33 Books like Show Your Work!

Ignore Everybody

by Hugh MacLeod • 2009

Forty rules for creative freedom: ignore the crowd, keep the day job, and build your own audience.

4.08

29k+

🎨 Artistic Sovereignty 💼 Day Job Creativity 🌐 Online Audience Building 🐢 Slow Success 💸 Creative Frugality

Ignore Everybody 97%

Forty rules for creative freedom: ignore the crowd, keep the day job, and build your own audience.

by Hugh MacLeod 2009

4.08

29k+ ratings

🎨 Artistic Sovereignty 💼 Day Job Creativity 🌐 Online Audience Building 🐢 Slow Success 💸 Creative Frugality

The Icarus Deception

by Seth Godin • 2012

The economy no longer rewards playing it safe; it demands you make art, not just widgets.

4.07

19k+

🎨 Creative Work 💸 New Economy 🧱 Creative Resistance ❤️ Emotional Courage 📢 Audience Building

The Icarus Deception 96%

The economy no longer rewards playing it safe; it demands you make art, not just widgets.

by Seth Godin 2012

4.07

19k+ ratings

🎨 Creative Work 💸 New Economy 🧱 Creative Resistance ❤️ Emotional Courage 📢 Audience Building

Creative Calling

by Chase Jarvis • 2019

Creativity is a practice, not a gift. The daily system for building one that lasts.

4.16

2k+

🧱 Creative Habits 💼 Creative Entrepreneurship 🌱 Aspiring Creatives 😨 Fear And Failure 👥 Community Building

Creative Calling 96%

Creativity is a practice, not a gift. The daily system for building one that lasts.

by Chase Jarvis 2019

4.16

2k+ ratings

🧱 Creative Habits 💼 Creative Entrepreneurship 🌱 Aspiring Creatives 😨 Fear And Failure 👥 Community Building

Creativity for Life

by Eric Maisel • 2007

The creativity coach's manual for making art, selling it, and staying sane in between.

3.93

115

💼 Creative Careers 🎨 Artistic Process 🚧 Creative Blocks 📅 Daily Practice 💰 Art And Commerce

Creativity for Life 96%

The creativity coach's manual for making art, selling it, and staying sane in between.

by Eric Maisel 2007

3.93

115 ratings

💼 Creative Careers 🎨 Artistic Process 🚧 Creative Blocks 📅 Daily Practice 💰 Art And Commerce

How to Sell Your Art Online

by Cory Huff • 2016

Replace the starving artist story with a sustainable business, half creation and half marketing.

4.07

389

🖌️ Art Business 📧 Audience Building 📖 Brand Storytelling 🎨 Creative Brand 🧠 Artist Mindset

How to Sell Your Art Online 96%

Replace the starving artist story with a sustainable business, half creation and half marketing.

by Cory Huff 2016

4.07

389 ratings

🖌️ Art Business 📧 Audience Building 📖 Brand Storytelling 🎨 Creative Brand 🧠 Artist Mindset

Real Artists Don't Starve

by Jeff Goins • 2017

The starving-artist myth is a lie. Make money from your work without selling out.

3.98

3k+

🧑‍🎨 Creative Careers 💼 Art Entrepreneurship 💰 Income Diversification 📢 Audience Building 🎭 Craft And Commerce

Real Artists Don't Starve 96%

The starving-artist myth is a lie. Make money from your work without selling out.

by Jeff Goins 2017

3.98

3k+ ratings

🧑‍🎨 Creative Careers 💼 Art Entrepreneurship 💰 Income Diversification 📢 Audience Building 🎭 Craft And Commerce

You Are a Writer

by Jeff Goins • 2012

Before craft comes identity: a playbook for platform, audience, and the persistence to get read.

