Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Owldamone. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Owldamone, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Imposter syndrome is something so common in the online creator space it’s almost expected. It’s the very self doubting feeling of “am I good enough?” or “do I deserve this?” I get this every time I get an opportunity, fearing that from the outside others may question my deservedness of it. But I realise that even if that is true, if you work hard and you’re passionate then there’s no opportunity you don’t deserve. When I get in my own head about that I take the time to think about all the work I’ve done over the years. And it then becomes a very validating reminder that yes, I do deserve this, and here’s all I’ve done TO deserve it.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m an online content creator who expresses their love for fandoms through cosplay and gaming! Being a big nerd I’ve found creating an online community has given me space to fawn over my favourite shows and video games to like-minded folks. I blend my two creative outlets (cosplay and gaming) very easily as I’ll stream my favourite games on Twitch and then cosplay characters from that game! Recently I’ve been playing a lot of Final Fantasy XIV Online and getting really stuck into the very fun and silly online community. As a cosplayer I craft a lot of my own costumes and enter competitions as a way to show them off! I won third place at this year’s The Game Expo Cosplay Cup and I cried on stage from excitement!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
As a creative these are the best pieces for your mental toolkit:
1. Asking for advice! We learn the most from each other. I’ve improved both my streams and cosplays the most by asking others in the space for their insight. In my experience, you won’t find too many folks adamant on gatekeeping knowledge, as we all want to see each other succeed!
2. Reflection! A creative outlet is a constant work in progress, so you should be regularly reflecting on what you’re doing well, and what are areas of opportunity. It’s not meant to be an insult on your work but rather acknowledging you are constantly getting better and growing as an artist so let’s take a moment to reflect on how, and what more can be done.
3. Acknowledging when it’s time to take a break! Burnout, especially creative burnout, can be horrid to deal with. Whilst the “grind” can be tempting you’re still a person and not a machine. Take breaks from your work, have hobbies/interests/work outside of your artistry so you’re refreshed for your next project!
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
In the cosplay half of my heart, I’ve been focusing on up-skilling my craft through practice, seeking advice, and sharing my journey online. Looking at my builds now compared to a year ago I can see a great improvement in the accuracy of my costumes. However of course I can still recognise areas of improvement I will tackle in the next 12 months. As there are always opportunities to improve!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/owldamone/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/owldaweeb
- Other: Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/owldamone
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@owldamone
Image Credits
TGX 3rd place – VodaJess
Photo by – LumenoxPhotography
Photo by – needleandhammerstudio
Dreamhack 2024 – idave4321
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