When you set out to do creative work for a living, there are unexpected obstacles you face, things like finance and marketing, which can add up to a lot of work that doesn't necessarily feel creative. So what do you do?
The question is worth asking: Is getting paid to do what you love really worth the cost?
Often, career experts talk about the grind involved in turning your hobby into a career. But few acknowledge the price you pay after you achieve your goal.
The part we tend to overlook is when you trade your day job for a dream job, it’s still a job.
As a self-proclaimed “writer who draws,” my guest on the podcast knows this better than most. This week on The Portfolio Life, best-selling author Austin Kleon and I talk about the tension between a creative career and the business it takes to support it. Austin has a unique but practical perspective on doing creative work without losing that edge that got you the job in the first place.
Listen in as we discuss juggling the administrative work alongside the creative work and decide for yourself if the leap is one worth taking.
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Lessons on art and self-promotion
Here are a few quotes from out interview that stuck with me and the lessons I took away from each of them:
1. Writing can be a way to work through your own struggles while helping work through theirs.
“Show Your Work was me actively trying to communicate about self-promotion to people who hate self-promotion, because I hate self-promotion.”
2. Focus first on creating something worth sharing before you worry about how to promote or publish it.
“Most questions about publishing and getting your creative work out into the wild is about self-promotion and marketing… The questions presuppose you have something worth sharing in the first place.”
3. Self-promotion doesn't have to be selfish. Being generous with what you share is the best way to get your work to spread.
“If I share enough, if I’m interesting enough, and helpful enough to enough people, eventually good things will happen to me.”
Show highlights
In this episode, Austin and I discuss:
- How reading fuels inspiration
- Understanding seasons of creative work
- Being comfortable with fluctuating productivity
- One question I (Jeff) am embarrassed to answer
- The importance of allowing margin for “ramp up”
- What is more valuable than the amount of time you have
- A common myth we believe about successful authors
- How to run a business while still getting your creative work done
- The timeline of Austin’s journey to best-selling author
- What to do when you feel like a fake
- Why you may not want to make a living with your art
Quotes and takeaways
- ”If I had a choice between having a full day vs an hour every day to work, I would pick the hour every day every time.” —Austin Kleon
- Sometimes you don’t know who you are writing for until someone starts listening.
- “Look at the world and write the book you think is missing.” —Austin Kleon
- Some of history’s greatest artists did their best work later in life
- “Instead of making a living doing what you love, what can you do for a living that means you get to spend the most quality time doing what you like?” —Austin Kleon
Resources
- Steal Like an Artist
- Show Your Work
- Steal Like an Artist Journal
- Daily Rituals by Mason Currey
- On Writing by Stephen King
- The Gift by Lewis Hyde
- Market Day by James Sturm
- Live Webinar Today on Becoming a Full-time Writer
- Download the full transcript here.
How do you balance administrative and creative work? Why are (or aren’t) you pursuing a creative career? Share in the comments