Join for advice and tips on writing and creativity, and stay for reflections of life as an artist. You'll receive succinct weekly emails on the craft of writing and beyond, and exclusive creative updates on my own projects as well as arts opportunities.
Put imposter syndrome to the side
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Sometimes I feel out of place in certain environments, where people may be more experienced than me, or have more prestige and standing, making imposter syndrome easily creep in. But this perception is faulty. If you're in a room, then you deserve to be there, and you should make the most of it, even if you feel out of place. There have been countless times where I've felt estranged, and yet the moments I forced myself to enquire and be open, I made connections and links that have led me to unexpected opportunities. As an introvert, this has been a difficult skill to stay consistent with, but if I can do it, then so can anyone, including you. We are sold the lie that we have to change ourselves in order to fit the mould of the people we aspire to be like, and while there will always be a level of assimilation, it is vital that you do not leave your identity at the door, especially in a world of creativity and artistry, which thrives off of fresh perspectives, individuality, and uniqueness. At the end of the day, who wants to live in a world where everyone has the same personality? This would be anti-human. Innovation is driven by people who have their own vision and follow it, rather than settling for a world that cannot see or access their points of view. If we have a world of similitude, Reader, we become robotic and lose that spark of ingenuity and creative inspiration that we are born with, and that has forged civilisations, art, and advancements since the dawn of humanity. We see the robotic system already at work in the corporate world where indivdual flair and identity is essentially suppressed. So whenever you feel out of place because others are more experienced, or like you have to fit in and wholly conform to the rules of your environment, understand that you have a unique angle to offer even if you haven't found it yet. And if you are present in these high places, give yourself credit for building up to that point, and then use the platform to spread your ideas, or simpler yet, and more realistically, to discover you, and preserve you. I'll talk more on this in the future. Creative UpdateThis past week has seen continued efforts to work on funding and grant applications, as well as writing various works and preparing poetry sets for TEDx Wolverhampton, and organising my upcoming poetry and dialogue collaboration event. Tickets for the event will be on sale in the next few days, so keep your eyes peeled for updates! Upcoming OpportuntiesGet involved with TEDx Wolverhampton (27th June) From volunteering on the day, to sponsoring the event, to showcasing your business in our TEDx Marketplace - there are still a few opportunities left to be part of something special. Send DM via the profile link below for interest.
The V. S. Pritchett Short Story Prize is a £1,000 Prize for the best unpublished short story of the year, which will also be published in our annual Review magazine. This year's prize will be judged by Peter Hobbs, Annette Brooke, and Caroline O’Donoghue. DEADLINE: 22ND JUNE
Ikon invites applicants for an Artist in Residence at HMP Aylesbury. Produced by Ikon, Art at HMP Aylesbury, funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Communities and Collections Fund, centres on a new ceramics studio within a male Category C prison. Part of Ikon’s Art in Prisons programme, this new project partners Ikon and HMP Aylesbury with Discover Bucks Museum (DBM). SALARY: £28K project fee plus travel DEADLINE: 16TH JUNE 9AM
All the best for now, and for always, and have a great rest of the week, Bilal Psyche Akram |
The Writer's Psyche
Join for advice and tips on writing and creativity, and stay for reflections of life as an artist. You'll receive succinct weekly emails on the craft of writing and beyond, and exclusive creative updates on my own projects as well as arts opportunities.
Last Saturday was the debut of Poetry For Justice, and I first want to thank everyone who attended, and everyone who has helped along the way. The event taught me innumerable things, about event production and coordination, and also about myself. One of the lessons that stood out, was understanding the power of community, and more pertinently the unity it brings. The evening was dedicated to social justice and art, and the story and case of Dr Aafia Siddiqui. The key intention behind...
A few weeks ago, I discussed how our voices can be used to create real world change, and I echo that sentiment in today's broadcast. More potently around the idea of social justice being enacted through creative expression. We all have gifts, and sharing them with the world can have a genuine impact on others. My gift lies in writing and creativity, and I try to use it to the best of my ability, to bring awareness to different issues, that many people may overlook. For creative people, using...
You don't need to be everywhere all the time. You just need to be in a handful of the right spaces, and know when and where to make an appearance. Often in arts culture and communities, where so much is going on, you feel obligated to attend every event. And while I'm not saying you shouldn't do this, how much of it actually benefits you? What is the point if the outcome is burnout, when you could've targeted select events, where you'd be at your full capacity? This is a common dilemma for...