I love this Carolyn! I've been struggling / exploring what the hell is causing me so much pain and challenge in my personal work, and a lot of what you've mentioned here both in the post and in the freshly purchased zine is SO good, so helpful. Monetising dreams is largely an issue, but I also think the modern currency maybe isn't Dollars so much as Likes and Follows? I guess because maybe those things ultimately might lead to Dollars though, so it's all very interconnected to the justification (wow, it was so worth it because I got paid) vs joy (wow, my mind and body have been paid). If that makes sense. Anyway, love your work!
YES. Oh my gosh, I've been needing to hear someone say this! As a hobbyist and a creative, I swear every time I show someone my stuff, their first comment is that I should sell it or turn it into some sort of business. But because I'm a bit of a dabbler, the thought of monetizing everything I dip my toe into feels exhausting. Yet it often leads me wondering if I'm somehow squandering my potential if I'm not "doing anything" with it. I love this reminder that it's ok to let creativity be creativity (and how sometimes – maybe more often than not – it's more fulfilling that way)!
At the moment Substack is my hobby. However, whenever I see someone show their dashboard and it says 7, 17, 87 paid subscribers, I find myself question my resolve of staying free (for now).
The allure is strong, but I have a plan and I'm really happy with it, until I see those dashboards.
I don't know what the right answer is, I think everyone has to do what is best for them and I like how you encourage that in your flow chart.
I've been thinking about this so much, and how this pertains to monetising my Substack. I've only had a paywall on some posts for less than 6 months, and I am finding that I have started thinking about how I am 'giving value' vs just sharing and creating freely and joyfully. I beleive in creatives being paid for their work, and creating closer connections with people - but I also want my work to be seen. It's a tricky one!
Loved this article! It had such an important message - we are in a time of 'monetize everything and anything' just because it is possible (and the super sad thing is because many people need to in our current society)
Hobbies are what we choose to do, gain joy from that choice and what it brings us. Monetization changes that dynamic!
This is great Carolyn 🙌 I'm definitely a 'Keep your hobby as a hobby' kind of person 😆 I see me selling from time to time little things, but not turning the hobby in work!
I'm considering putting some zines online for download/purchase. I noticed you put the digital download and physical version in two different places (I think gumroad and bigcartel). Is there a specific reason for that? Have you found one to be better for digital and one better for physical? Thanks in advance for any advice!
This landed in my way at a good time as I've been trying to figure out what I want out of my creative passions. I feel like I'm at a cross roads, but I'm not sure which way I want to go yet.
Love your work and your art style! I've been having so many conflicting thoughts about monetizing my art/hobbies--am i developing an unhealthy relationship with creating by trying to monetize? Am i reluctant to monetize my art because I feel like I'm not good enough and don't deserve to be paid for my art? AM I DOING THE RIGHT THING?? So I really appreciated your zine and you talking so honestly about this. I also find self-promotion super uncomfortable; it's kind of nice to know I'm not alone in that haha. (although that "guerrilla marketing style" does sound kind of fun). I love those little public library mail boxes you see interspersed in some places - it would be neat to find a zine in there!
I have a lot of hobbies and at some point I always consider whether or not I could make money from it. The hobbies I have tried making a job usually end up feeling just like that, a job. And then it’s loses the reasoning why I started the hobby in the first place. An escape away from my everyday job.
I love this Carolyn! I've been struggling / exploring what the hell is causing me so much pain and challenge in my personal work, and a lot of what you've mentioned here both in the post and in the freshly purchased zine is SO good, so helpful. Monetising dreams is largely an issue, but I also think the modern currency maybe isn't Dollars so much as Likes and Follows? I guess because maybe those things ultimately might lead to Dollars though, so it's all very interconnected to the justification (wow, it was so worth it because I got paid) vs joy (wow, my mind and body have been paid). If that makes sense. Anyway, love your work!
YES. Oh my gosh, I've been needing to hear someone say this! As a hobbyist and a creative, I swear every time I show someone my stuff, their first comment is that I should sell it or turn it into some sort of business. But because I'm a bit of a dabbler, the thought of monetizing everything I dip my toe into feels exhausting. Yet it often leads me wondering if I'm somehow squandering my potential if I'm not "doing anything" with it. I love this reminder that it's ok to let creativity be creativity (and how sometimes – maybe more often than not – it's more fulfilling that way)!
Insanely great chart
At the moment Substack is my hobby. However, whenever I see someone show their dashboard and it says 7, 17, 87 paid subscribers, I find myself question my resolve of staying free (for now).
The allure is strong, but I have a plan and I'm really happy with it, until I see those dashboards.
I don't know what the right answer is, I think everyone has to do what is best for them and I like how you encourage that in your flow chart.
I've been thinking about this so much, and how this pertains to monetising my Substack. I've only had a paywall on some posts for less than 6 months, and I am finding that I have started thinking about how I am 'giving value' vs just sharing and creating freely and joyfully. I beleive in creatives being paid for their work, and creating closer connections with people - but I also want my work to be seen. It's a tricky one!
Loved this article! It had such an important message - we are in a time of 'monetize everything and anything' just because it is possible (and the super sad thing is because many people need to in our current society)
Hobbies are what we choose to do, gain joy from that choice and what it brings us. Monetization changes that dynamic!
This is great Carolyn 🙌 I'm definitely a 'Keep your hobby as a hobby' kind of person 😆 I see me selling from time to time little things, but not turning the hobby in work!
I'm considering putting some zines online for download/purchase. I noticed you put the digital download and physical version in two different places (I think gumroad and bigcartel). Is there a specific reason for that? Have you found one to be better for digital and one better for physical? Thanks in advance for any advice!
Needed to be said! Thanks.
This landed in my way at a good time as I've been trying to figure out what I want out of my creative passions. I feel like I'm at a cross roads, but I'm not sure which way I want to go yet.
How do I do if I reach both sides in that flowchart? 🤣
Great post over all, liking it!
Love your work and your art style! I've been having so many conflicting thoughts about monetizing my art/hobbies--am i developing an unhealthy relationship with creating by trying to monetize? Am i reluctant to monetize my art because I feel like I'm not good enough and don't deserve to be paid for my art? AM I DOING THE RIGHT THING?? So I really appreciated your zine and you talking so honestly about this. I also find self-promotion super uncomfortable; it's kind of nice to know I'm not alone in that haha. (although that "guerrilla marketing style" does sound kind of fun). I love those little public library mail boxes you see interspersed in some places - it would be neat to find a zine in there!
I absolutely love what you made! And I had never heard of a ‘one and done’ marketer but I’m definitely one too!
I have a lot of hobbies and at some point I always consider whether or not I could make money from it. The hobbies I have tried making a job usually end up feeling just like that, a job. And then it’s loses the reasoning why I started the hobby in the first place. An escape away from my everyday job.