Real Artists Don’t Starve

Real Artists Don’t Starve – Jeff Goins

Many people believe that to be a true artist, you have to suffer for your work and struggle to make a living. This myth of the starving artist has discouraged countless creative people from pursuing their passions or expecting to be paid for them. In Real Artists Don’t Starve: Timeless Strategies for Thriving in the New Creative Age, author and blogger Jeff Goins challenges this idea.

Drawing on stories from history and from contemporary creative professionals, Goins argues that many great artists, from Michelangelo to modern entrepreneurs and writers, thrived rather than starved because they approached their work with practical strategies. He contrasts the mindset of the starving artist with that of the thriving artist, showing how creative people can make a living from their work without compromising their integrity.

The book presents a series of principles organized around three areas: the mindset of the thriving artist, the market and how to build connections and a supportive community, and the money side of creative work. Goins discusses topics such as apprenticeship, stealing from your influences, collaborating, building a network, practicing in public, owning your work, diversifying your income and making money in order to make more art.

Each principle is illustrated with engaging stories and practical takeaways that readers can apply to their own creative careers.

Encouraging and practical, Real Artists Don’t Starve is a valuable read for writers, artists, musicians, designers and anyone who wants to turn creative passion into a sustainable living.