Author: Dan Blank

After months of work, I’m excited to share with you the latest version of my Creative Success Pyramid. This is the exact system I use to help writers and creators get clarity in their work, develop an audience, and launch their work in a meaningful way.

As with all previous iterations of the pyramid, this version has been stress tested in my daily work with writers and creators. The goal of the pyramid is to give you a clear plan, to help you get from “I’m overwhelmed” to “I got this.”

I’ve used this pyramid for years, and have slowly honed it over that time. In my day to day work, each step of the pyramid has worksheets and highly evolved processes, which I then use to provide hands-on feedback and work at each step. I have a very detailed curriculum that this pyramid is based from, which I will be sharing more about soon.

You can download a free PDF of The Creative Success Pyramid here:

Let me take you through it…

How to Use the Pyramid

While everyone has their own unique path, the way to use the pyramid is to move from the bottom to the top. Each step of the pyramid are important strategies and tactics to consider. This is the pyramid from bottom to top:

Define Your Creative Identity:

• Clarity Cards
• Key Messages
• Craft Your Identity
• Content Strategy
• Editorial Management
• Models for Success
• Voice & Visual Style

Find Your Audience:

• Audience Personas
• Channel Selection
• Marketplace Research
• Social Confidence
• Audience Engagement
• Audience Growth

Develop Your Channels:

• Website
• Email Newsletter & Blogging
• Images & Videos
• Audio & Podcasts
• Social Media

Audience Outreach:

• Audience Outreach
• Community & Collabs
• Circle of Support
• Pitches & Publicity

Launch and Market Your Work:

• Marketing Plan
• Marketing Campaigns
• Launch Timeline

Systems and Productivity:

• More Creative Time and Focus
• Confidence in Your Creative Identity

Ultimate Goal:

• Fulfillment and Growth in Your Creative Work

This methodology is meant to tie together the many disparate aspects of what it means to share your work and engage an audience. But what’s more, it should feel authentic and meaningful to you as well.

Does every person need every step? Nope. Do you need to go through them all in a specific order? Nope. What I like about the pyramid is that you get to determine how you want to through it. For some clients I work with, we move through it in a linear progression. For others, we start where they are and move in a progression customized for them.

Here is a video of me walking you through this:

Clarity is Critical to Your Success

When considering the process you should take, I encourage you to challenge every assumption you have about what it means to share your work. That is what I did as I looked at the pyramid with fresh eyes. Even though I have used this model for years, I started from scratch a few months back.

While a lot is the same, a lot has changed. It took me months of analysis — and loads of work in spreadsheets — to ask myself difficult questions about every single step:

• Why is this here?
• What is the value to a writer or creator?
• Is it in the right place?
• Is it essential or a “nice to have.”
• What if I removed it?
• What am I missing?

This has me going back to the well of my inspiration, and considering my mission in helping writers and creators. It also has me immersed in considering the true goals that each of you have. My days are spent in conversation with writers, so that has informed every aspect of this.

The foundation is important, but never so important that it shouldn’t be questioned.

Here is a photo of this re-evaluation of the old version of the pyramid while I was working on it. The red dots are steps of the pyramid that I’m questioning and working on during that moment, along with new ideas:

That screenshot was taken probably 8 weeks into the process already when I had finalized so much else.

Along the way I rediscovered some great resources I have for writers that I forgot I created. This is typical for me since I have been doing this work full-time for 13 years, but it really helped me add a lot of amazing new resources to my work with writers. For example, years ago I used to teach a Mastermind group, which I loved. Turns out, that entire curriculum was just left in a drawer. Now I’m updating it and infusing it into the work I do with clients. And honestly, I’m sooooo excited about this.

The Changes I Made to the Pyramid

So what changed? Quite a bit.The old version is on the left, and the new on the right:

Now, does that mean the things that have X’s on them are suddenly not important? That isn’t the case. For some, they are simply revised and honed, with the goal of laser-focusing on what will help writers and creators the most.

I added a new layer for Systems and Productivity, which I help writers with all the time.