3.80

4k+

🪪 Writer Identity 🏗️ Platform Building 🏷️ Personal Branding 👥 Audience Building ✍️ Aspiring Authors

You Are a Writer 96%

Before craft comes identity: a playbook for platform, audience, and the persistence to get read.

by Jeff Goins 2012

3.80

4k+ ratings

🪪 Writer Identity 🏗️ Platform Building 🏷️ Personal Branding 👥 Audience Building ✍️ Aspiring Authors

Keep Going

by Austin Kleon • 2019

Creativity runs in seasons, not streaks. Ten ways to keep making work through the winter.

4.26

18k+

🎨 Creative Practice 📅 Creative Routines 🧘 Creative Solitude 👁️ Attention And Noticing 🚶 Walking And Thinking

Keep Going 96%

Creativity runs in seasons, not streaks. Ten ways to keep making work through the winter.

by Austin Kleon 2019

4.26

18k+ ratings

🎨 Creative Practice 📅 Creative Routines 🧘 Creative Solitude 👁️ Attention And Noticing 🚶 Walking And Thinking

Art, Inc.

by Lisa Congdon • 2014

Turn your art into a business: diversify income, build a brand, and sell without selling out.

3.98

2k+

🎨 Art Business 💼 Creative Careers 🚀 Artist Entrepreneurship 🌱 Emerging Artists 📣 Art Marketing

Art, Inc. 96%

Turn your art into a business: diversify income, build a brand, and sell without selling out.

by Lisa Congdon 2014

3.98

2k+ ratings

🎨 Art Business 💼 Creative Careers 🚀 Artist Entrepreneurship 🌱 Emerging Artists 📣 Art Marketing

Someday Is Today

by Matthew Dicks • 2022

A creative's guide to reclaiming hours, failing forward, and succeeding without being a jerk.

3.86

1k+

🛠️ Creative Productivity ⏳ Time Management 🔁 Habit Design 🧱 Creative Blocks 💥 Failure And Resilience

Someday Is Today 96%

A creative's guide to reclaiming hours, failing forward, and succeeding without being a jerk.

by Matthew Dicks 2022

3.86

1k+ ratings

🛠️ Creative Productivity ⏳ Time Management 🔁 Habit Design 🧱 Creative Blocks 💥 Failure And Resilience

Louder than Words

by Todd Henry • 2015

From imitation to unmistakable: the cycle that builds your creative voice and makes it last.

4.11

457

🎨 Creative Work 🎤 Creative Voice 🎯 Identity And Work 👥 Knowing Your Audience 💪 Creative Confidence

Louder than Words 96%

From imitation to unmistakable: the cycle that builds your creative voice and makes it last.

by Todd Henry 2015

4.11

457 ratings

🎨 Creative Work 🎤 Creative Voice 🎯 Identity And Work 👥 Knowing Your Audience 💪 Creative Confidence

Make Your Own Rules

by Andrew Huang • 2024

A working creator's guide to making a living from art without burning out or selling out.

4.27

319

🎨 Creative Careers 💼 Creative Entrepreneurship 🎯 Redefining Success 💰 Revenue Diversification 🧘 Burnout Recovery

Make Your Own Rules 96%

A working creator's guide to making a living from art without burning out or selling out.

by Andrew Huang 2024

4.27

319 ratings

🎨 Creative Careers 💼 Creative Entrepreneurship 🎯 Redefining Success 💰 Revenue Diversification 🧘 Burnout Recovery

How Creativity Rules the World

by Maria Brito • 2022

Your best idea will arrive in silence, after a failure, or from someone unlike you.

3.78

251

🎨 Art And Business 💼 Creative Business 🛠️ Creative Process 🧘 Creative Solitude 💥 Embracing Failure

How Creativity Rules the World 96%

Your best idea will arrive in silence, after a failure, or from someone unlike you.

by Maria Brito 2022

3.78

251 ratings

🎨 Art And Business 💼 Creative Business 🛠️ Creative Process 🧘 Creative Solitude 💥 Embracing Failure

How to Be an Artist

by Jerry Saltz • 2020

A handbook for artists: the work, the network, the rejection, and staying in the game.

