Top Tips for Running your Creative Career Like a Business

You might be thinking, running my creative career like a business? That doesn't sound very, well, artsy.

But in 2022, let me tell you: the starving artist trope is NOT it.

You'll be surprised how applicable entrepreneurial principles can be for your creative practice. Without further ado, here are my top 5 tips for how emerging creators can run their 'artsy' career like a business.

Note: while getting into the icky sticky of financing is important, this post covers general entrepreneurial principles I think creators of all types will find useful.

1. Prioritize your craft everyday

Ok, you might have heard this one before, but the truth bears repeating.

The best way to honor your craft and creative career is to dedicate time to it every single day.

There will always be conflicting priorities, many of them worthy. But we also know what happens to artists who neglect their craft. There is a real psychology behind it, and the results aren't pretty. At the end of the day, prioritizing your craft is self care.

Prioritizing your work for even a small amount of time every day is also key to affirming your identity as an artist/creator/writer/someone who is running a legitimate creative business. This can be as little as fifteen minutes of focused effort.

And yes - I know this is in reality an impossible goal. However on the days you can't create, you can research, reflective journal, look into opportunities, or get the 'creative administration' (think emails, budgeting) done (see point 5).

2. Know what you want, and why you want it

Julia Cameron, author of The Artist's Way, speaks in her famous tome of an artist's 'True North'. This refers to an artists ultimate goal, an achievement that, if attained, will signpost true success for that person.

True North will look different for every creator. It could be having a show at your city's swankiest art gallery, winning a Pulitzer, or something seemingly more vapid--winning an Oscar, walking a red carpet, or yes, even becoming disgustingly rich. The point is, thinking about your True North should excite you enough that you Prioritize Your Craft Everyday (see rule 1).

Once you know your 'True North' (also known as your "why"), you can create goals and sub-goals that will lead you to your ultimate destination. This will allow you to structure your (limited, valuable) time in the best possible way to help achieve those goals.

If you don't know your 'True North', my tip here is to spend fifteen minutes 'freewriting' to the prompt 'my ideal life would look like'... If you're daunted by the idea of blank paper, just start by writing what you don't want, and by the end of the fifteen minutes your creative mind will have given you a starting point for what you do want.

3. Know your worth, and the worth of your creations

The unfortunate reality is that when you give out your work for free, or on the cheap, it sends a message that "this work is valueless".

Its true that creators can be generous people, and when starting out need some measure of exposure. The trick is knowing when to not do something for free. Whether that be panels, art shows (including charity shows), submitting to magazines that don't offer remuneration, or even helping out a mate.

So if you haven't already, master the art of saying 'no'--its what all good business people do. On this note, please also never denigrate your art or your identity as an artist. Think statements like "its not my best work" or, "its not really that good" or, "oh, I'm just a textile artist". Your art has value, and you need to be its number one advocate.

4. Create a dedicated space for your work

One word: boundaries. And I'm not just talking about the edges of your desk space (although this does come into it).

Those who are working or have worked a 9-5 office job know that it's not okay to be taking personal calls all day, scrolling facebook, or allowing coworkers to harass you about their weekend exploits for hours on end. If you do these things on the regular, your boss might have a few choice words for you. So respect your art and your creative process, close the browser tabs, silence your phone, and get your noise cancellation headphones on when it's time to get the creative juices flowing.

When you're working, you're working. Ideally in a private space, but for those whom this isn't possible (myself included), you can look into buying room dividers, strategic placement of furniture, and listening to ambient sounds or music to drown out any background noise not conducive to a flow state.

And while friends and family can be your best supporters, it's important to let them know that your art/design/writing/craft honing doesn't just happen on its own. Be clear that your creative time is just for you.

5. Research your craft, and other creators

Think of it this way: you're not snooping, you're getting informed!

Researching other people practicing your craft, and lending a critical eye to their creations, is an important way to hone your own practice. Its also great to feel a part of a community of people who share the same challenges as you do, and identify opportunities you might want to be a part of.

While it is wise to be wary of social media, it can also be a great way to connect with creators in your field, so don't be afraid to reach out.

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Mara Papavassiliou is an emerging writer living in the Goldfields region of Western Australia, where she is inspired by abandoned mine sites and the gothic landscape of the Great Western Woodlands. She is currently working on her debut novel. You can reach her at mara.papavassiliou.com, or on instagram @dogma.ra.