Also, I honed the colors I use in the pyramid, which was just for fun, but it made me enjoy the entire process even more. These colors are also aligned to the new logo I’ve created for my newsletter. The point is: when you can, try to make your work fun. It definitely helped motivate me to get this done.

In the end, I’m proud of how the revised Creative Success Pyramid reflects the actual work I do with writers and creators every day. What I’ve been working on since finishing this is ensuring that I provide my clients even better resources for each step in this process.

Thanks!
-Dan

Please join me next week for a free workshop: Define Your Identity and Creative Voice: Share Who You Are and What You Create with a Sense of Authenticity and Confidence! In this hourlong webinar, I’ll be sharing ways to feel comfortable in developing your public voice as a writer/creator online, and how this becomes the foundation for effectively sharing your work with others. I’ll also be answering your questions in a live Q&A. Friday April 14th at 12:30pm ET. Register here. (If you can’t make the live call, register anyway and you will receive access to a video recording of the workshop.)

Today I want to share what I learned in recording and posting an Instagram Reel every day for 30 days. What is an Instagram Reel? It’s just a 1 minute video. This is what they look like (you can see them all here):

 

So each day, I would:

1. Think of a topic
2. Write a brief script
3. Turn on my studio lights and camera
4. Record the video
5. Do light editing on the video
6. Create the cover image with a title
7. Transfer the video to my phone
8. Upload it to Instagram
9. Edit the transcript and write out the title
10. Post it to Instagram Reels, the main feed, and the Stories feed

If you are a reasonable person, you may be thinking, “Dan, I don’t have time to do this every day. Please… PLEASE… don’t encourage me to do this every day.” I won’t. But I do think there are important things to learn from the process of sharing every day. Here is what I learned along the way:

From Impossible to Easy
At first it felt impossibly difficult to create short content that was meaningful. But after a week, it felt possible. After two weeks, it felt easy. Now, feeling “easy” doesn’t mean it isn’t also item #34 in a busy morning for me. But I really appreciated how quickly this process went from arduous to accessible. In the process, I feel like I unlocked another form of expression and creativity.

Finding My Voice Made the Process Feel Relaxing, Not Angsty
There are a million things I can talk about each day, which can create angst as I consider what I should share. But after about a week, I began to realize that I enjoyed using these videos to talk about creative process and mindset, which is a much smaller subset of all the things I could possibly talk about. Once I limited the focus of the videos into these subtopics, I felt like I had a blue ocean of new ideas to play with. But more, I relaxed about the whole process, instead of worrying, “Oh, what will I share today?” Nowadays, I actually pick the topic for the video as I am turning on my studio lights to record it. It feels more playful than like work.

Repeating a Process Streamlines It
When I first started these, it would take 25 minutes from start to finish. After about a week or two, that time was sliced to about 5-10 minutes. Besides that being a huge reduction in time, the entire prospect became more approachable, because it was easier for me to say, “I have a spare 10 minutes” rather than “Do I really have a spare half hour?!” Also, because of the repetition, there was less decision-making along the way. I knew exactly what to do and it became autopilot after awhile.

Small Details Helped Me Reach More People
The first videos I did were more off the cuff and I just tried to share them without thinking too much. That was a nice way to get into the habit. But I quickly started realizing there were small things I could do that would help ensure the video reached more people, and truly serve those who were interested in it. One is to be sure to include a transcript so people could consume the video without turning on the volume. It’s common for someone to be looking at Instagram in public, or around family, and not want others to hear. Instagram provides a free transcript almost immediately, and I made sure to place it so it wouldn’t get in the way of any other buttons on the screen. I also began taking the time to review and edit the transcript. For some reason, Instagram always spells “want to” as “wantto” when I say it. Not a big deal, and I could ignore that, but I decided it was worth my time to review the transcript word by word. I also realized that by posting these videos every day, they began to all look the same in my feed, and someone wouldn’t have any idea what topic I’m talking about unless they clicked on it. So I added the cover image with a specific title for each video. It took me a day to realize that the placement of this title matters too. At first I placed it too low, so it would get cut off on Instagrams main feed.

