The business end of being an artist comes with a lot of complex needs and issues.

I, for example, am three different writers in one.

First, I am a writer of fiction. My primary focus has been fantasy, sci-fi, and Steampunk. I have a multi-novel fantasy series that's been underway since 1998; a Steampunk series — with a 2 ndnovel awaiting edits; an ongoing sci-fi series underway, as well as another I have begun; and a standalone fantasy novel coming before the end of the year.

Second, I am a writer of mindfulness, conscious reality creation, positivity, self-help/inspiration life lessons, and the like. I have a VERY hard time quantifying the exact terminology for these works. Spiritual growth, maybe?

The thing is, I don't take a simply spiritual approach. I'm much more holistic overall. Mind, body, spirit, and how it all interconnects and interacts with the real world.

Articles such as this, where I write about the craft, falls into the second category, too.

Third, I am a writer of web content, professional blogs, brochures, and business-specific needs. I have worked on, built, and/or adjusted several websites in different professions, as well as done SEO blogging work — writing and editing for various business models. This has most often been work of necessity — since this type of writing has gotten me more regular paychecks.

I am not bragging in sharing this. The point is that I am not just a writer in three different realms — but overall, a business. This is especially true of my first and second writing styles. Blogging may not be the same level of effort as preparing to publish a book — but it is still self-publishing.

Being my own business isn't that hard. Making a living in this way, however, is.

The ongoing argument of the sell-out

What makes a person a sell-out?

You've likely encountered discussions about this topic. It's vague, but for the most part, a sell-out is someone who whores their art out for money. This applies to writers, singers, painters, sculptors, filmmakers, and so on. The production of commercial-specific work is considered by many to be the definition of selling-out.

But is it selling out to be making money from your art? Or is the notion one of jealousy on the part of the would-be artists and semi-successful artists of the world? Is it really selling out to aim at a mainstream, commercially viable target to make money from your art?

The idea of being a sell-out involves moral and ethical compromise for the sake of personal gain. I suspect that — since morality is a wholly individual notion — what looks like selling out to me is not what it will look like to you.

For example, I can imagine selling out for me looking something like this: Writing for a product, service, or person I don't believe in. If the Trump team offered me a million dollars to write him a speech — and I took the money — that would be me selling out (since he stands for numerous things I do not approve of nor support).

I once rejected a job working for a company that sold e-cigarettes. Since I am opposed to smoking — or vaping — this work would have been me selling out for the sake of the paycheck.

Some people see any commercial appeal as selling out. So the argument goes on. You, and you alone, know where you stand in this debate. Where you stand will have an impact on how you run your artistic business.

Doing business as an artist

Whatever art you partake in, unless it's just a hobby, you are looking to make money on your work.

That requires sales and marketing.

Sales and marketing are a very different mindset from whatever art you do. You need to specifically find ways to simultaneously get exposure for your work while gaining fans and buyers. This gets particularly challenging because there are a lot of different tastes, appealing to one audience may turn off another, and some options are free while others cost you money.

This may be where you need help.

Lots of artists have a great head for their art and the related scene. But when it comes to sales and marketing, they are clueless.

I have worked in sales and marketing, so I have some experience here. However, I never tried to sell my own work of art — so I still struggle to develop an audience to generate sales.

There are a lot of questions that get generated here. Will I sell enough product to make back the money I spent on editing and the book cover? How do I get a good return on investment (ROI) when I pay for advertising?

Making friends with money

Frankly, a lot of artists find terms like ROI and the necessity of money distressing. But when art is your business that's a consideration you can't ignore.

Despite reading a lot of helpful blogs, articles, and books on the topic — I still can't seem to light the spark to find the right marketing tools to get the ROI and make some profit from my work. Then, just add insult to injury, I am uncertain where to find someone to help me.

Also, do I hire a coach, a publicist, a sales genius, or some combination of all of these? Thus, I face the vicious circle — I need to make money but need to spend money to help me make money but not spend so much money as to lose money blah blah blah.

A lot of artists — particularly those who seek to avoid being sell-outs — have a bizarre, often contentious relationship with money. Especially when you buy into the notion of the starving artist.

Money is a tool. That's all it is. Hating it, fearing it, loathing it repels it. Why? Because money is currency and currency is energy. Energy is the root of everything in the Universe. Energy vibrates at a frequency, and like frequencies attract like to them. When you fear, loathe, and despise money you will have a bad relationship with it.

Befriending money is a challenge. Lots of people see money as the enemy, the destroyer of good people. But money is not at fault. The good or bad of a person is not determined by money.

A rich asshole who goes broke is still an asshole. Greed and selfishness are not caused by money — but it can be a catalyst for greed and selfishness.

Learning to love money helps to earn money.

Business and mindfulness

It's important to recognize that if you are working to make your living with an art you are a business. That acknowledgment will open you to seek opportunities and focus on not just making your art but selling it.

This comes down to mindfulness. This is specifically the awareness of your conscious self. That conscious awareness opens you to see your intent to make a living via your art.

Awareness of your intent is a part of mindfulness. That, alongside your thoughts, feelings, and actions, makes you conscious of who you are, what you do, and where you desire to go. As an artist and a business, this can make a huge difference in your ability to succeed.

It's important to know your audience and who you are writing — or doing whatever art you do — for. But the art itself tends to be a reflection of yourself — and an aspect of your mindful, conscious self in its creation. Business without mindfulness is not going to be of any good to you or anyone else.

This is especially true of artists. We tend to be empathic and mindful in our creativity — and that needs to be applied to how we do business, too.

This is not a competition

Finally, it's important to talk about community. A lot of people, when they consider the idea of business, imagine the horrors of corporate takeovers, cut-throat practices, and unethical competitions and activities in the name of making a profit.

Artists, however, generally don't function this way. For example, I'm on several Facebook groups for sci-fi and fantasy writers. People offer free suggestions, helpful tools, ideas, and even assistance to promote one another. I am currently reading a sci-fi novel by an author whom I helped to write his book blurb for the novel. Additionally, I agreed to review his novel when I finish reading it — and he read my novel and reviewed it.

I know communities like this also exist for singers, painters, sculptors, metal and woodworkers, cooks, and other artists. The reason is that we are stronger together — and we are NOT in competition.

Avid readers will devour a large number of books by numerous writers. While we are all vying for attention and sales, it's not an either/or proposition. We are stronger together.

An approach of " read my book not that person's book because its crap" makes ME look bad, not that person. On the other hand, an approach of " if you liked that person's book you will like mine" and/or " if you like my book you'll like that person's book " promotes and empowers us both.

We are all in this together. The business of art — whatever art you do — is a challenge that we all endure but can work on and improve together. When my writing business earns me the income I desire, I intend to share my success — not to brag or hold it over anyone else — but rather to help others find their success, too.

Thank you for being part of my ongoing journey.

Thank you for reading. I am MJ Blehart. I write about mindfulness, conscious reality creation, positivity, my creative process, and similar life lessons. Get my Five Easy Steps to Change the World for the Better Here

Originally published at https://www.mjblehart.com on October 10, 2020.