3.94

4k+

🎨 Artistic Practice ✨ Amateur Mindset ⏰ Studio Habits 🦈 Art World Survival 🛡️ Creative Resilience

How to Be an Artist 95%

A handbook for artists: the work, the network, the rejection, and staying in the game.

by Jerry Saltz 2020

3.94

4k+ ratings

🎨 Artistic Practice ✨ Amateur Mindset ⏰ Studio Habits 🦈 Art World Survival 🛡️ Creative Resilience

Think Like an Artist

by Will Gompertz • 2015

The artist's playbook for any career: turn failure into fuel and ideas into assets.

3.84

2k+

🧱 Creative Practice 🎨 Artist Entrepreneurs 🔄 Failure As Iteration ❓ Creative Curiosity ⚡ Questioning Conventions

Think Like an Artist 95%

The artist's playbook for any career: turn failure into fuel and ideas into assets.

by Will Gompertz 2015

3.84

2k+ ratings

🧱 Creative Practice 🎨 Artist Entrepreneurs 🔄 Failure As Iteration ❓ Creative Curiosity ⚡ Questioning Conventions

Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants to Be

by Steven Pressfield • 2022

Your physical location and daily commitment open more doors than talent. Show up where it counts.

4.02

1k+

🧱 Creative Discipline 🌠 Creative Calling 🚧 Overcoming Creative Block 📣 Art Marketing 💪 Inner Motivation

Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants to Be Summary

Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants to Be 95%

Your physical location and daily commitment open more doors than talent. Show up where it counts.

by Steven Pressfield 2022

4.02

1k+ ratings

🧱 Creative Discipline 🌠 Creative Calling 🚧 Overcoming Creative Block 📣 Art Marketing 💪 Inner Motivation

Evil Plans

by Hugh MacLeod • 2011

Turn your passion into a global career: think like an artist, build like a small brand.

3.92

2k+

🎨 Creative Entrepreneurship 🌐 Internet Business 👤 Personal Branding 🧑‍💻 Solo Entrepreneurship 📅 Daily Practice

Evil Plans 95%

Turn your passion into a global career: think like an artist, build like a small brand.

by Hugh MacLeod 2011

3.92

2k+ ratings

🎨 Creative Entrepreneurship 🌐 Internet Business 👤 Personal Branding 🧑‍💻 Solo Entrepreneurship 📅 Daily Practice

Feck Perfuction

by James Victore • 2019

Perfection kills more work than criticism ever did. A designer's guide to making things anyway.

4.04

2k+

🎨 Creative Process 🚫 Anti-Perfectionism 💪 Embracing Failure 🎭 Authentic Expression 🧨 Breaking Rules

Feck Perfuction 95%

Perfection kills more work than criticism ever did. A designer's guide to making things anyway.

by James Victore 2019

4.04

2k+ ratings

🎨 Creative Process 🚫 Anti-Perfectionism 💪 Embracing Failure 🎭 Authentic Expression 🧨 Breaking Rules

The Creative Habit

by Twyla Tharp • 2003

A choreographer's method for making creativity a daily practice instead of a waiting game.

4.09

42k+

🎨 Creative Practice 🔄 Habit Formation 🌅 Creative Rituals 🧱 Overcoming Creative Block 🔨 Craft Mastery

The Creative Habit 95%

A choreographer's method for making creativity a daily practice instead of a waiting game.

by Twyla Tharp 2003

4.09

42k+ ratings

🎨 Creative Practice 🔄 Habit Formation 🌅 Creative Rituals 🧱 Overcoming Creative Block 🔨 Craft Mastery

Never Play It Safe

by Chase Jarvis • 2024

Why the safe route is the biggest gamble, and how to build a life you actually want.

3.86

406

🎨 Creative Business 🧭 Life Design 🎯 Attention Management ✨ Intuition Cultivation 🔄 Failure Reframing

Never Play It Safe 95%

Why the safe route is the biggest gamble, and how to build a life you actually want.

by Chase Jarvis 2024

3.86

406 ratings

🎨 Creative Business 🧭 Life Design 🎯 Attention Management ✨ Intuition Cultivation 🔄 Failure Reframing

The Art of Asking; or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help

by Amanda Palmer • 2014

Fans gave her couches, food, then $1.2 million. The one rule: treat help as collaboration.