The Videos Provided a Welcome Creative Outlet
The prompt to record a 1 minute video each day gave me an outlet to express what I’m thinking about each day. I love the work that I do, and it’s common for me to have lots of experiences or insights during the week, as days are spent talking to writers and creators. Not everything has to be a 1,500 word essay that I send out in a newsletter once a week. The daily videos provided me a new outlet to share things that otherwise would have gone unsaid. The result felt good inside. But it was also really fulfilling to see that the videos were helpful and inspiring to others.

Some of the Simplest Ideas Got the Most Engagement
This is a lesson I learned years ago with my newsletter, but it never stops surprising me. Some of the ideas that feel almost too simple to create a video about, ended up being some of the most popular. It’s a wonderful reminder to not overcomplicate things and simply share what resonates.

Instagram’s Algorithm Shares Reels to More People
This is another things I “knew” before I started, but it was fascinating to see it in action. Instagram has been encouraging people to share more Reels in order to compete with TikTok. One way that is encouraged is by ensuring that Reels are seen by more people. So if I looked at the stats for what I share in Instagram’s other feeds (the main grid, and the Stories feed), most of the people who see those posts already follow me. But for the Reels, it was different. Something like 40% of the people who saw them were not followers, meaning I am potentially reaching new people and expanding my reach/audience.

Creating Constraints Turned a Big Project Into Something Reasonable
I’ve always said that creative work thrives with boundaries, and this was a good example of that. There were a number of constraints in place that turned this otherwise big idea “record and share a video every day for 30 days” into something that felt much more approachable. The daily deadline is one. The fact that these videos can only be one minute is another. Limiting it to just a 30-day challenge was a way for me to approach the concept, without feeling I was making too big of a commitment. All of this limited the potential feeling of overwhelm in the process.

It’s Funny How Quickly A “Challenge” Becomes a “Habit”
After a few days, perhaps a week, creating a video every day became a habit like any other in my life. I don’t worry about a “30 day teethbrushing challenge!” I just brush my teeth every day. Creating a video just kind of snugly fit into my daily life very quickly.

This Was Another Reminder That Creative Energy is My Biggest Creative Barrier, Not Time
Looking back at the videos I created in the last month is a great reminder that I do have the time to create more, as long as I give myself a solid plan. My youngest was sick nearly every week this month (which has been the norm for him since last September), and it’s been a busy month physically and emotionally. Yet, on top of my normal set of responsibilities, I also did these 30 videos. If you would ask me on any given day, “Dan, do you have time to do a video every day?” I would reasonably reply, “Um, no. I’m swamped.” Yet here we are with 30+ videos done, and a new daily habit fully formed.

The Videos Solved a Lingering “Problem” With My Newsletter
When I launched my newsletter 17 years ago, there was a bonus section at the bottom titled “Meal of the Week.” Yep, I shared a photo of one meal I ate from the past week. This was before Instagram and sharing photos of food online because the norm. As I got older, my diet became more… well, boring. The photos of the meals no longer seemed interesting. So I changed that section to “Inspiration of the Week,” and to be honest, it was always a mixed bag. But once I started doing these daily videos, I realized that sharing a recap of them as the newsletter “Inspiration of the Week” served a true purpose that aligns with my mission. That part of the newsletter now feels really authentic to me, and is hopefully inspiring some people!

The Videos Gave My Subscribers a Clear Reason to Follow Me on Instagram
By sharing these videos in my newsletter, lots of email subscribers are now following me on Instagram. It turns out, in the past I have vaguely mentioned my Instagram in the newsletter, but rarely giving people a true reason to go follow me there.

A Big Archive Can Be Created Very Quickly
Seeing the 30+ videos posted shows me how a wonderful archive of material can be created very quickly. It’s a great reminder that small actions each day can add up to something that feels bigger and more cohesive.

I’m going to keep sharing new videos every day. You can see them each day by following me on Instagram.

Oh, and you can sign up for next week’s workshop here: Define Your Identity and Creative Voice: Share Who You Are and What You Create with a Sense of Authenticity and Confidence. Friday April 14th at 12:30pm ET.

