Creatives share their advice on how to navigate the industry as an introvert

In the creative industry, we very much consume ourselves in the discussion of finances and influences. Less so do we dive into the deep semantics of selfhood and its intersection with creative works. And even in selfhood, we don’t always discuss what it’s like to be introverted in the creative industry, the perks of it or the disadvantages. As Dr. Theresa summarises, “If someone feels they have introverted qualities that create a discord within them, such as wanting certain experiences but experiencing anxiety related to being in social situations, that is a different story. For some of us it can be neurodivergence and/or sensory-related needs that make those experiences overwhelming, for others it can be anxiety or trauma responses,” she says.

However, Dr. Theresa adds: “Psychotherapy, including art therapy and even trauma work such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) can be immensely beneficial for someone who has personally identified this as an area of their life they wish to address. And, lastly, it is typical for a vast percentage of us to experience both introverted and extroverted qualities. I personally love the buzz of a social setting such as being out dancing, but I know that I need a good deal of time afterwards to decompress in solitude,” she says.

What remains the question is how these creatives who are introverted keep their feet in the right place and stay strong, despite being labelled as weird, awkward or mean. How do they experience networking, find opportunities, build their brand and let the world discover them?

For Yimiao, the interwoven nature between her personality and that of her career path perfectly compliments each other. For instance, she loves how being an artist allows her the airy freedom of working alone, and how she can depend on her creativity to communicate visceral emotions on the canvas. Though, she also finds that a detailed routine helps keep her balanced. “My wake-up time is rather late since I usually work until very late the night before,” she says. “I can’t just start working right away after I wake up. I would spend a good amount of time making breakfast and listening to music or podcasts, sometimes playing my favourite movie scenes for a little bit, reading something, or just scrolling on social media. I start working around noon, taking two or three short breaks (mostly making a quick meal and playing with my cat), and finish at two or three in the morning.”

While navigating the creative industry as an introvert could come with its own baggage, Yimiao explains how letting her work speak for itself is her biggest safety net. However, she understands that asserting oneself through networking could also score more points, which is something she’s still learning to navigate. And speaking of navigation; Liu explains that being an introverted creative does not warrant her being a shy individual. “Honestly, I’m not really shy, but I don’t talk much in public. It’s ok to be shy, and from the experiences I have learned from, the only way to help is to just focus on what you want to say and find words that are as precise as possible,” she says.

Kong believes she has found a perfect balance between who she is and her introvertedness. So it’s unsurprising to hear how she enjoys talking to strangers while grocery shopping, sketching people at cafe joints or hanging out with friends – experiences that have aided her artistic journey. In the past, however, she used to worry that she wasn’t active enough with networking and promoting herself, though she has found a way around it. “Personally, networking is not my strongest suit,” she tells It’s Nice That. “I sometimes get frustrated about the things I say or the things I don't say at events. My frustration often comes from impractical aims and comparisons to others. Now I’ve learnt that I am a unique person and I have to create a way of working, living and networking that works best for myself.”

Working as a freelancer – and being able to choose her own schedule, work and events – has also benefited how Lily navigates the industry as an introvert. In doing so, she’s able to create a work persona that helps her build her own independent brand, knowing fully well that putting herself out there and being intentional with who she speaks to will be advantageous to her growth as an artist.

As an introvert, Darius approaches his work from a place of emotion. This has given him the power to navigate the creative industry without feeling the need to rush into conclusion. “Work-wise, I always make sure that I feel mentally prepared before meetings or presentations. I ask for as much time as possible to digest the brief and subject matter,” he says. Otherwise, he credits his friends who have been a valuable support network for him at work events. “I have a close group of friends that I work with and some of them are introverts as well. We talk about this topic quite often,” he says. “Sometimes we invite each other to events so it's easier to network. It is often through these friends where I form meaningful and thought-provoking conversations, which eventually feeds into my work.”