How to Survive as a Creative
The life of a creative takes work. Whether you're a writer, artist, musician or other creator, living off your passions requires resilience, commitment and a willingness to take risks.
With market saturation, more than being talented is needed. You have to be savvy, motivated and think like an entrepreneur.
The good news is that it IS possible to survive and even thrive as a creative professional. It just takes strategy, hustle and a stubborn determination to stick with it. Here are my best tips for how to survive and succeed as a creative:
- Develop a powerful brand to stand out and attract the right audience.
- Diversify income streams to ensure stability and longevity in your creative career.
- Produce prolifically to increase your chances of connecting with your audience.
- Embrace a DIY spirit by mastering essential tools for independent creation.
- Stay true to your creative vision while maintaining resilience against rejection.
- Develop a Powerful Brand
- Diversify Your Income Streams
- Produce Prolifically
- Embrace a DIY Spirit
- Master Digital Tools for Independent Creation and Management
- Become a Master Promoter
- Develop Grit and Persist Through Rejection
- Get Business Savvy
- Get to Grips with the Legal Landscape: Know Your Rights
- Always Keep Learning and Levelling Up
- Build a Supportive Community
- Take Smart Breaks and Refuel
- Keep an Abundance Mindset
- Stay True To Your Creative Vision
- How to Survive as a Creative FAQs
Develop a Powerful Brand
Your brand is your key to standing out and attracting the right kind of attention as a creative. Ask yourself: What makes you unique? What's your distinct perspective and voice? Clearly define who you are, what you offer and why people should care.
Craft an origin story, cultivate a consistent persona across platforms, and be unrelentingly authentic in all your work. Your brand should align with your values, interests and the change you want to create. A strong brand sets you apart from the crowd and develops loyalty among your audience.
Diversify Your Income Streams
The stereotypical “starving artist” relies on just one income source. Intelligent creatives, however, diversify, so they have multiple revenue streams. Along with your core offering, consider ancillary products or services, speaking gigs, corporate sponsorships, licensing deals, online courses, merchandise, etc.
Having several income sources provides more stability if one stream dries up. Building multiple revenue streams takes more work upfront, but the payoff is worth it for long-term viability.
Think about going straight to your fans, too. Platforms like Patreon, Substack, or even simple membership areas on your own website let you build real, recurring income. This isn't about chasing one-off gigs.
It’s about getting your hardcore supporters to back your work month in, month out. This means more predictable cash flow, and frankly, a much deeper connection with the people who actually love what you do. You're not waiting for some gatekeeper to give you a thumbs up; you're building your own support system.
Produce Prolifically
The most successful creatives are exceptionally prolific. They create and release new work constantly while never compromising on quality. The more content you put into the world, the more chances you have to capture attention and connect with your audience.
Set a doable but aggressive production schedule for yourself. Systematise your process so you can work efficiently. Batch your tasks if possible. Outsource or collaborate if needed to increase output. Prolific production keeps you at the top of your mind and allows you to refine your skills continually.
Embrace a DIY Spirit
Major creative breakthroughs often happen independently before being picked up by mainstream gatekeepers. Today's significant advantage of being an indie creative is that you don't need anyone's permission, thanks to democratised digital tools.
Adopt a DIY mindset. Learn how to direct, shoot and edit your videos. Master your social media, website, merch, licensing deals, etc. Taking complete creative control and ownership lets you maintain your vision and move nimbly. Doing it yourself is empowering.
Master Digital Tools for Independent Creation and Management
So, you're embracing the DIY spirit. Good. Now, what tools do you actually need to get good with? You don't need to become a tech wizard overnight, but getting a grip on a few key types of software will save you a fortune and make you faster.
Look at user-friendly graphic design stuff like Canva for your branding and promos. Get decent at a video editing app, whether it’s on your computer or phone, because video is king. And for keeping your projects straight, tools like Trello or Asana can stop your brain from exploding. Even basic website builders or email marketing services give you a direct line to your audience, cutting out the middleman. Get good at these, and watch your costs drop and your speed go up.
Become a Master Promoter
Creative work rarely promotes itself, at least at first. It would help if you became your own best marketing and PR rep. Identify and engage your niche. Network relentlessly. Pitch yourself to the media and collaborators. Distribute your work to get it in front of as many eyeballs as possible.
Self-promotion never stops, so get comfortable being your hype machine. Promote authenticity, humour and zero shame. Think of creative guerrilla marketing tactics to generate buzz. If you believe in your work, don't hesitate to shout about it from the rooftops.
Develop Grit and Persist Through Rejection
The creative path is filled with tons of rejection and criticism. You must develop a thick skin, grit and the willingness to keep going in the face of harsh feedback and seemingly endless “no's.” Find ways to shrug off rejection quickly and not take it personally.
Persisting despite setbacks is critical to long-term creative success. View failures as data to help improve. Stay motivated by surrounding yourself with cheerleaders who believe in you. Keep chasing your vision, even when no one else sees it yet. Your big break is often just around the corner.
Get Business Savvy
Running a creative career is running a business. Learn and sharpen essential business skills like accounting, budgeting, contracts, taxes, networking, negotiating rates, etc. If business isn't your forte, consider hiring a manager or coach to handle that stuff so you can focus purely on your craft.
