Thriving, Not Just Surviving: The Art of Dodging Starvation as an Artist. – Brokegirlsrich

Thriving, Not Just Surviving: The Art of Dodging Starvation as an Artist.

“How to Thrive as an Artist Without Going Hungry”

Today, we kick off with another interesting insight from our regular guest contributor, Shaunta Grimes. This time, she shares her tactics on making it as an artist while managing to keep money in her pocket.

Before we dive in, if you’re not familiar with Shaunta, you might want to check out her previous article where she transforms grocery shopping into an exciting money-making venture.

Shaunta apparently has something magical about turning frugality into artistic success. She’s living her dream job—writing novels for a big-time publisher (Penguin that is!). But of course, her journey to the dream wasn’t a cake walk.

In Shaunta’s words, an artistic career comes with its own uncertainties. It takes plenty of practice to get good at it and to hopefully start earning from it. Even after bagging a major publisher, job security in the creative field remains elusive.

But if you’re brave enough to embrace this uncertainty with open arms, you can make it work. The key, according to Shaunta, is to get creative with your lifestyle. She sincerely credits frugality as a secret ingredient to her dream career.

On her journey, navigating life as a single mother, Shaunta grappled with the pressures of making ends meet while nurturing her creative career. It took her fourteen years before she sold her first novel at the age of 40. Nonetheless, her belief persisted that one can indeed be a ‘starving artist’ without facing actual starvation.

So, how to achieve this delicate balance?

Shaunta has some tips.

1. **Make Mindful Sacrifices** – Love fancy cars but wish to be a writer too? Well, you might have to choose one over the other. Like Shaunta, you might need to keep driving that old minivan and cut back on luxuries, like cable or gym memberships, to free up time and money. This, she believes, is a necessary sacrifice for her creative cause.

2. **Use Your Creativity to Make Extra Money** – Monetize your creativity beyond your main artistic pursuit. Shaunta’s creative talents in writing have fetched her a steady income since her mid-20s. From writing articles to teaching classes at a local community college, she has found multiple ways to earn money while nurturing her creativity.

3. **Believe in Yourself** – According to Shaunta, considering yourself an artist is half the battle. She encourages you to own your dreams and vocalize your ambition, no matter how far off it might seem. This mental assurance goes a long way in helping you invest the necessary time and effort to perfect your craft.

Remember, even if it’s tough at first and you feel like a fraud, persist with your self-belief. It’s a classic case of “fake it till you make it,” where your tenacity might open doors to your artistic career that you’d never imagined.

So there you have it. Treasuring your artistic journey doesn’t necessarily need to come at the cost of starvation. If you’re making even a small amount of money from your art, believe in yourself—you’re an artist!

Don’t forget to share and spread this insight from Shaunta Grimes.