The Dream That Almost Died

Let me know if this sounds familiar…

“You can’t make money as a writer. You should be a doctor or engineer instead.”

I remember it like it was yesterday. After years of people asking what I wanted to be when I grew up, I finally had the answer. I couldn’t wait to tell my family.

“Grandma, grandma! Guess what I’m going to be when I grow up?” “What are you going to be, Ace?” “I’m going to be a writer!”

Her face instantly dropped from excitement to concern.

“Ace, you can’t make money as a writer. You should be an engineer or doctor.”

My heart sank. I was just a kid. I didn’t realize that being a successful creator was supposedly impossible, and so I gave up on my dreams for a very long time. But if I knew what I know now, I would have just laughed in their faces.

The Lie We’ve Been Told

Here’s the thing… I’m not the only one with a story like this.

Every single day, society constantly tells creators that they should starve for their work, that being a creator isn’t a safe career path, and that they should only ever have it as a hobby.

And because of this, many aspiring creators believe that making money with their art is impossible. I mean, how could you not when all you hear are things like:

• “Art isn’t a real job.”
• “You need to be lucky to make it.”
• “You’ll always struggle financially.”

But listen closely—you’re not the wrong one. Everyone else is.

What if I told you that the world has changed? That now it is easier to become a successful creator than it has ever been before—and might even be the safest option? The starving artist is a myth, and I’m going to prove it to you.

Where Did the Starving Artist Myth Come From?

To understand why people still believe this outdated idea, we need to look back in history.

Over 173 years ago, in 1851, a struggling writer named Henri Murger started writing stories about starving artists, romanticizing the struggle that many creators went through at that time. Eventually, it caught on, and people started taking it to the extreme, saying that the only true way to be a creator is to starve for your creations. And so, the starving artist movement began.

I have to admit that they weren’t 100% wrong at that time. Becoming a full-time artist was really difficult. Back then, the only way to get your work shown to a large audience was to have a wealthy, powerful, and influential patron vouch for your work—essentially acting as gatekeepers who controlled who got into the exclusive club of successful creators and who did not.

At that time, success was rare, and so many creators turned to the starving artist mentality, embracing the struggle and using it as fuel. But this meant a large portion of creators were left unnoticed and unappreciated. When you start to believe in the starving artist myth, you tend to give up before you start, not taking yourself seriously and never achieving your full potential.

The Internet Changed Everything

Nowadays, everything is different. It’s easier to become a creator than it has ever been before, and it keeps getting even easier.

This is because of the internet. Most creators don’t realize that the internet isn’t just a tool for sharing your work—it’s a tool for building creative freedom. The freedom to create on your own terms, for the audience you want, and in the way you want.

For the first time in history, gatekeepers are no longer needed. Instead of a few powerful people holding a monopoly over people’s attention, now anybody with an internet connection is only a few clicks away from thousands of fans who will fall in love with their work.

Right now, there are creators making millions a year from their bedroom in their pajamas. With the internet, anyone can post on social media, anyone can have a website. With the internet, there are stores everywhere making it easier to sell your work—think of Patreon, Etsy, Shopify.

More creators than ever are making a full-time income from their work, and it doesn’t look like it’s slowing down anytime soon.

Consider These Statistics:

• There are over 200 million creators worldwide.
• The creator economy is valued at approximately $250 billion as of 2023.
• It’s projected to nearly double to $480 billion by 2027.

The internet changed the game—you don’t need permission to be a creator anymore. The starving artist is dead. And that’s for the better.

Real Creators Making Real Money

If teenagers can make millions of dollars dancing on TikTok, you can make a living sharing your art.

Take Sarah, for example. She was a writer who started posting short stories on a blog. Within two years, she built an audience of 50,000 monthly readers and now makes over $70,000 a year through her Patreon, book sales, and online courses teaching creative writing.

Or consider Marcus, a digital artist who started sharing his work on Instagram. He now makes a comfortable living from commissions, selling digital assets, and teaching online courses about digital art fundamentals.

Then there’s Jamie, a musician who was told she’d never make it. She now supports herself entirely through a combination of Patreon supporters, streaming revenue, and licensing her music for commercials and indie films.

Your Turn to Prove Them Wrong

The moral of the story? You don’t have to struggle. I know there are so many creators like my younger self who desperately want to share their work with the world but are constantly being put down by outdated beliefs.

But I hope this story shows you that they are the wrong ones—not you. Ignore everything you’ve ever heard from creators who never had the guts to put themselves out there. Stop with the “I can’t” narrative and start asking “how can I?” The possibilities are endless. There are thousands and thousands of paths to success—you just have to find yours. And I promise you, with enough determination, anyone can do it.

Take Action Today

Start small. Write down five ways you can make money with your work. And if you don’t know how to do that, then make a post on social media sharing your work, set up a simple website or portfolio. Just do something, anything, and slowly but surely prove everyone wrong. The world needs your creativity, and there has never been a better time to start. I can’t wait to see all that you accomplish!

If you’re feeling stuck trying to figure out exactly how to make money from your creative passions, I’d love to chat. My 1:1 coaching sessions are designed specifically for creators who want to turn their passion into profit. Just reply to this email to learn more!

Creating with you,