writing an artist's statement - why is it so hard?
I’ve just been asked to submit my artist’s bio — two actually - long and short form - within three days.
What?
Where do I start with that?
This is the scenario I often hear from my coachees. It always seems that the deadline for a statement, a bio or about page content is very short and the task feels very hard.
So we work together at speed to make their writing clear, detailed and enticing. Now I have to do that for myself, which is way harder!
You’d think a poet would have the words at her fingertips, but when it comes to writing about ourselves we are all in the same boat. Looking for a paddle.
Self-promotion is not something we are practised in or encouraged to do. It feels difficult to devise a piece of writing about ME without sounding big-headed. I’ve been trained since childhood to believe that’s a pretty shabby attribute.
But it can be done, with humility and grace. On the plus side, this writing presents a brilliant opportunity to reflect on what you do and why, so you can share what drives you and where you find meaning.
Here’s the advice I give others as a reminder to myself about where to start.
It’s not about you - even though it is
Some of the paralysis from analysis comes from being very focused on yourself. It’s only natural. But whether it’s a statement, a bio or an about page, all of which are different, the writing is about you but for someone else.
Taking the spotlight off your concerns and thinking from the reader’s point of view is a powerful first step. Who are they?
What do they want to know?
One guide to this can be the kind of question people ask you most often about your work (apart from - how long did it take you to make that ? which doesn’t help anyone with anything)
Reflect on the questions you hear most often and start your bio with the answers.
What’s it for?
In other words, what is the purpose of this writing? Is it to tell them the story of your life including a list of everywhere you have drawn and exhibited?
I think you know the answer to that one. Generally not. Yet it’s the fallback position for many.
More likely it’s to enlarge the reader’s view of what your body of work encompasses. That might be the purpose of the words beside a painting in an exhibition.
Or maybe it will help them grasp what your dancing expresses, its style, its influence, even though they can’t see it? This could be for a billboard, press release or webpage.
These are the two questions to ask before you begin to write.
Who and Why.
I’ve got heaps more tools on this one so I’ll write a few more posts on it - keep an eye out. In the meantime, I’d best stop procrastinating and get on with those bios!
