Making Art, Making a Life – Pt. 3: Conflicting Priorities

In the previous installment of this series, I talked about an artist’s options and priorities. As a refresher for the options:

1. Make a living doing your art or at a job that is closely related (“passion peripheral”)
2. Work the “day job” even if it’s not related to your art, and find a way to make some money doing your art or something closely related
3. Work the day job, and create when and however you can purely for the sake of creating – and your sanity

I talked about how your financial priorities may influence your options. But what about other conflicting priorities? For the sake of this post, let’s assume you’re not doing Option 1 (more on that later).

If we agree with my assertion that artists must be doing something related to their art, now it’s a question of free time.  

The second biggest dilemma I’ve faced over the years (the first being how to satisfy my muse and still making a living) has been the conflicting priorities of satisfying my muse and wanting to spend time with my family.

Your conflicting priority might be a vibrant social life. Or having regular downtime or alone time. Or exercising. Or being outdoors.

Hearkening back to my brother’s assertion in the last post, it’s not about the time you have, it’s about your priorities. If you decide one of those conflicting priorities is more important than your art, and you don’t need the extra money, see Option 3: Fit your art in somewhere. Take a class. Start a blog. Join a writing group.

For me, my art is a high priority (and as I mentioned last time, I appreciate the extra income). Cue Option 2. But how?

The best part about being an entrepreneur is that you get to choose what 70 hours of the week you work.

In one of my previous “day jobs,” I wrapped up my work midafternoon. This was great when the kids were in school, but summers were brutal. Once I was off the clock, did I ignore the desire to be with family for the sake of creating? (This conflict may also apply to Option 3 if your art is a pretty close second to another priority)

There’s an old saying about entrepreneurs: “The best part about being an entrepreneur is that you get to choose what 70 hours of the week you work.”

I’m sure entrepreneurial types will scoff at my whining. And the reality is, they have a point. To succeed, sometimes you just have to put in extra time. I realized that if I wanted to prioritize family time, I had to find extra time to create.

Another of my brother’s gems: “You can sleep when you’re dead.” Point taken.

I’m not as sharp late at night (after everyone went to sleep), so that meant getting up earlier each day (before everyone woke up). These days, that’s when I fulfill any of my ghostwriting obligations and then work on my personal writing endeavors when I have extra time.

The key is to schedule the time and stick to it.

There’s one thing I haven’t talked about: prioritizing your art above all else. If you’re not doing Option 1 (or are no longer satisfied with just “passion peripheral”), do you quit your day job and go for it?

There are so many different variables here that I would only pose two questions:

1. Will you regret it if you do? In other words, can you afford to do it, or will it put financial strain on you or your loved ones? How long can you afford to do it? Can you work something part-time and stretch out “how long you can afford to do it”? And so on. Do the math and make a plan. And then go for it, especially if the answer to the next question is “yes.”
2. Will you regret it if you don’t? I think this one is pretty clear.

OK, I’m still under 700 words. I could go on (come find me for drinks sometime), but instead I’ll conclude by saying that if you’re an artist, do whatever it takes to fill your cup and your coffers. Make it happen. Your art has value, even if you decide the only value it needs to have is the pleasure it gives you.

Having said that, I’ll add that writing this series of posts has provided some necessary perspective for me as well. It takes a lot of time to put my thoughts together – and then put these posts together. Adding in ghostwriting, exercising, and being with family, ask me how much fiction writing I’ve done. It’s about priorities, right? So while I’m enjoying doing the blog again and committed to keep doing it, it won’t necessarily be every two weeks.

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