'I will never ask you to support me'
Elizabeth Gilbert vowed never to rely on her art as her primary source of income.
"I will never ask you to support me. I will support you."
This was a promise
Early in her career, Gilbert vowed never to rely on her art as her primary source of income. This decision, she explains, was rooted in the first years of her creative journey, where she balanced her writing with alternative day jobs to ensure she had other streams of income to fall back on. She says:
“…the first ten years of my creative journey, I did not make a single dime out of writing. And for the next ten years of my creative journey (which included the publication of three books) I always kept alternative day jobs —always made sure I had other streams of income to rely upon.
I did not quit all my other jobs until EAT PRAY LOVE became a crazy bestseller, you guys. And EAT PRAY LOVE was a freak of nature.
The reason I always maintained other streams of income was because I never wanted to burden my creativity with the task of providing for me in the material world.”
This anecdote is one of the many reasons I adore the work and life philosophy of Elizabeth Gilbert.
I provide content for brands and clients in return for an income that supports my passion for creative fiction writing.
Will I ever be able to live off my novels alone with no other client work?
While it remains a hopeful prospect, I am acutely aware of the realities of the publishing industry and the unpredictable nature of creative success. Hence, I choose to adopt a similar stance to Gilbert's, ensuring that my creative writing is never burdened with the expectation of generating significant income.
This allows me to experiment, take risks, and explore my creativity without the looming fear of financial failure.
Just like Elizabeth Gilbert, I will continue to support my art.
I will keep my creative output free of pressure, and if it awards me financially, then that's just the icing on the top.
If you are a creative writer, have you ever made a similar promise to your art?
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