Every few weeks someone asks me: “How do you stay consistent with content?” And honestly? I don’t. Half the time I disappear for weeks, post a random creation I've made in the studio, maybe i'll dabble back on TikTok or have 100 pre-scheduled posts for LinkedIn, and then dip. And yet somehow, people still think I’ve got it all figured out.
Spoiler: I don’t. And if you don’t either, that’s fine.
Because somewhere along the way, “being a creative” got completely merged with “being a content creator.” The lines are gone. Blurred. Smudged into a feed of personal projects, outfit pics, moodboard dumps, BTS clips, and captions about “the process.” It’s exhausting. And more importantly, it’s not sustainable. People want to know the ins and outs of your life, they want to share your story and have you experience every failure in front of their eyes so they can invest in you and your dream.It's weird.
The truth is: content doesn’t equal value. Visibility doesn’t equal legitimacy. And posting more doesn’t make you more talented or put together. We’re just living through an era where it feels that way because we’re watching everyone else hustle online, and mistaking their algorithm game for actual work.
But what if your best ideas happen in silence? What if your practice requires privacy, slowness, research, stuff that doesn’t translate well into a 15-second TikTok with trending audio?
It doesn’t mean you’re falling behind. It just means your path is different.
And yes, I know the industry tells us otherwise. Want funding? “Show your impact.” Want press? “Pitch with assets.” Want brand work? “Send your IG, we’ll check out your vibe.” It’s wild how many gatekeepers now judge your worth based on your social presence before your actual work. I’ve seen people with 100 followers making real change in their community get overlooked for a less talented creator with better editing skills. It's giving content over craft.
But here’s the plot twist: it’s possible to grow without feeding the algorithm.
You can still build real networks by showing up offline. Going to local events. DMing people without an ask. Joining collectives. Collaborating on stuff that lives beyond your grid. Zines. Pop-ups. Skillshares. Actual face-to-face moments. That’s how culture used to spread before we all became marketers.
Also: let your work speak. Submit to open calls. Apply for grants. Get feedback from peers, not just followers. Some of the best opportunities I’ve ever had came from people who saw the actual work, not a reel of me pretending to be a Girlboss in Canva.
If you do post, do it on your terms. Don’t force it. Document when it feels honest. Don’t feel like you have to “brand” your creativity like it’s a product. You’re not a product, you’re a person. And if there's something creative you love, you're not obligated to turn it into a business or career or share it with anyone.
Remember: loads of the people who post 24/7 are burnt out. Creatively bankrupt. Stuck performing instead of producing. You don’t need to be visible all the time to be valuable. You’re allowed to go quiet. You’re allowed to move in your own rhythm.
So if you’re feeling like you’re “behind” because you haven’t posted in weeks, you’re not. You’re building. That’s what matters. Let the work speak when it’s ready.