Name: Real Artists Don’t Starve
Rating: 4.3 (59 reviews)
Author: Jeff Goins

What’s in it for me? Thrive, don’t starve, as an artist.

There’s something gripping about the image of the poor poet, leading a bohemian life and surviving on the bare minimum. But even though the idea of the so-called starving artist might seem romantic, the reality of having to fight to make ends meet is a tough grind.

By contrast, being able to live off and even thrive from one’s art is a dream that most aspiring creatives share, and these blinks will explore how this lofty dream can become a reality.

These blinks will outline – and debunk – some of the popular myths about what makes a true artist, and will explain how any artist can prosper. From the fallacy about the natural-born genius to the misconception that artists have to relentlessly promote themselves, you’ll learn how to separate genuine, helpful advice from damaging cliches in the artistic world.

You'll also discover

how 30 minutes of creative writing a day turned a lawyer into a best-selling author;
why even 122 rejection letters should never stop you from continuing your work; and
how close Rowfl the dog was to not joining the Muppets.

Anyone can be an artist, and real artists know how to steal.

For ages, we’ve been holding on to popular misconceptions about what it means to be a “real” artist.

In the media and in our minds, true artists are depicted as starving, naturally talented and deeply original. Unfortunately, these types of ideas can scare some people away from ever entering the arts and fulfilling their creative potential.

So let’s start with two of the biggest fallacies about artists, namely that they’re born with natural talent, and that their artwork must be completely original.

First off, you don’t need to be born with natural talent to become an artist; what you need to do is put in hard work and show persistence and determination. With these tools in hand, even a corporate professional can become an artist. Just consider the case of lawyer turned best-selling author, John Grisham.

He began by finding just 30 to 60 minutes each day to write one page of his book. Three years later he had finished his first novel, A Time to Kill. And even though 40 different publishers would come to reject it, he persisted and got to work on his second book, The Firm.

Eventually, his perseverance paid off, and both books became bestsellers. They did so well that Grisham was able to quit his day job and devote all of his time to writing. His books even launched a new literary genre, the legal thriller.

While you do need to be dedicated to your craft, you don’t need to reinvent its form or be wholly original to succeed. On the contrary, what you need to know is how to steal.

Like Picasso said, “Good artists copy, great artists steal.”

This doesn’t mean being lazy or mimicking someone else’s work; there’s a code of conduct among artists that allows for taking something that’s been done and expanding upon it or pushing it further.

A great example is The Muppets. The show’s creator, Jim Henson, took the puppetry of the puppeteer Burr Tillstrom, along with the humor and jokes of other artists, like the comedian Ernie Kovacs, and combined them to create something new and exciting.

Next, let’s look into what makes an artist thrive.

The thriving artist shares and interacts with their audience.

Finding an audience is crucial to being a thriving artist and not a starving one. But, luckily, there is more opportunity than ever for an up-and-coming artist to get noticed.

While a lot of artists despise the idea of marketing and advertising and find it all rather sleazy, these days there are ways to share your art and build a following in a more natural and organic way.

Avoid working for free and fight to keep ownership of your work.

One of the worst habits an artist can get into is working for free. This often happens when someone tries to tell you that a project will be “good exposure” or a “valuable opportunity.” But much like the unpaid internship, it’s often just a way for someone to exploit your talents and take advantage of you.

To be a thriving rather than a starving artist, you need to adopt a mindset in which you tell yourself that you are an artist, and that your work is worth money.

The New Renaissance is here, with artists that have a diverse set of skills and don’t starve for their art.

Often, someone who dabbles in a variety of vocations is seen as being less talented than someone who concentrates on just one skill.

But it wasn’t this way during the Renaissance. In fact, the term “Renaissance man” described a well-rounded craftsman, someone who could work in many different trades.

Key ideas in Real Artists Don’t Starve

What is Real Artists Don’t Starve about?

Real Artists Don’t Starve (2017) is a wake-up call to those who think being an artist isn’t a realistic or viable pursuit. Here, you’ll find ample proof to debunk the myths portraying artists as starving and solitary figures that must suffer for their art. There’s a New Renaissance going on these days – find out how you can be a part of it!

About the Author

Jeff Goins is a former musician who went on to start a writing career, which has since become a thriving business aimed at helping others turn their artistic dreams into reality. His other books include the bestseller The Art of Work. You can find out more about his teachings and keynote speeches at goinswriter.com.