As every creative knows, the big-ticket, long-term creative projects that sell for thousands require some time to conceptualize, produce, and sell…and that’s if the creator already knows who their audience is.

So for those of us who work on projects with long turnaround times, what can we do in the meantime to bring in the monthly basic income that keeps the lights on and puts food in the cupboard?

The British TV show “Make It At Market” might have something to teach us here. It helps unprofitable creatives figure out how to make a living on their art, whether it be pottery, woodworking, painting, glassmaking, or jewelry-making (etc.). Mentors work with each person to find and hone their “volume” piece, their favorite piece, and their big-ticket item. Each part of this ecosystem involves investigating work habits, streamlining processes, identifying the audience, and creating the conditions in which your work will sell.

In this segment, your Gifted Underachievers wonder about how to do this in our own gigs, the world of writing and publishing. Do we come up with the answers? Not quite…but as with all self-run creative (or creative-adjacent) businesses, half the battle is figuring out the question.

Questions for Listeners:

* Do you have a product or service that consistently brings in the cash you need to work on the long-term stuff?

* If yes, how did you come up with the idea for it?

* Or do you work a day job?

For Further Exploration:

Trailer for Make It At Market

Monthly diverse revenue streams—a how-to video:

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