I played my first open mic three years ago. I had just turned 45 and had attended many open mics and thought, “I want to do that.” 

But I would attend another. And another. And walk out with the same feeling that I didn’t even try. It took way too long before that feeling became too much. 

I knew I wasn’t good. But if I never tried, then how would I ever know or get better? Yeah, I could take some more guitar lessons. Or singing lessons. 

But those were just delaying tactics. I was scared. Nervous. 

I told no one. I got on stage, introduced myself, and tried the first few strums but had to start over because my hands were shaking. Before I knew it, I had played the two songs I had practiced all week.  

Driving home I was ecstatic. And I’ve done so many since that night, I’ve lost count.  

Recently, I was invited to join an online songwriting group where every two weeks you are provided a prompt you must use to write a song. To stay in the group, you must submit the song lyrics and a video by the deadline, or you’re out for the year. 

As someone who plays some open mics now and again this is a great opportunity to write more songs. “Showing your work” with a video submission is terrifying. 

The lyrics came easy. In fact, the bulk of the song was written in the first three days after the prompt. But I didn’t submit my video until just before the deadline. 

Why? Fear. Possibly. 

Imposter syndrome? Definitely. I am not a songwriter. Or even a musician in my opinion. 

I have performed in front of people many times by this point. But recording myself for me to watch – or others to pick apart – terrifying. 

But maybe I want to be. Maybe I want to be a musician. Even if it is some local open mics and just having fun with others that love music also. Perhaps it is time to explore using my graphic design background to make my art (more on that later).

One of my favorite authors on being creative is Austin Kleon. 

I read two of his books every year. “Steal Like an Artist” and “Keep Going” are fantastic. I recommend both books for anyone in the creative space. 

Chapter Two of “Steal Like an Artist” is called “Don’t Wait Until You Know Who You Are to Get Started.” 

The opening paragraph perfectly sums up the feeling I’ve had lately:

“If I’d waited to know who I was or what I was about before I started ‘being creative,’ well, I’d still be sitting around trying to figure myself out instead of making things. In my experience, it’s in the act of making things and doing our work that we figure out who we are.”

It is not the art that makes you an artist; it is the act of doing that makes you an artist. The first step. The try and learn what works, and more importantly, what doesn’t work. 

I am getting ready to start the second song from the Song Machine group. I hope to be able to write 24 songs this year, but I will be happy if I get eight or nine new songs done this year.

It isn’t about the number of finished songs I write. It is about the process. About pushing my boundaries and what I learn along the way. I got 13 likes on my first song submission. That is a good start. 

Here’s to the act of doing. No waiting. Just go.