I’m pretty nervous about writing on the topics outlined in my blog intro. But as a young creative, struggling to make a living as a freelance art writer, I know how easy it is to peruse the sparkling, clean-lined sites and portfolios of other arts professionals, becoming more and more anxious about not making the grade.
What I would like to offer here is an alternative to the aspirational – and, sometimes, false – discourse of successful creative self-employment that, in the past, I admit I’ve contributed to.
I don’t yet pay my rent with art writing, but I hope and plan to get there. This blog will document that process, while also tackling issues, such as:
– prevalent low rates of pay in the arts, and where I’ve found fair pay
– the problems and conflicts I encounter (usually without naming names) as I grow my business
– good and bad contracts, and developing my own system of contracts
– pitches that got turned down, marketing efforts that failed, and an analysis of why
– how long it actually takes to write a piece, how much it costs me to write (financially, mentally), and how much I charge
– the emotional highs and lows of writing and business-running
– networking attempts
It’s a scary thought that I’ll have to be honest about such things. In the past, I’ve picked up the idea (from the ether, from the internet?) that one should project an aura of success in order to attract it. Now, I feel, it would be more beneficial, for myself and for you, if I just told the truth about how hard every step really is, and thought critically about whether it’s worth it.
Hope you’ll be intrigued enough to continue reading…
