Erica Barry grew up in the digital age and watched digital media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok transform the entertainment industry and become a way for talented creators to find their audience and tell their story.
This inspired Barry to write a book, Don’t Wait, Create: How to Be a Content Creator in the New Digital Revolution, scheduled for release at the end of this month. She hopes that her new book will inspire the next generation of digital revolutionaries to write their own creative success stories.
Erica explains, “I have been drawn to digital media since the early days of the Internet. This book explores the importance of digital content creation in today’s media and entertainment landscape, and provides practical and inspiring advice from successful content creators for anyone who wants to follow in their footsteps.” According to Erica, it is critically important for aspiring content creators to understand how digital media is changing the industry.
Pursuing acting opportunities in Los Angeles, Barry gained experience with the traditional audition process, but that path is becoming less and less viable today. With a bit of entrepreneurial spirit, the digital revolution has made it possible for aspiring artists to bring their own creative visions to life. In just months, Barry was able to leverage the lessons she outlines in her book to grow her social media following exponentially. She hopes Don’t Wait, Create will inspire others to do the same.
“You have all the power you need to become a content creator instead of a content consumer,” Barry explains. “No longer do you have to wait to be ‘discovered,’ wait for a callback, or wait to tell your story. You can create a community, share your ideas with others, and entertain the world—no permission necessary. The sky’s the limit if you commit to a habit of creation.”
That habit of creation is something that’s heavily emphasized throughout the book. Barry feels that for many new content creators, the most difficult thing is just getting started. She believes that aspiring creators need to embrace the idea that failure is an inevitable part of the creative process. It’s expected that your first videos will be buggy and they will probably not be viral successes, but she notes that this is the only way to learn and find your niche.
“Modern technology has democratized your ability to tell your story,” Barry says. “You can shoot, edit, and share content directly from your iPhone. Sharing your experiences, skills, and talents with the world can bring about positive change, bring joy to another person’s day, and start new and exciting conversations. In a real sense, it’s about sharing your own humanity.”
Becca Bastos, an actress who has garnered over one million followers on TikTok for her impression videos says: “As an actress, creating content has been extremely empowering and critical in jump-starting my career. I recommend Don’t Wait, Create to anyone who is ready to take their career into their own hands and unleash the power of creating opportunities for themselves.”
“Many of us are content creators in some capacity, but we have not fully realized our potential or grasped the power, influence, and responsibility associated with this role,” says Barry. “We are currently living in the Golden Age of Content Creation.”
For more information on Erica Barry’s work in the digital media landscape, visit www.ericabarry.com. Don’t Wait, Create: How to Be a Content Creator in the New Digital Revolution is scheduled to be published by New Degree Press on August 30, 2021.
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