I remember a friend worrying because she'd been warned by other friends that the man she'd fallen in love with was a serial monogamist, and he'd leave her too after 10 years as he had the previous two women. I suggested she mark it in her long-term calendar so she wouldn't be caught by surprise if it did turn out that way, and enjoy herself in the meantime. They're still happily together well past that date.
What an interesting story!! I think you have a very practical advice that could allow her to both be prepared but also enjoy. To assume that people don’t change is probably more false than to assume people do change… what do you think?
We do and can change, to varying degrees. (I doubt I will ever learn to love pitch dark!) Also different people offer us different things, and bring out different things in us, and help us be our best selves.
Absolutely! (And I don’t think I’ll ever enjoy pitch dark either haha), life (and change!) is a result of bits and pieces from people and places we encounter along the way 💞
This chapter preview is so full of insights into the creative life. It chimed so well with my experience - and as you are much further down the creative road than me, I'm super grateful for your sharing!
I am only a few months in (taking advantage of not working while my little one is young) and while it is so, so much fun, I do worry about when I need to earn money again - as I currently earn about £20 per month from Substack! I remember speaking to a university supervisor about wanting to pursue writing (academic study & writing books), and was shocked by how negative he was: all about how tough the industry is, how expensive study can be, how few people make it... But here I sit 2 years later writing regularly online and with a PhD offer for September. I left his expectations behind... and followed my dreams! At least for now.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it and found value Holly!! Funnily enough, I reference a very similar experience with my art professor (I only took two art classes ever, which were my electives at university) and I remember feeling almost shocked how negative she was when I first announced my first art sale (which happened in Instagram DMs serendipitously during a drawing class), and second when it was time to graduate and I announced I’d go for fulltime artistry with my fiancé (now husband).
They probably became professors at traditional institutions as opposed to independently because they didn’t figure out how to make it and perhaps feel resentful towards younger energetic dreamers who “are naive enough to believe they’re different”. It’s sad really and I wonder how many dreamers get killed slowly that way….. excited for you to pursue your calling!! The best tip I can give is to think of multiple ways to monetize your skills. I never heard of any artist who made it with one stream of income only - this is where the whole “ecosystem” comes into play of how to monetize on different things through different seasons and depending on what the family needs at the time etc. xx
It made me cry when he was so negative, I have to say! But the feedback from others was the polar opposite, so I felt encouraged to pursue it anyway.
I have noticed that a lot of creatives have more than one monetary project on the go at any one time… Now that I’ve slowed down a bit on Substack (1ish post per week rather than 3!), I think I’ll have a bit more space to do some ‘official’ freelance writing… Here’s hoping!
Have no expectations of failure (because then you will) nor of success (because it can lead to disappointment) - this is the overall message I got from this post! Loved the analogy of your husband and how you needed to let go of conditioned expectations of him leaving and realise that it wasn't true for you.
Most of all, I loved this, "We must realise that to make money is an essential part of making art. Money will buy us time to make more art."
As I devote more love to painting, this is what I choose as my reality, thank you!
I remember a friend worrying because she'd been warned by other friends that the man she'd fallen in love with was a serial monogamist, and he'd leave her too after 10 years as he had the previous two women. I suggested she mark it in her long-term calendar so she wouldn't be caught by surprise if it did turn out that way, and enjoy herself in the meantime. They're still happily together well past that date.
What an interesting story!! I think you have a very practical advice that could allow her to both be prepared but also enjoy. To assume that people don’t change is probably more false than to assume people do change… what do you think?
We do and can change, to varying degrees. (I doubt I will ever learn to love pitch dark!) Also different people offer us different things, and bring out different things in us, and help us be our best selves.
Absolutely! (And I don’t think I’ll ever enjoy pitch dark either haha), life (and change!) is a result of bits and pieces from people and places we encounter along the way 💞
This is so exciting! Can’t wait to read the whole thing! 💖
Thanks Amy, hope it will all be interesting! 😍😍❤️🙏🏼 about 60% done so think it’ll be out in the next couple of weeks… 💞
I’m sure it will be fantastic! ❤️
You’re too kind 🙏🏼🥰
Heyyyy, I recognise that subscriber comment. ;)
Excellent to read an advance excerpt from the book. Good times! ✨
Haha thanks Martin I am so thrilled to have you with me and increasingly nervous about releasing the book haha!
Sending you all the best 🙏🏼💫
This chapter preview is so full of insights into the creative life. It chimed so well with my experience - and as you are much further down the creative road than me, I'm super grateful for your sharing!
I am only a few months in (taking advantage of not working while my little one is young) and while it is so, so much fun, I do worry about when I need to earn money again - as I currently earn about £20 per month from Substack! I remember speaking to a university supervisor about wanting to pursue writing (academic study & writing books), and was shocked by how negative he was: all about how tough the industry is, how expensive study can be, how few people make it... But here I sit 2 years later writing regularly online and with a PhD offer for September. I left his expectations behind... and followed my dreams! At least for now.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it and found value Holly!! Funnily enough, I reference a very similar experience with my art professor (I only took two art classes ever, which were my electives at university) and I remember feeling almost shocked how negative she was when I first announced my first art sale (which happened in Instagram DMs serendipitously during a drawing class), and second when it was time to graduate and I announced I’d go for fulltime artistry with my fiancé (now husband).
They probably became professors at traditional institutions as opposed to independently because they didn’t figure out how to make it and perhaps feel resentful towards younger energetic dreamers who “are naive enough to believe they’re different”. It’s sad really and I wonder how many dreamers get killed slowly that way….. excited for you to pursue your calling!! The best tip I can give is to think of multiple ways to monetize your skills. I never heard of any artist who made it with one stream of income only - this is where the whole “ecosystem” comes into play of how to monetize on different things through different seasons and depending on what the family needs at the time etc. xx
It made me cry when he was so negative, I have to say! But the feedback from others was the polar opposite, so I felt encouraged to pursue it anyway.
I have noticed that a lot of creatives have more than one monetary project on the go at any one time… Now that I’ve slowed down a bit on Substack (1ish post per week rather than 3!), I think I’ll have a bit more space to do some ‘official’ freelance writing… Here’s hoping!
Have no expectations of failure (because then you will) nor of success (because it can lead to disappointment) - this is the overall message I got from this post! Loved the analogy of your husband and how you needed to let go of conditioned expectations of him leaving and realise that it wasn't true for you.
Most of all, I loved this, "We must realise that to make money is an essential part of making art. Money will buy us time to make more art."
As I devote more love to painting, this is what I choose as my reality, thank you!