What makes a successful creative?

My take on a creative career...

When you receive a Substack email… do you read it there in your email, or do you get straight onto the app?

I recommend the latter, only because the app is so much more delicious.

There’s a moment of dropping in - which I don’t get from emails, as I’m still thinking about the other email I’m yet to read.

When I head to the Substack app (or even better the desktop) it’s like I can relax into the couch and take my time. Which is what I believe reading on Substack deserves. Of course for the writers, but for myself: why not take a moment?

There’s that and then also the app does this cool thing where it will pause the article at the point you’ve read, so you can exit out, and come back and it will pick up where you left off.

You can like/ comment/ share/ restack so much easier, and feel apart of something connected rather that only in your inbox.

Anyway, Just wanted to remind you- as this hits your inbox… to head over to the app and relax into this read. My favourite part of the day is when I get to go and read my fave writers now. I make my tea, pray I had the foresight to buy chocolate, And I soak it in.

I want that for you.

I’ll give you a moment

Then let’s begin.

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Me - just over two years ago in the local coffee shop, baby in tow… pondering if I could be a writer. An artist. A creative… and if it was a valid pursuit….

I woke up and read through an author here on Substack this morning. (The other time I try catch up on publications, in the 20 minute window where Tul and Raf are playing and making breakfast)

The general interpretation was about “why your book won’t be read by many” or essentially why you can’t expect to be a “fluke” successful writer, some get lucky with big deals and big publishing/marketing strategies. The rest of us, settle for the fulfillment of getting our words at the very least, out of our head.

The article, though very well written and researched… had me feeling, kinda dull.

The sort of dull you feel when you‘ve consumed something that isn’t in resonance with your body or your knowing.

I could appreciate her “realism” and essentially helping people come back into their lane as a writer, rather than striving for a big break so to speak.

Though, honestly, I much prefer optimism. There’s a lot of “heady” stuff out there in the world. But I prefer to play with spirit when it comes to our creative endeavours.

So I’d love to write about being a creative today. Especially if a part of your dream is to have a career as a creative… how to help that happen for yourself rather than waiting for that fantasy of a “big break”.

Whether you’re a writer, an artist, a musician, an entrepreneur, a space crafter, home maker, whatever is your form.

Most of us do it because we love it.

Because we have to.

Because we feel kinda dead inside when we don’t.

We write because we’d go insane with words spinning in our minds.

We sing because it’s cathartic.

We paint otherwise we can’t see beyond the picture in our minds eye.

If anything many of our creative pursuits are initially selfish. It’s a way of self preservation. Pulling something from inside of us, kinda sorta making sense of it, then out and into reality. It’s a process that can be addictive, deep, reflective and also often simply fun and liberating.

I don’t just see being a creative as the arts. Though growing up I did. I was told also that if you surrender your life to the arts… you’ll likely be broke.

The starving artist.

As an adult I absolutely see how business, hosting events, curating a course, public speaking, crafting an experience, can all be creative pursuits if done in the energy of a creative. Anything we do, when done with artistry, is this.

Today I’ll speak more to the arts, but know that there is space for many in the world of a creative. Simply replace the words you need to, to help it be more relevant to you.

The starving artist- an archetype built from decades ago, when perhaps, it WAS more realistic to get a reliable job for income and keep the art as a hobby. “Don’t quit your day job”. And “keep your head in the real world.” Artistic success, was for the lucky few who could actually get paid to live into this self expression. Often picked up by someone who spotted talent, or got some sort of big break.

I wholeheartedly believe that the starving artist archetype does NOT have to exist in todays world. Where social media exists, or even just the internet alone, there are so many ways for financial resources to find artists. So many more people generating income, who also value art. Ways to reach people like NEVER before. Art, in many ways- is seen as a valid choice instead of a pipe dream (if you connect in with the right community…)

HOWEVER I do also believe many creatives are still living in an old paradigm of art. Where there’s a romanticism about the grind. A secret fantasy that someone important, some where, will find what we create and send it out into the world for us, So that we can get paid to make art. Or be seen in out greatness.

That someone - somewhere may save us, from the starvation that we’ve subscribed to, The self sacrifice of the secret selfish artist. That someone else will simply come along and validate what we do, because to journey our inner worlds, and validate it ourselves, and choose to be seen, & put our creations out there fully- feels like a lot.

Look, I’m with you on the fantasies of sitting in a big beautiful lake house one day, pouring my coffee, bare feet on the floor, sitting at my laptop and writing, uninterrupted, for hours. Being in my creative genius. God, it turns me on.

Perhaps yours is in a sunroom filled with flowers with your canvas, Or on stage in front of thousands at private garden gig, singing the words of your heart.

And you know what - I don’t believe they are fantasies. Not for a second do I think they need to remain at the bottom of the pipe dream basket.

The very essence of BEING a creative is also the essence of being attuned to the possibility. That’s the optimism right? The ability to dream ourselves into a vision, and close the gap…

Though I don’t think that someone else will take us there entirely, there is absolutely always that potential if we throw ourselves into the arena. It’s a co creation, With our vision for ourselves as a creative, Our willingness to work with and pivot with the identity of an artist. Our faith in the spirit of our work, trusting our journey, dancing with our ability to make bad art, and our intentions for success and what that means to each of us personally & our relationship to that process.

So, This article I was reading, rooted in realism, I genuinely throw no shade towards. I do believe parts of realism towards the creative success it right. I agree with her speaking into that many of us “artists” will never be successful in the sense of making millions. But the reason I agree with that is because many artists aren’t interested in turning their art into a career. They are more that happy to keep it as a hobby, a wind down, a self processing, an expression, a fun exploration.

Some, maybe want to cover their rent and bills so that they can do said hobby more often without the weird world of “jobs” and “surviving” taking over their creative process.

And some, like me - want to build a career through their art. Though… many of us who want that… still won’t make it happen for ourselves. Perhaps it’s a fear of

“if I claim it, and throw myself into the abyss, and it doesn’t work… then every person who ever believes in the starving artist can say I told you so. And I’d have to do a walk of shame back to a like of creative death and mediocre living”

I’d love to share my take on why that is, and what you can do about it so that you have a better chance at finding your way there.

I’ve made hundreds of thousands ($) within my creative processes over the years AND I’ve made art simply for arts sake. I’ve given art for free And I’ve been paid for it. Sometimes in the form of paintings, or writings, poetry or photos. Sometimes in the way I teach and share, in the way I’ve curated spaces and experiences for people. In the way I homemake and especially in the way I mother.

The first shift I had to have, in cultivating a creative career