Self-Promotion for Creatives

Visibility and Sharing Your Creative Work

If you’ve seen the documentary 20 Feet From Stardom, you know how talented backup singers can be. Some of them have voices more powerful than the stars they support. But many never break through.

This documentary stood out because it showed something deeper. Talent alone isn’t enough to make someone a commercial success. These singers didn’t lack skill, but many of them struggled with the spotlight.

This isn’t just a story about music. It’s a story about every creative person trying to turn their passion into a career.

Why Stay in the Background?

The difference between creatives who thrive and struggle isn’t just about ability, it’s also about visibility. The ones who succeed consistently put themselves and their work out there.

It isn’t just about posting on social media or sending emails. The struggle is far deeper than marketing knowledge.

Creative Blocks and Self-Promotion

If you’ve ever avoided sharing your work, the issue might not be strategy. It could be a protective mechanism wired into your nervous system.

It’s easy to assume that some people just aren’t good at marketing. But for many creators, promoting themselves feels emotionally unsafe. It requires vulnerability, and that can be nerve-wracking.

Maybe you grew up feeling criticized or unworthy. Those feelings don’t disappear in adulthood. Instead, they tend to come up again whenever you’re in a position to be judged.

A harsh inner critic, often formed from past experiences of rejection, might work overtime to keep you small. This part of you isn’t trying to sabotage you. It’s trying to protect you. Your nervous system remembers every moment of embarrassment, shame, or failure.

Even if self-promotion is logically safe, your body might still react as if it’s dangerous.

So you avoid, hesitate, and convince yourself you’re not ready. And the world never gets to see your work.

Breaking the Cycle

Self-promotion isn’t just about tactics. It’s about healing.

Start by noticing what happens in your body when you think about sharing your work. Do you feel a tightness in your chest? A sense of dread? A voice telling you it’s not good enough? That awareness is the first step.

In 20 Feet From Stardom, Darlene Love spoke about returning to singing after stepping away. She said, “You have to do little things here and there to keep your name out there.”

If self-promotion feels overwhelming, working with your nervous system can help. Therapies like Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Somatic Experiencing can help you feel safer in your body. The more you practice, the easier it becomes.

From Backup to Headliner

The creative industry favors those willing to be seen. That doesn’t mean you have to change who you are. But you do have to show up and put yourself out there.

Self-promotion isn’t about proving your worth. It’s about connection. It’s a way of sharing your story with people who need to hear it.