How to Be an Artist Without Losing Your Mind, Your Shirt, Or Your Creative Compass: A Practical Guide

by JoAnneh Nagler

Overview

Be true to your artistic self—but don’t quit your day job.

Whether you're a new graduate, considering a job change, or a creative type who isn’t finding time to pursue your passions, don’t fall for this line: “Do what you love and the money will follow.” The world is full of starving artists, but you don’t need to starve financially to thrive artistically. Author JoAnneh Nagler wants you to welcome your creativity and continue to make art—but to do so with a plan. In this groundbreaking book, she provides step-by-step strategies to teach writers, sculptors, painters, musicians, designers, and other artists how tohave a well-supported, well-lived life—and make art at the same time.

Learn how to:

• Answer your own artistic callings and get to your art work
• Give up starving and struggling and build a supported, creative daily life
• Manage time, money, and day jobs with easy-to-learn, simple tools
• Develop rock-solid creative work ethics and motivational skills

No matter what kind of creative person you are, this book has the tools you need to live the life you’ve always wanted to live—right now, and for your whole life long.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781581573671
Publisher:	Countryman Press, The
Publication date:	05/03/2016
Pages:	210
Sales rank:	949,885
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

JoAnneh Nagler is an artist, musician, writer, and life coach who has worked to seamlessly fit her artistic endeavors with her own lifestyle. She is the author of The Debt-Free Spending Plan and has been featured in The New York Times, U.S. News and World Report, and other online and print publications.  

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

1 Answer the Call 7

It's Hard to Be an Artist 9

It's About the Work 10

When Your Artist Voice Is Calling, You're Supposed to Answer 12

How on God's Green Earth Do I Answer "The Call"? 13

Living as an Artist Will Absolutely Test You 15

Inspiration Is Not Enough 16

You Can Learn to Become a Healthy Artist 17

Nourish Your Artistic "Space." 19

2 Get a Day Job 21

Get a Day Job 23

Be Willing to Be Good at More than One Thing 24

A List to Live By 25

The "Good People" Day job 26

The "Secondary Arts" Day Job 29

Do Well, in Every Arena of Your Life 30

Don't Bite the Hand that Feeds You 32

Stop Complaining and Take Some Action 33

Learn This Now: Slow, Steady Steps Are Better than All-or-Nothing Events 35

3 Make Peace with Your Money 39

Money Clarity Buys You Time 41

Anyone Can Add 43

Don't Use Credit Cards to Fund Your Life 44

Map Out What It Costs You to Live 46

Cut Expenses to Buy Yourself Freedom 49

Start Now 52

Manage Your Money with Simple Tools 54

Five Minutes a Day 57

Use Whatever Work 62

The Payoff 65

Fund the Things You Love 66

Live on Less for a Cause 69

Know When to Say When 71

4 Master Your Time 77

Do Your Art, No Matter What Else Is Going on 79

All You Have to Do Is Listen and Act 82

Give Up the Privilege Myth 84

Do What's Important First, Not What's Urgent, or "How the Hell Do I Get Started?" 86

We've All Got 24 Hours, so Start Strategizing Your Time 87

Get Practical and Get Real 88

Show Up for Your Art Hours as if It's a Job 92

We're in this for a Lifetime 93

5 Grow Some Work Ethics 95

Don't Wait for Inspiration; Just Work 97

"Start Here": Get Some Tools to Help You 98

How Do You Know What to Work on First? 101

Beat the Room 103

Support Your Artist's Work Ethic with a Schedule and a Timer 105

When It All Goes to Hell 107

Show Up Until Showing Up Becomes Second Nature 108

Work without Regard for Outcomes 110

Practice Detachment 111

Know When to Set It on the Shelf 112

There'll Be Days Like This 114

Take a Break 117

6 Map Your Art Life 119

Pin Your Points 121

Map Your Art Life. 125

"I'm Just Not that Disciplined." 127

"No Pessimist Ever Discovered the Secret of the Stars…" 129

Know Your "Tells." 133

Allow for Enjoyment. 136

Get Time Clarity with an "Overall." 138

The Nuts and Bolts of Your Artist's "Time Map." 142

Working Your Map in the Real World 148

What to Do if You Have a Crazy Schedule 151

Learn What Works for You 153

Set Boundaries 155

Get Support 159

A Last Look at Time Guidelines 162

7 Motivate Yourself 167

When You Can't Stuff It Anymore 169

Cultivate a Good Attitude 170

Think Like an Inventor 172

Do Your Art Because It's Worth Doing 174

Separate Yourself from the Hobbyist 176

Keep What You're Working on Close to Your Vest 177

No One Gets to Judge You 179

Acquire Wisdom 181

Be a Moral Force for Your Art 183

Practice Practical Inspiration 185

Learn to Measure Wealth by the Freedom You Have to Do What You Love 187

Make a Heaven on Earth 189

Index 191

Editorial Reviews

Written for every musician, painter, writer, photographer, or designer who wants to find the space, time, and will to do their art, Nagler's (The Debt-Free Spending Plan) book provides the practical steps to creating a life that prioritizes the making of art....Nagler's practical, disciplined, no-nonsense words are those of the experienced artist and life coach providing motivational inspiration and astute counsel. This highly recommended title will appeal to newly graduated artists in need of a guidebook as well as creative types trying to make the time to pursue their art.-- "Library Journal"

From the Publisher