I’m reading this the morning after a long weekend selling at an art show that was supposed to save our asses after a long season of low sales. In years past it was notoriously profitable (don’t get me started on 2021!) Alas, we made even less than average. Everyone did. The writing is filling up the entire wall. So need(ful) to say, I needed your words here.
This was the final show of the season. It’s time to retool. I’m taking this as a sign that it’s time to fall back in love with the art itself, with the process, with the fact that I got lucky enough to meet a guy who thought it’d be interesting to venture out at midnight with a camera and colorful lights to illuminate abandoned houses that dot the North Dakota landscape. That’s wild. And I get to do that. Maybe there are new seeds to plant...
What lies beyond currency, exchange, create-print-sell-repeat? History (and our bank accounts) demand we try something different right now. We Creatives are born for this. Time to wake up from the capitalist spell and alchemize something new. Yes. Thank you Mari, for reading the room and showing us the secret door.
Every day I wake up with grief that my writing isn't making the impact in the world I had longed for and envisioned. This grief, the slow death of a dream, is real, and fierce, but doesn't get talked about. I will always be a story writer but the joy and delight and drive I had as a young person is now joined by sorrow, fear, and the shame that arises from having failed to connect. I cried a lot yesterday, so alone with this strange tumult. And today, Mari, your words made me feel seen, loved, and heart-soothed. Thank you, Mari...may my gratitude be like flowers, laid at your feet.
This was so lovely to read this morning. You are bang on. The diagram is really helpful as I try to figure out what on earth I am doing with my life. I'm 38 and just started my 4th (and last year) of an art degree with a photo major (kinda like the most dead career path, maybe?!) But it's what has helped me in a therapeutic way. I also talk about cultivating my secret garden, it's honestly the best way for me to connect to myself. Thank you for this perfectly timed writing. I gobbled it up.
All of this is deeply resonant over here. The current model is wacky - I have a Substack monthly budget which I rotate around among authors (I sub and unsub from people all the time to ensure that money is distributed to all the people I read).... there is no sense to that at all! I'm lucky to have a good paying day job so I don't have to monetize my creative work of writing and weaving. I struggle with time to get things done, but I don't struggle with the kind of financial affirmation that seems increasingly hard to come by for all forms of creative person. On the other hand, few workers in our system are getting a fair shake these days. Outside of the tech/finance bros, almost everyone is underpaid/underappreciated with fewer US jobs offering health insurance or pensions than ever before (as a Canadian, I do not have to worry about health insurance, but our system is really falling apart right now). The system would like us all to be individual contractors - cue the rise of the gig economy.... The only thing that makes me hopeful about any of this is that it is a reminder of why we make art (not to make money) and have always done so as one of our core human things.... Thanks for your thoughts this morning!
This means so much to me. Art is such a critical piece of preserving culture and connecting with one another, yet every single creative I know has a "day job" because otherwise there is no way to afford doing what we love to do.
I especially like this bit-- "Here’s when I think about creativity: The world needs your art. The world needs every creative person’s art. I believe that every person is a potential prophet, with a gift that can help heal the world, or at least one individual, who might as well be the world. There shouldn’t be barriers to this."
I've spent every week since April setting aside a little time to work on an idea for a book that has been taking root in my mind for years. I often wonder, "Should I keep doing this when there's a big chance that I will never send what I am creating out into the world? Should I keep doing this when there's a big chance that, even if I do send what I am creating out into the world, no one will want to read it?" The answer is yes. Always yes.
Anyways, I'm not sure where I'm going here, but as always thank you for sharing your thoughts and insights! It is good to know that there are plenty of creatives out here weathering this storm together.
Hi Mari! Just immediately after reading your post, I happened to listen to the podcast episode which covers a bit about ethical advertising in a capitalistic world. It talks a bit about ways to monetize while also holding true to your values and your readers. It is a bit specific to podcasts, but I think what she says could apply to newsletters too.
All these problems you decry, yet you still choose to pursue a self-serving idealization of your own fantasy, instead of putting effort into affecting actual change.
Wow. I am in tears after reading this. I have a day job working in the film and tv business and I passionately make my own art too. Last year, when there were no strikes and impending doom I was accepted for my first artists residency. Three weeks on an island in Greece. I FINALLY took the step and said YES to my own artistic passions for the first time in my life. I just got back yesterday and I am already feeling the "Oh what have I done? What am I going to do now?" feelings. I thought when I came back there would be work and well, I see nothing on the horizon. But it felt soo good to take a month of my life and focus on my work which has been secondary to my 25 year filmmaking career. " As you said, The world needs your art. The world needs every creative person’s art." I needed to read ALL of what you wrote. Thank you so much for sharing your depth, insight and words.
I’m reading this the morning after a long weekend selling at an art show that was supposed to save our asses after a long season of low sales. In years past it was notoriously profitable (don’t get me started on 2021!) Alas, we made even less than average. Everyone did. The writing is filling up the entire wall. So need(ful) to say, I needed your words here.