Thanks!

-Dan

Last week I wrote about the potential impact that artificial intelligence will have on writing, art, and creative work. Today, I want to focus on the opposite: the value of handcrafted creative work (writing, art, etc.), that by their nature are limited edition and deeply personal. What I will cover today:

• Why one writer and artist is investing in handcrafted work (this is a super inspiring story)
• How handcrafted is a power you have that is very accessible to you (if you dare)
• Handcrafted vs AI (who will win?! Sentient robots or funky writers and artists? Read on to find out!)

Okay, let’s dig in…

How Meera Lee Patel is Embracing Handcrafted Work

Meera Lee Patel is a successful writer and artist who I’ve worked with, and featured a few times in my blog/podcast (here, here, and here.) She has 50,000+ followers on Instagram, has published 5 (wonderful) books, and has earned a living as a writer and artist for years. But recently, she’s been changing direction. Her latest project is a handcrafted accordion book that she made only 50 copies of, and is selling for $20 each. Here is my copy which arrived in the mail the other day:

 

It consists of a beautiful illustration, moving prose, and was literally glued together by Meera. I texted Meera earlier this week to ask if she could chat via phone and talk about this. What she shared was soooooo inspiring.

The context for my questions was this: here she is finishing up grad school, preparing to defend her thesis; she has a new book coming out in May; she is expecting her second child soon; she is so busy with life — so why spend all this time creating and printing and selling and gluing and mailing an accordion book? To the right is a photo Meera shared of herself this week.

Her answer is so moving:

“I feel like I’m finally putting into motion what you and I talked about over a year and a half ago. I’ve been trying to figure out for a long time how to get back to myself. I want to pay attention to the artist in me, and the creativity in me, which took a back seat to the business of being a brand and artist.”

She shared how her success as a writer and artist had a personal downside:

“When I started out, I made what I wanted because it brought me joy. I would make limited copies, and every time someone bought one, it was unbelievable that someone would spend $20 on a thing I made. When I quit my job, and it had to be a sustainbale business, the numbers became so important. You can’t live on $20. When you work with a big publisher, 10 isn’t enough, 30,000 isn’t enough. I became super jaded. Doing this accordion book brings back a lot of the humanity to the art I’m interested in making next.”

I asked her about the process, which she addressed with such honesty:

“Yes, it is work. I’m not making any money on it, putting these book together while my daughter is napping. The money is not the important thing, and that feels good. It is about the art and heart and not the money. I do make money in my business in other ways, which allows me to do this personal work that gives me emotional and mental sustenance. I’m learning to find a balance between the work that pays me, and the work that encourages me to keep making.”

How does she do it all? I love her answer:

“Something has to go. I can’t tell you the last time I cleaned the house. I said to my husband: “I’m not cleaning anymore. I’d rather make this book than clean the house.”

I mean, I think that should be a t-shirt that people can buy:

Meera continued:

“Do I love having a dirty and messy house? No. But it’s a compromise I get to make to do something I want more. I don’t have a lot of time at all to work, so I make the most of the time I do have. It’s a lot of nights when when daughter is asleep. I’m putting less pressure on myself and that makes everything more enjoyable. To see myself as a person again, and not a company.”

I mean, that is the crux of it right there, the concept of handcrafted vs technology. Neither is inherently good or bad, it is how they create meaning in our lives. And Meera’s example is infinitely inspiring in this regard.

She summarizes what this all means to her, what is wrapped up in this edition of 50 handcrafted books:

“The biggest thing that changed is that it is important for me as an artist to be of service. The reason I make things is to find connection with myself, with other people, and within our larger world. But the way my career has been so far, I was just offering value to other people. In doing so, I’ve lost that connection to myself. In this new chapter, I’m focusing more on honoring and fostering a connection with myself — the stories I want to tell — and hoping that will still resonate with readers and offer them connection and comfort. I’m changing the question from: “What does someone need from me?” to “What do I need from me?” I’m putting myself first, which is something I haven’t done in a long time. I’m devoting myself to it. I’m going to make it no matter what.”

