28 Oct Who Said I Was a Starving Artist?!
I can’t even count how many times I got the look when I said I wanted to build a career out of writing. You know the one—the polite pause, the raised eyebrow, or the grimace that looks like somebody just stubbed their toe.
That one…
There was always a moment where I could see the gears turning—calculations being made, assumptions of how is she going to do all that?
And the comments didn’t make it any better:
“Oh… are you sure?”
“Ehhh… what if you don’t sell?”
“That sounds expensive!”
“That’s nice… so how are you going to pay your bills?”
“Passion is great, Kay, but—”
“What if you only sell seven books?”
(I almost spit my coffee out when someone asked that. And to make it worse, she stared at me—really waiting for a response. Let’s just say my response B.C. (Before Christ) wasn’t all that cute. We thank God for growth.)
Or my personal favorite:
“Let’s think long-term here.”
As if I hadn’t already spent hours—days, even—coming to terms with the fact that this is one of the paths God has me on.
And of course, the classic:
“You know what they say about starving artists…”
It was delivered with that raggedy, condescending bless-your-heart smirk.
But I have to ask—when did I ever say I was a starving artist?
And while we’re here… why are people pocket-watching dreams they didn’t fund? (I’ll wait.)
The truth is, most people never see our behind-the-scenes reality: the nights we come home exhausted from our 9–5 and still stay up past midnight because a deadline is calling. The quiet tears of frustration soaking into the pages. The constant tug-of-war between being human—learning, messing up, getting annoyed, trying again—and still choosing to operate in
excellence.
They don’t witness the resilience it takes to keep going when no one is clapping yet. And if they can’t understand that, trust me—they definitely won’t believe the financial sacrifices that come with choosing a creative life.
Because you and I both know—it isn’t cheap when you want to do it right!
Even in the midst of doubt, God loved me enough to send reminders right when I needed them most.
Reminders that I wasn’t walking this path alone. That every time discouragement tried to settle in. God was already positioning people to cover me, uplift me, and speak life where negativity tried to take root.
I want to pause and thank Terran, who prayed for me on a day I was genuinely close to tears—after someone made a negative comment about how my book looked, both in person and online. I was distraught. Mind you, I was at work, juggling my emotions while still trying to get the job done—and you and I both know that disappointment and financial pressure don’t
magically disappear just because you’re clocked into your 9–5.
Terran, that prayer mattered more than you know. The love of God was in it; it reassured me and steadied me. It reminded me that God’s final say will always outweigh human commentary.
I also want to thank my small but POWERFUL friend circle for encouraging me along the way. You know who you are—Francesca! The check-ins, the words of affirmation, and the hype when I needed it most never went unnoticed.
And to my editor, Shoma—thank you. When I asked you, “Can I really make a career out of being an author?” and you laughed and said, “Of course!” something shifted in me. That affirmation carried more weight than you probably realized.
So to the authors reading this—whether your journey has been filled with spiritual warfare, quiet resistance, or unwavering support from day one—this is for you.
It is okay if you choose to keep your job while pursuing writing.
It is okay if you decide to bridge two careers together.
And it is okay if you’ve taken a leap of faith and gone ‘all in’ writing full-time.
No matter the path you choose—you can do it!
Stop asking people for permission to walk in what God already gave you clearance to pursue. The next time the topic comes up, stand in confidence when someone asks you about your path.
And be mindful of who you’re talking to.
Are they genuinely curious?
Are they projecting fear—especially fear around money?
Are they jealous?
Or are they simply unfamiliar with a path that doesn’t look like theirs?
Some people speak from a limited perspective—not because they wish you harm, but because their understanding only stretches as far as what they’ve seen, tried, or believed possible for themselves. That perspective does not get to define your calling.
And please—release the starving artist narrative. Creativity does not equal lack; it is an opportunity for freedom. Author, you are allowed to be gifted, disciplined, obedient, and sustained. (If you didn’t know—now you know.)
So keep writing.
Keep creating.
Keep traveling for inspiration.
Keep showing up and piecing together your story and mood boards.
Because there’s a difference between being a talker and being a finisher. And when you finish—when you finally hold the manuscript you once only talked about—you become living proof that faith, discipline, and consistency still produce good fruit.
You won’t just say what you wanted to do.
You’ll have done it!
If this resonated with you, take a moment to speak ‘life’ over your own creativity today. You don’t have to have it all figured out—you just have to keep going!
—Kay
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