Author Entrepreneurs: We Walk Alone Together
The Human Design chart
I look out into the field of other artist entrepreneurs and wonder how I can be more like them… Oops! I mean, what can I learn from them. Because I’m walking my own path.
Other artist entrepreneurs like the brilliant Jennifer Lee of Artizen Coaching and the new author of The Right-Brain Business Plan. She’ll be writing a column here next Friday!
And Dan Goodwin on the UK, a Creativity Coach par excellence! Author of the free eBook, Explode Your Creativity.
Then there’s Paula Chaffee Scardamalia, helping women live their dreams and weave together the power of their dreams, intuition and wisdom – and take the next step in their spiritual and creative journey. She’s the author award-winning book, Weaving a Woman’s Life: Spiritual Lessons from the Loom.
All author-entrepreneurs blaze their own paths, and we’re all doing it together!
We’re folks who create first and build, grow, nurture our businesses from the fecund matter of our creative passions.
For me it’s my fiction, for you it may be your dance, or pottery, or weaving, or collage, or drawing…
I feel like I’m on the cusp of really spinning my understanding of my art and my business into a new level. I get that the practicalities of business are important, that business works because we serve clients that need us and our support AND can pay for it. Business needs to be sustainable to thrive. It is not antithetical to nurturing one’s artist self, contrary to popular opinion, and contrary to centuries of division between art and commerce. A false division in my opinion. Just as false and fake as the division between spirit and business. It’s humans who have decided there is a separation between these domains.
As artist entrepreneurs we are marrying the two hearts of life: exchanging for goods and services and self-expression. Two domains that can be friends. Don’t you think?
What are your thoughts of artist entrepreneurship in general, and specifically for your domain?
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About the Author Entrepreneur: Beth Barany works with authors to help them put their book in the hands of their readers. She can be contact through her blog, the Writer’s Fun Zone, or her site: www.bethbarany.com.
It’s actually been a challenge to figure out how my artistry (writing and editing) could work as a business. It’s still a challenge, but getting better. I teach creative writing to teens, boomers, and seniors (not all at the same time!); teach copywriting; and edit manuscripts. It’s coming together, and feels good because I’m passionate about all these endeavors and sharing my knowledge with others.
Thanks for this wonderfully thought-provoking post!
You’re welcome Lynette! Thanks for stopping by! It would be a circus if you taught all three groups at the same time! I checked out your sites and am now officially connected to you via FB and Twitter! It does feel good with when things come together. I’m happy that we connected!
I work as an editor and write when I can – or rather when my 2 yr old allows. The biggest struggle I have is marketing. It takes so much time and is necessary, yet I’d love to have more writing time. Great post, Beth.
Hi Beth,
My day job used to be consulting with small business owners. It was for a product that had a clearly defined need by the purchaser. In promoting my book, I’m having to learn how to market a product that is for pleasure.
Traci
Beth;
I’m just moving from a demanding job as a cop to retired…and an aspiring novelist. I’m still trying to find my way. In my works, I’m hoping to have a strong ‘marriage’ of my creativity as well as a flavor of where I’ve been.
Traci, And pleasure can be marketed, don’t you think? Because we all want to feel good.
Kathy, Good luck creating a strong ‘marriage’ of your creativity as well as a flavor of where you’ve been. I’m very curious about where you’ve been, Good luck!
Hi Kim, I hear you. I know 2 yr olds can be a handful. My au pair days showed me that! Marketing is so important and the cool thing is you can start small. Even 15 minutes a day can make a difference. Thanks and glad you liked the post.
The challenge–and the fun–is bringing the same level of creativity to our marketing and business activities as we do to our creative expression. Nothing has to be boring.
Thanks for the post, Beth.
Paula, You nailed it! I find that the fear is harder for me to face as an entrepreneur, but face it I must, just as much as I’ve learned to face the blank page. Glad you liked the post!