end up with all that stuff you created over a month that can used as inventory.
At least...that is the reasoning I'm using this whole month to justify drawing when I (probably) should be catching up on chores or learning how to use the latest blogging tool.
Feel free to borrow these benefits if you too are going to be spending quality time with an ink pen this month, or glued to your novel outline next month.
And hey, if you are doing Inktober too, share about it in the comments, and I'll check out your Facebook or Instagram (or wherever you post).
In the meantime, I'll be posting daily updates here as well as my social accounts.
Not sure what Inktober is all about? Check out these links and get daily drawing prompts and possibly win some art supplies:
- Other people in your industry
- People who like what you are creating
It is an (here's that word again) excuse (or free pass, if you'd rather) to promote yourself rather shamelessly every day for a month. It's also an okay time to stalk other people who are involved and start up a conversation.
And lastly, you end up with all that stuff you created over a month that can used as inventory.
At least...that is the reasoning I'm using this whole month to justify drawing when I (probably) should be catching up on chores or learning how to use the latest blogging tool.
Feel free to borrow these benefits if you too are going to be spending quality time with an ink pen this month, or glued to your novel outline next month.
And hey, if you are doing Inktober too, share about it in the comments, and I'll check out your Facebook or Instagram (or wherever you post).
In the meantime, I'll be posting daily updates here as well as my social accounts.
Not sure what Inktober is all about? Check out these links and get daily drawing prompts and possibly win some art supplies:
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