3.92

37k+

🎤 Artist Memoirs ✨ Creativity Guides 💔 Vulnerability In Art 🎁 The Gift Economy 🔧 Diy Ethos

The Art of Asking; or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help Summary

The Art of Asking; or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help 95%

Fans gave her couches, food, then $1.2 million. The one rule: treat help as collaboration.

by Amanda Palmer 2014

3.92

37k+ ratings

🎤 Artist Memoirs ✨ Creativity Guides 💔 Vulnerability In Art 🎁 The Gift Economy 🔧 Diy Ethos

Make Your Creative Dreams Real

by SARK • 2004

Five-minute actions to start creating when procrastination and perfectionism have you stuck.

4.10

1k+

🎨 Creative Practice 👣 Small Steps 💫 Perfectionism Recovery 💗 Self-Compassion 🧱 Creative Block

Make Your Creative Dreams Real 95%

Five-minute actions to start creating when procrastination and perfectionism have you stuck.

by SARK 2004

4.10

1k+ ratings

🎨 Creative Practice 👣 Small Steps 💫 Perfectionism Recovery 💗 Self-Compassion 🧱 Creative Block

KNOWN

by Mark W. Schaefer • 2017

Real influence is quiet. The playbook for earning it in a world obsessed with noise.

4.00

443

🏷️ Personal Branding 📝 Content Strategy 📣 Audience Building 💡 Thought Leadership 🚀 Solopreneurship

KNOWN 95%

Real influence is quiet. The playbook for earning it in a world obsessed with noise.

by Mark W. Schaefer 2017

4.00

443 ratings

🏷️ Personal Branding 📝 Content Strategy 📣 Audience Building 💡 Thought Leadership 🚀 Solopreneurship

Your Music and People

by Derek Sivers • 2020

Be helpful, specific, and too weird to ignore. The considerate way to market your music.

4.40

612

🎵 Music Business 🎨 Creative Careers 🎯 Niche Marketing 🤝 Networking 🗣️ People Skills

Your Music and People 95%

Be helpful, specific, and too weird to ignore. The considerate way to market your music.

by Derek Sivers 2020

4.40

612 ratings

🎵 Music Business 🎨 Creative Careers 🎯 Niche Marketing 🤝 Networking 🗣️ People Skills

Blog, Inc.

by Joy Deangdeelert Cho • 2012

The playbook for turning a blog about your obsessions into a business that actually pays.

3.64

2k+

✍️ Blogging Guides 🎨 Creative Entrepreneurship 📋 Content Strategy 🖼️ Visual Branding 👥 Audience Building

Blog, Inc. 95%

The playbook for turning a blog about your obsessions into a business that actually pays.

by Joy Deangdeelert Cho 2012

3.64

2k+ ratings

✍️ Blogging Guides 🎨 Creative Entrepreneurship 📋 Content Strategy 🖼️ Visual Branding 👥 Audience Building

Make Good Art

by Neil Gaiman • 2013

When your career, heart, or world falls apart, you have one creative option.

4.28

10k+

🎨 Artistic Process 💼 Freelance Life 💪 Creative Resilience ⏰ Deadline Discipline 🎤 Finding Your Voice

Make Good Art 95%

When your career, heart, or world falls apart, you have one creative option.

by Neil Gaiman 2013

4.28

10k+ ratings

🎨 Artistic Process 💼 Freelance Life 💪 Creative Resilience ⏰ Deadline Discipline 🎤 Finding Your Voice

Manage Your Day-to-Day

by Jocelyn K. Glei • 2013

Reclaim your best creative hours from email and distraction with one rule that puts the work first.

