The Misguided Belief That “Creators Are All About Sensibility”: Why Promoting Your Work Is Essential

The Freedom of Creative Hobbies—and Their Hidden Challenges

Creative hobbies, by nature, are free in both content and purpose. But that very freedom can be surprisingly difficult to navigate.

Two key challenges often arise:

• Freedom can be paralyzing
• Self-satisfaction and the desire for recognition are inseparable

Children, when told “Draw whatever you like,” jump in without hesitation. Adults, however, often respond with “I need a theme—I don’t know what to draw.” This is because most adults spend their lives working, and 90% of that work involves following instructions. They’re simply not used to deciding everything for themselves.

So even when someone reaches the point of thinking, “Creative hobbies sound fun—I want to try,” they often begin by looking for successful examples to follow. Or they hear a behind-the-scenes story and feel inspired to create something similar.

This is natural—but it hides a trap.

Genius Is Not a Blueprint

I once knew an actor who wrote and performed in his own plays. I’d attend his shows and even filmed some performances as a thank-you for his help in my own projects. His stories were consistently engaging.

Later, I realized that for a casual viewer like me to find a small-theater production genuinely entertaining is rare. His troupe was clearly operating at a high level—especially in how they resolved narrative setups and delivered satisfying payoffs.

One day, I asked him how he wrote his stories. Did he work backward from a twist ending? Did he weave together prewritten episodes?

His answer:
“I just come up with a rough setting, write out the character interactions, and somehow it all comes together in the end.”

That may be true—for him. But as you’ve probably guessed, this is the method of someone with innate talent. Most people can’t replicate it successfully.

Admiring genius is fine. I do it too. But copying their process is a mistake.

The Art School Trap

I’ve recently heard many stories from people who studied painting at art universities. The reality shocked me.

Aspiring painters enter art school and devote themselves entirely to creation. After graduation, they work part-time jobs to survive while continuing to paint—because they’ve been taught to “pour all your energy into creating.”

Some follow professional artists, hoping to exhibit one piece alongside their mentor’s solo show. But this rarely leads to a breakthrough.

Astonishingly, most art school graduates who pursue painting never sell a single piece before giving up and changing careers.

What does this tell us?

The advice to “hone your skills and follow your sensibility” is flawed.

If you want to be a professional artist, you also need to:

• Understand what kind of work is in demand
• Know where your potential customers are
• Learn how to secure opportunities to showcase your work

In other words, you need business skills.

The romantic idea that “artists must be poor” or “don’t sell your soul for money” ends up wasting the talent and time of skilled creators. These outdated beliefs and educational approaches are not just harmful to individuals—they’re dragging down the entire industry.

Art schools should strengthen their curriculum around business and self-promotion.

Creation That Generates Value

So how can we apply these lessons to our own creative pursuits?

No matter your initial motivation, once you start creating, you’ll naturally seek deeper satisfaction. At its core, creation is about self-fulfillment—but that fulfillment grows when others appreciate your work.

You might feel uncomfortable pursuing profit from a hobby. Some people insist on sharing their work for free because “it’s just a hobby.”

But many misunderstand what “free” really means.

Let’s say you upload your film to YouTube and make it freely available. Viewers still pay—with their time.

And time has value. For some, an hour is worth $5. For others, $100.

So when people say, “Even though it’s free, no one watches,” it’s because viewers are evaluating whether your work is worth their time. That’s perfectly reasonable.

If your work brings someone genuine satisfaction, your own fulfillment increases. And figuring out how to maximize that satisfaction is no different from figuring out how to sell more effectively.

The basic principle of business is: if many people enjoy something, it’s fair to receive more money for it.

That’s why I believe the idea that “money corrupts art” is often just a bitter excuse for not selling.

Aim for 65 Points, Not 90

When it comes to creative technique, don’t try to mimic the genius approach and aim for a perfect 90. Instead, start with a methodical, logic-based approach that can reliably produce a 65.

A 65-point story can still offer viewers a satisfying experience.

I teach this kind of structured storytelling in my DIY Filmmaking Club. And when watching films or dramas, try stripping away the “extra flair” and focusing on the core mechanics—you’ll start to see the essential elements more clearly.

I hope this article offers some useful insights.