There are No “Real” Creatives
Dear Creative (yes, you)
There’s no such thing as a “real” creative.
Have you ever heard (or said) something like ‘they're not a real artist’ or ‘real musician’?
This insidious phrasing implies there's an absolute universally agreed upon set of rules for determining a person’s creative ability.
It also implies that there’s an omnipresent Official Bureau of Creativity that will judge if someone is a “real” or “qualified” or “official” creative based on those rules.
Unfortunately, we've all internalized some of these fake rules around what makes a person “officially” creative.
Some “rules” I've observed the most:
You must be paid for your creativity.
You must be able to draw/paint (the more realistic you can draw, the more “official” you are).
You must play an instrument.
You must be a published author.
You need a large following of fans or be famous
You must have a “conventional” creative job like graphic design, illustration, director, screenwriter, etc.
You must win awards for your work.
You must be “good” at your creative thing (this one is the worst because it's entirely subjective based on whoever is looking at your work)
Luckily there is not an Official Bureau of Creativity!
There's not an absolute magic list of qualifications for being creative.
No one is going to send you a notarized letter saying you didn't meet the “real” creativity criteria.
No one is going to revoke your creativity license.
That's why I started this Official Fake Bureau of Creativity blog.
We’re here to counteract all the pervasive, unconscious, unspoken gatekeeping and judgement that runs rampant in our minds (so much so it almost feels like there really is a Bureau of Creativity judging us from the shadows).
Even though no one is going to revoke your creativity license, sometimes we still need a little certificate to give us a nudge.
(I get it, I could rant for days about how we've been conditioned to seek too much external validation).
That's why I'm here!
On behalf of the Official Fake Bureau of Creativity, please see the following questions:
Are you real? (Aka Do you exist?) Yes.
Are you creative? Yes. (In case you missed it, everyone is creative.)
Congratulations! You're a “real” official creative.
And if you'd like a reminder of that, download this lil' certificate. Fill out your name, sign it, print it, decorate it, tack it up somewhere and remember:
Everyone is creative, including you.
XOXO,
Ambassador of the Official Fake Bureau of Creativity
P.S. If you don’t like any of the provided certificate designs…GOOD. Go stretch those creative muscles and make one you DO like ;)