There are a few copies of her amazing accordion book left. You can see behind the scenes of the making of the book here. And you can find all things Meera on her website.

Handcrafted is a Power You Have

Handcrafted takes longer. It is oftentimes more expensive. It has less immediate reach. Yet, it is a power you have. Often people bemoan the fall of handcrafted — “I miss when, to make art, it meant you had to touch a brush to canvas. Nowadays it’s all just pixels and screens.” or “Oh, I remember the clack clack sound of a typewriter! I miss the days of writing longhand on a notepad.” But here’s the thing: these options are still available to you. My home is filled with traditional art supplies because my wife is an artist. I own 10+ typewriters, most of which work just fine. You have never had more access to amazing pens and beautiful paper.

Often, we dismiss handcrafted because it takes longer. It is simply much easier to use digital. To feel that the only way to create and to share is to “give in” to massive technology companies and distributors. I’m not judging that as a negative path, I simply want to highlight that you have the same options we had decades ago. In the 1990s I created a handmade zine where I interviewed and wrote about alternative music, indie bands, and Britpop. Along the way, I got to interview Oasis, Blur, and many of my musical heroes at the time. It was a long process, requiring long hours in the print shop, then piecing together the zine, then getting on my bike to deliver them to stores. Printing this zine put me thousands of dollars in debt at a time when I was earning minimum wage, and working three jobs at a time to ensure I could work almost every single shift in given week. Here I am with an issue being laid out on my bed:

 

Here I am writing, publishing, and distributing all on my own. It was amazing! Would I do this way today? Well, if you are reading this, you are doing so via my email newsletter or blog, so there is your answer. I’ve made the choice to write and publish and distribute and share in a different manner. Of course, the writing is still what I would call handcrafted. AI didn’t help me write this.

You get to choose how you create. How you publish. How you share. And like Meera, you can choose a mix of options, and those can change over time.

Handcrafted vs AI

The next few years will be filled with dramatic headlines of how AI is reshaping industry after industry. Instead of taking a stance for or against it, or preparing hundreds of responses of shock and dismay that will appear in social media feeds, I want to encourage you to focus your energy on creating and sharing.

Let’s just assume that AI will be a viable technology that will be integrated into everything. Yes, there will be compelling debates about if and how it should be regulated. About whether it is ethical. About how it is impacting real people’s lives as it potentially reshapes entire industries. These will be compelling debates. But I want to encourage you to not get sidetracked by it all too much. And instead fully embrace the creative work that you love, that you are capable of, and that real people will embrace. So that every ounce of your energy is focused on growing your creative work.

If you do this, handcrafted wins.

Handcrafted is thriving in the marketplace today in so many compelling ways, and I think it will do so even more in the future. Let me give you an example: Rhett Shull and Tilly Shull are a married couple in their early 30s, earning a living in the creative fields of music and photography.

Rhett is guitarist who lives in Atlanta and also spends a lot of time in Nashville. Like many musicians, his original trajectory was to earn a living a a session guitarist, member of a band, playing gigs and recording music. But something funny happened along the way: his YouTube channel became really big, with more than 500,000 subscribers. Now what is his actual career? YouTuber. Even though he still plays a lot of shows, and records a lot of music, his income is directly and indirectly now happening because of YouTube. So here is someone doing something handcrafted (making music on old-fashioned guitars and tube amps), but thriving in the marketplace due to new technology in a non-traditional way.

His wife Tilly has only recently launched her YouTube channel. Her focus? Film photography. Yep. Will she develop her career by shooting weddings and family portraits? Likely not. Even though she has embraced a style of handcrafted art that is now far outside the mainstream, her career will also likely grow due to how online media provides unique opportunities for her.

Receiving Meera’s accordion book, hearing her story, seeing people like Rhett and Tilly and so many other creators online reminds me of how there are a myriad of ways that creativity is thriving. What I hope for you is this: that you define a path that works for you. That you are open to changing that path when you feel like it. And that most of all: you create what is in your heart, and share it with those who will appreciate it.

Thanks!

-Dan