My all-encompassing resources for the creative life

Photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash

You think after graduating college that you’ll have all the answers and know exactly what to do.

HA! If only…

In fact, if you’re anything like me, you’ll probably have more questions and be more confused than when you started out.

This is meant to be a hopeful message for those just starting out. I’m failing already, aren’t I? But, I digress.

There have been so many things I’ve learned on the job, as I’ve moved along in my career. Now, officially having one decade of work under my belt, I’m no longer “the beginner” I once was.

While I still have plenty to learn, especially as a communications specialist and someone who works with social media that is constantly changing, there are also plenty of things I’ve learned and want to help pass along.

I can trust myself a lot more; my opinion, my experiences and my ideas.

I turn to resources when there are things I don’t know. I Google, I read, I research, I watch videos on YouTube and I pay close attention to what other artists and people I admire are doing. As you study others, you find your own sound, voice and style.

Here are some of those that helped me, especially in my earlier years.

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Books:

• Influencer : Building Your Personal Brand in the Age of Social Media - by Brittany Hennessy

• Instastyle: Tessa Barton

• Nothing to Prove by Jennie Allen

• The Artisan Soul by Erwin McManus

• Brand Thinking and Other Noble Pursuits by Debbie Millman and Rob Walker

• The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman

• Where to Begin by Cleo Wade

• The Beautiful No by Sheri Salata

• Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon

• A Million Little Ways: Uncover the Art You Were Made To Live by Emily P. Freeman

• Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Courses:

• Masterclass

  • TV Writing with Shonda Rhimes

  • Ron Howard Teaches Directing

• LinkedIn Learning

• Hope * Writers Writing Group

• Compel Writers Training

• Coursera (Meta Blueprint Credential Course)

• Rachel Hollis Life Coaching

Photos Editing:

• Canva

• Afterlight Photo

• VSCO

• A Color Story

• Labbet

Video/Reel Editing:

• CapCut

• iMovie

• Splice

• Lift

Instagram Stories/Feed Graphics:

• Temply

• Template

• Unsquared (helps split up seamless carousel graphics)

• SCRL

• Loomy

• Unfold

Organization/Planning:

• Planoly

• Notion

• Freeform

YouTube Videos:

• https://www.youtube.com/@alwayscreatingio

• https://www.youtube.com/@GENFLOW

• https://www.youtube.com/@carlytheprepster

• https://www.youtube.com/@CreatorHubTutorials

• https://www.youtube.com/@AlissaRose

• https://www.youtube.com/@JadeBeason

• https://www.youtube.com/@katie

That’s all for now,

Shelby