The name on the book cover is somewhat of a lie. It perpetuates a myth of the ‘creative’. It implies that one person did it all by themselves – the writing, the drawing, the editing, the refining. But we never operate in isolation. Humans need each other to survive. On our own, we are at risk.
So, when it comes to producing creative work, what’s important is finding the matching puzzle pieces – the pieces that fit with you but also work to extend you, and in turn, extend themselves. Once a network of puzzle pieces form, the work is stronger, better, and more complete, despite what it says on the cover.
But, to do this, one needs to understand one’s own shape first.