Monetising your creativity often requires hybrid thinking. Blend art and commerce. Make decisions not just based on passion but also on profitability and sustainability. Getting business savvy gives you more control over your career and financial independence.
Get to Grips with the Legal Landscape: Know Your Rights
Being business savvy also means not getting screwed over legally. You need a basic handle on things like copyright – that’s your bread and butter, it protects your work. When someone shoves a contract in your face, don't just sign it like a muppet.
Actually, read the thing. What rights are you giving away? What are the payment terms? How long are you locked in for? If it looks dodgy or you're out of your depth with licensing deals or big collaborations, find some affordable legal advice. Protecting your intellectual property and knowing how to negotiate a fair contract isn't just smart; it's fundamental to not getting ripped off.
Always Keep Learning and Levelling Up
The best way to avoid creative stagnation is never to stop learning. Successful creatives are sponges. They soak up new skills, trends, and knowledge to expand their capabilities and worldview.
Make learning a lifelong habit. Take classes, attend workshops, read books, listen to podcasts, study other masters, and collaborate with those whose skills complement yours. Stay humble and curious. Keep levelling up your skills and evolving your creative vision. Complacency is toxic.
Build a Supportive Community
The creative path can be an isolating and discouraging journey when tackled alone. That's why it's hugely beneficial to build a network of fellow creatives who understand the struggles and can cheer you on.
Seek out online forums or masterminds for accountability and support. Surround yourself with people who energise and inspire you. Collaborate with peers to reinforce that you're not in this alone. A strong community provides camaraderie and gives you perspective when things get tough.
But how do you actually build this magic community? Don't just wait for it to happen. You’ve got to actively hunt down your people. Get involved in online forums or social media groups where others in your field hang out – think specific subreddits, Facebook groups, or Discord servers.
Join relevant professional associations. They often have networking events, even if they're virtual these days. Show up to local meetups if they exist, or online workshops. The aim is to connect, maybe find a mentor, or even form a small mastermind group to keep each other on track and share what’s working.
Take Smart Breaks and Refuel
You can't be “on” 24/7 as a creative without burning out. That's why taking deliberate breaks to recharge is crucial. Disconnect and unplug periodically to let your mind wander and reboot. Make time for play, exercise and social connection to give your brain a rest.
Stay vigilant against overwhelm and fatigue. Work in intense sprints, then recover. Limit distractions and unnecessary media noise. Nurture your inspiration by exploring, travelling and feeding your senses. Adequate breaks help maintain the stamina, enthusiasm and mental clarity required to produce your best work.
Keep an Abundance Mindset
Scarcity thinking can sabotage your creative ambitions. There's only so much you can accomplish and earn in a world of limited resources and opportunities, right? Wrong.
The most successful creatives operate from an abundance mindset. They believe opportunities are endless if you're willing to create them. Stay optimistic and open to possibilities. Avoid comparing yourself to others. Focus on adding value instead of assessing what's currently missing.
Relentlessly believing in abundance helps attract more creativity, inspiration, collaborators and appreciative audiences. Your potential is limitless, not constrained.
Stay True To Your Creative Vision
You'll face pressure to conform to others' expectations and agendas when attracting more attention. It takes the backbone to stay true to your unique creative vision versus chasing more comprehensive approval.
Say no to projects that don't align with your values or long-term goals, even if the payday is tempting. Let your audience know what they can expect from you. Boundary setting reduces the need to pretend to be someone you're not. Trust that being authentic to your artistry is ultimately most fulfilling.
The creative life is rarely predictable or comfortable. But you can survive and thrive as a professional creative by being adaptable, embracing opportunity and maintaining your purpose and inner fire. Stay bold, curious and determined. Your unique contributions are worth fighting for.
How to Survive as a Creative FAQs
What is the biggest mistake struggling creatives make?
The biggest mistake is not developing a clear personal brand and niche audience. Successful creatives know who they are, what they offer and who they serve. Getting crystal clear on your unique perspective and value proposition allows you to stand out in a crowded market.
How can creatives deal with impostor syndrome and self-doubt?
Imposter syndrome is shared among all creatives. Reframe self-doubt as proof you're pushing into growth areas outside your comfort zone. Focus on serving your audience vs. seeking validation. And remember that consistent, imperfect action is better than endless self-criticism and procrastination.
What's the most thoughtful way for creatives to spend their time and energy?
Spend time doing what only you can – focused, creative work aligned with your strengths and purpose. Systematise or outsource the other business stuff as much as possible. Ruthlessly eliminate low-value activities that drain energy without advancing your goals.
How should creatives approach marketing themselves?
Think beyond traditional marketing and get creative – try stunts, viral content, giveaways, etc., to grab attention. Promote via social media channels where your audience hangs out. Leverage existing fans and collaborators to expand your reach. Provide value and perspective vs. just blasting sales pitches.
What daily habits can help creatives be more productive and successful?
Developing consistent positive habits is critical, like starting the day with intention-setting, avoiding distractions, prioritising deep work, learning daily, exercising to relieve stress, etc. Organise systems and routines, optimising creative flow, energy management and skill development. Batch similar tasks and build in time for recharging.
Surviving as a creative is challenging but immensely rewarding. You can build a fulfilling, sustainable career doing what you love by getting clear on your brand, diversifying income streams, producing prolifically, promoting relentlessly, and persisting through obstacles. Remember why your creative work matters; let that purpose drive you forward.
