099: Austin Kleon on the Challenges of a Creative Career [Podcast]
When you set out to do creative work for a living, there are all these unexpected obstacles you face, things like finance and admin and marketing. Which add up to a lot of work that doesn't necessarily feel creative. So the question becomes: Is getting pa
When you set out to do creative work for a living, there are unexpected obstacles you face, things like finance and marketing, which can add up to a lot of work that doesn't necessarily feel creative. So what do you do?
![How to Write an Overnight Best-seller in Under a Decade: Interview with Austin Kleon [Podcast]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!81O-!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3b2e5777-1710-43a7-ba06-266dd9734046_660x440.jpeg "How to Write an Overnight Best-seller in Under a Decade: Interview with Austin Kleon [Podcast]")
The question is worth asking: Is getting paid to do what you love really worth the cost?
Often, career experts talk about the grind involved in turning your hobby into a career. But few acknowledge the price you pay after you achieve your goal.
The part we tend to overlook is when you trade your day job for a dream job, it’s still a job.
As a self-proclaimed “writer who draws,” my guest on the podcast knows this better than most. This week on The Portfolio Life, best-selling author Austin Kleon and I talk about the tension between a creative career and the business it takes to support it. Austin has a unique but practical perspective on doing creative work without losing that edge that got you the job in the first place.
Listen in as we discuss juggling the administrative work alongside the creative work and decide for yourself if the leap is one worth taking.
Listen to the podcast
To listen to the show, click the player below (If you are reading this via email or RSS, please click here).
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Lessons on art and self-promotion
Here are a few quotes from out interview that stuck with me and the lessons I took away from each of them:
1. Writing can be a way to work through your own struggles while helping work through theirs.
"Show Your Work was me actively trying to communicate about self-promotion to people who hate self-promotion, because I hate self-promotion."
2. Focus first on creating something worth sharing before you worry about how to promote or publish it.
"Most questions about publishing and getting your creative work out into the wild is about self-promotion and marketing... The questions presuppose you have something worth sharing in the first place."
3. Self-promotion doesn't have to be selfish. Being generous with what you share is the best way to get your work to spread.
"If I share enough, if I’m interesting enough, and helpful enough to enough people, eventually good things will happen to me."
Show highlights
In this episode, Austin and I discuss:
How reading fuels inspiration
Understanding seasons of creative work
Being comfortable with fluctuating productivity
One question I (Jeff) am embarrassed to answer
The importance of allowing margin for “ramp up”
What is more valuable than the amount of time you have
A common myth we believe about successful authors
How to run a business while still getting your creative work done
The timeline of Austin’s journey to best-selling author
What to do when you feel like a fake
Why you may not want to make a living with your art
Quotes and takeaways
”If I had a choice between having a full day vs an hour every day to work, I would pick the hour every day every time.” —Austin Kleon
Sometimes you don’t know who you are writing for until someone starts listening.
“Look at the world and write the book you think is missing.” —Austin Kleon
Some of history’s greatest artists did their best work later in life
“Instead of making a living doing what you love, what can you do for a living that means you get to spend the most quality time doing what you like?” —Austin Kleon
Resources
Daily Rituals by Mason Currey
On Writing by Stephen King
The Gift by Lewis Hyde
Market Day by James Sturm
Download the full transcript here.
How do you balance administrative and creative work? Why are (or aren’t) you pursuing a creative career? Share in the comments