How I did it: I had a hard time when I thought about what I wanted my work to be in general, but when I focused on a specific body of work, it was easier to think coherently about its significance. Before I started work, the thought of eventually writing a statement stressed me, but once I started it and made progress, a lot of thoughts and themes came more naturally in the process of doing. I think if you do work that means something to you personally and spend a reasonable amount of time on it, there will be enough to say.

Lessons & tips: It's my subjective preference, but I'd say avoid a lot of abstract, theory-based stuff, which makes it sound jargon-filled and (let's be honest) a little pretentious, and focus on what the concrete significance of the work is, on what your personal connection to it is. Also, from reading a lot of other people's statements, I think it's more helpful when it points the audience in a certain direction, gives a hint of what they should look for or think about, rather than be descriptive about the work itself. I guess, set the context and leave the actual work of figuring things out to the audience.

Do something to give yourself a deadline. I kept telling myself I'd do it for several months before entering a contest for a grant (it doesn't have to be one with an entry fee) forced me to do it.

Aug 12, 05:17AM PDT | 0 comments | 1 cheer