This was the final show of the season. It’s time to retool. I’m taking this as a sign that it’s time to fall back in love with the art itself, with the process, with the fact that I got lucky enough to meet a guy who thought it’d be interesting to venture out at midnight with a camera and colorful lights to illuminate abandoned houses that dot the North Dakota landscape. That’s wild. And I get to do that. Maybe there are new seeds to plant...
What lies beyond currency, exchange, create-print-sell-repeat? History (and our bank accounts) demand we try something different right now. We Creatives are born for this. Time to wake up from the capitalist spell and alchemize something new. Yes. Thank you Mari, for reading the room and showing us the secret door.
Every day I wake up with grief that my writing isn't making the impact in the world I had longed for and envisioned. This grief, the slow death of a dream, is real, and fierce, but doesn't get talked about. I will always be a story writer but the joy and delight and drive I had as a young person is now joined by sorrow, fear, and the shame that arises from having failed to connect. I cried a lot yesterday, so alone with this strange tumult. And today, Mari, your words made me feel seen, loved, and heart-soothed. Thank you, Mari...may my gratitude be like flowers, laid at your feet.
Thank you, Mari 💝 needed this boost (even while I’m freaking out about some of the state of writing things right now!)
Man, I needed to read this! It was as though you were speaking directly into my soul with these important words. Thank you!!!
This was so lovely to read this morning. You are bang on. The diagram is really helpful as I try to figure out what on earth I am doing with my life. I'm 38 and just started my 4th (and last year) of an art degree with a photo major (kinda like the most dead career path, maybe?!) But it's what has helped me in a therapeutic way. I also talk about cultivating my secret garden, it's honestly the best way for me to connect to myself. Thank you for this perfectly timed writing. I gobbled it up.
Thank you. Immediately added to my teeny list of paid subscriptions because you nailed it!
All of this is deeply resonant over here. The current model is wacky - I have a Substack monthly budget which I rotate around among authors (I sub and unsub from people all the time to ensure that money is distributed to all the people I read).... there is no sense to that at all! I'm lucky to have a good paying day job so I don't have to monetize my creative work of writing and weaving. I struggle with time to get things done, but I don't struggle with the kind of financial affirmation that seems increasingly hard to come by for all forms of creative person. On the other hand, few workers in our system are getting a fair shake these days. Outside of the tech/finance bros, almost everyone is underpaid/underappreciated with fewer US jobs offering health insurance or pensions than ever before (as a Canadian, I do not have to worry about health insurance, but our system is really falling apart right now). The system would like us all to be individual contractors - cue the rise of the gig economy.... The only thing that makes me hopeful about any of this is that it is a reminder of why we make art (not to make money) and have always done so as one of our core human things.... Thanks for your thoughts this morning!
I’m in awe of your idea of moving your substack budget around. Such a good idea. I just thought, no way for all these substacks and patreons 🙈
This means so much to me. Art is such a critical piece of preserving culture and connecting with one another, yet every single creative I know has a "day job" because otherwise there is no way to afford doing what we love to do.
I especially like this bit-- "Here’s when I think about creativity: The world needs your art. The world needs every creative person’s art. I believe that every person is a potential prophet, with a gift that can help heal the world, or at least one individual, who might as well be the world. There shouldn’t be barriers to this."
I've spent every week since April setting aside a little time to work on an idea for a book that has been taking root in my mind for years. I often wonder, "Should I keep doing this when there's a big chance that I will never send what I am creating out into the world? Should I keep doing this when there's a big chance that, even if I do send what I am creating out into the world, no one will want to read it?" The answer is yes. Always yes.
Anyways, I'm not sure where I'm going here, but as always thank you for sharing your thoughts and insights! It is good to know that there are plenty of creatives out here weathering this storm together.
Thank you
Hi Mari! Just immediately after reading your post, I happened to listen to the podcast episode which covers a bit about ethical advertising in a capitalistic world. It talks a bit about ways to monetize while also holding true to your values and your readers. It is a bit specific to podcasts, but I think what she says could apply to newsletters too.
https://spotify.link/dxRN6GnQnDb
Wow, what a heartening read. Thank you for writing this 🙏🏻❤️
Thanks- I need inspiration.
All these problems you decry, yet you still choose to pursue a self-serving idealization of your own fantasy, instead of putting effort into affecting actual change.
Wow. I am in tears after reading this. I have a day job working in the film and tv business and I passionately make my own art too. Last year, when there were no strikes and impending doom I was accepted for my first artists residency. Three weeks on an island in Greece. I FINALLY took the step and said YES to my own artistic passions for the first time in my life. I just got back yesterday and I am already feeling the "Oh what have I done? What am I going to do now?" feelings. I thought when I came back there would be work and well, I see nothing on the horizon. But it felt soo good to take a month of my life and focus on my work which has been secondary to my 25 year filmmaking career. " As you said, The world needs your art. The world needs every creative person’s art." I needed to read ALL of what you wrote. Thank you so much for sharing your depth, insight and words.
Here, here! Beautiful!
I’m not-so-patiently waiting for Substack to implement one-time tips for articles, to supplement the subscription model. Thanks for all of this.