3.98

28k+

🎨 Creative Workflow 🔕 Attention Management 🔄 Habit Design 📵 Digital Minimalism 🚧 Creative Constraints

Manage Your Day-to-Day 95%

Reclaim your best creative hours from email and distraction with one rule that puts the work first.

by Jocelyn K. Glei 2013

3.98

28k+ ratings

🎨 Creative Workflow 🔕 Attention Management 🔄 Habit Design 📵 Digital Minimalism 🚧 Creative Constraints

Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook

by Gary Vaynerchuk • 2013

Give value long before you sell, and make every post feel native to its platform.

3.95

9k+

📲 Social Media Marketing 📋 Content Strategy 📖 Brand Storytelling 🤝 Community Engagement 🎨 Visual Branding

Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook 95%

Give value long before you sell, and make every post feel native to its platform.

by Gary Vaynerchuk 2013

3.95

9k+ ratings

📲 Social Media Marketing 📋 Content Strategy 📖 Brand Storytelling 🤝 Community Engagement 🎨 Visual Branding

Do the F*cking Work

by Brian Buirge • 2019

How to stop waiting for inspiration, survive your own bad taste, and ship work that matters.

3.92

281

🎨 Creative Process 🤬 Profane Self-Help 💥 Embracing Failure 🛠️ Creative Discipline ✨ Creative Confidence

Do the F*cking Work 95%

How to stop waiting for inspiration, survive your own bad taste, and ship work that matters.

by Brian Buirge 2019

3.92

281 ratings

🎨 Creative Process 🤬 Profane Self-Help 💥 Embracing Failure 🛠️ Creative Discipline ✨ Creative Confidence

We Need Your Art

by Amie McNee • 2025

No permission needed. The tiny daily practice that outruns perfectionism and gets you to finished.

4.36

2k+

🎨 Creative Practice 👑 Artistic Identity 🧱 Creative Blocks 🎯 Perfectionism 🏁 Finishing Projects

We Need Your Art 95%

No permission needed. The tiny daily practice that outruns perfectionism and gets you to finished.

by Amie McNee 2025

4.36

2k+ ratings

🎨 Creative Practice 👑 Artistic Identity 🧱 Creative Blocks 🎯 Perfectionism 🏁 Finishing Projects

The Art and Business of Online Writing

by Nicolas Cole • 2020

Forget your own blog. The platform game that turns online writing into a paid audience.

4.38

2k+

🖋️ Online Writing 📈 Content Marketing 👥 Audience Building 💻 Writing For The Web 🏷️ Personal Branding

The Art and Business of Online Writing Summary

The Art and Business of Online Writing 95%

Forget your own blog. The platform game that turns online writing into a paid audience.

by Nicolas Cole 2020

4.38

2k+ ratings

🖋️ Online Writing 📈 Content Marketing 👥 Audience Building 💻 Writing For The Web 🏷️ Personal Branding

Drawing Out the Dragons

by James A. Owen • 2011

An illustrator's hard-won proof: the life you want is built one difficult choice at a time.

4.50

440

🎨 Creative Careers 🖌️ Artistic Perseverance 🧭 Personal Agency 🔄 Reframing Failure 🎯 Long-Term Thinking

Drawing Out the Dragons 95%

An illustrator's hard-won proof: the life you want is built one difficult choice at a time.

by James A. Owen 2011

4.50

440 ratings

🎨 Creative Careers 🖌️ Artistic Perseverance 🧭 Personal Agency 🔄 Reframing Failure 🎯 Long-Term Thinking

The Power of Starting Something Stupid

by Richie Norton • 2012

The best ideas sound foolish first. How to start yours before you feel ready.

3.94

848

💡 Unconventional Business 🎨 Creative Risk-Taking 🔨 Anti-Perfectionism ♻️ Resourcefulness 🤝 Networking Through Service

The Power of Starting Something Stupid Summary

The Power of Starting Something Stupid 95%

The best ideas sound foolish first. How to start yours before you feel ready.

by Richie Norton 2012

3.94

848 ratings

💡 Unconventional Business 🎨 Creative Risk-Taking 🔨 Anti-Perfectionism ♻️ Resourcefulness 🤝 Networking Through Service

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