When I’m not working on this blog or writing fiction, I’m mostly either sleeping or at my full-time office job.
I’ve always worked a lot. When I was sixteen, I started working at a library, 30 to 36 hours a week during the school year and full time in the summer. I worked similar hours through college, though a little less in grad school.
A while back, a lot of my writer friends were talking about this article, “Sponsored By My Husband: Why It’s a Problem That Writers Never Talk About Where Their Money Comes From.” That’s not me.
I’ve worked as a cocktail waitress, an artist’s model, a fast food worker, a proofreader, a retail salesperson at various stores, the person who pestered you to take surveys at the mall, and the person who cleaned the bathrooms at a Mexican restaurant. I’ve been a composition and creative writing instructor at university, a retail advertising executive, and mostly, an editor and a writer.
I now consider myself a Seasoned Creative Professional™, and here are a few of the most important things I’ve learned.
1. Don’t argue much.
I was more idealistic when I first started working at a corporation, and I had a high opinion of my opinion. I would often argue for what I believed was the good of the company — tarnishing my reputation in the process.
Creative people often don’t think much in terms of hierarchies. However, many people in high positions do. They may believe that because they are where they are, they must have the best judgement. Whether or not this is the case doesn’t really matter from a practical standpoint.
It’s great to bring up concerns — along with practical solutions to address them. And of course, if there is a moral issue at stake, you should argue. But otherwise, if higher-ups aren’t interested in changing something, it’s best to let it go.
If people perceive you as difficult, you are less likely to get promoted and more likely to get laid off (though plenty of people get laid off even though they’ve done everything right.)
It’s possible that your creative talent will make people overlook the fact that you’re a pain, but then again, there are lots of talented people out there.
Along the same lines of not being difficult…
2. Don’t complain.
Complaining is pointless.
If your job is basically good but there are some frustrations, you don’t have a strong cause to complain. Lots of people would love to have that position.
If your job is truly awful, no amount of complaining is going to fix it. Make good impressions on people so you can use them as references, and look for another job.
I don’t think complaining in private to co-workers or friends is all that useful, either. You may think you’re “venting,” but really, you’re reinforcing your own negative feelings. (A lot of people disagree with me on this point, which is fine!)
Again, you can make suggestions, especially if you are positioning them as good for the company.
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3. It helps to look like a professional.
This is mostly for people who work in regular offices. Creative people don’t always understand that people judge them by the way they look. After all, lots of us went through art school or the writing program looking like rock band performers or vagrants (and okay, some of us actually were those things as well.)
For the first couple of years at my corporate job, my wardrobe was ridiculous. I would wear a thrifted velvet gown one day and cutoff jean shorts with fishnet stockings the next. I honestly didn’t know that it made people underestimate me.
When a manager finally explained this to me, it was like scales falling from my eyes. I was like, Oh my God, you’re right! Some managers would never have told me this, because they wouldn’t want to have been perceived as being “uncool.” I was so grateful she told me the truth.
When you look polished, people will assume you are smart and responsible until you provide proof to the contrary. You can put together a creative and distinctive style that’s still appropriate.
Of course, it’s not fair for people to judge others based on their appearance. I’m just saying that they do. You might decide that you don’t care, and that’s your business.
Professionalism is one thing, but if anyone ever criticizes your appearance for being too “ethnic,” not masculine or feminine enough, or expressing your faith, that is absolutely unacceptable. If there’s an HR department, I hope you file a complaint.
4. If nothing else, HIT YOUR DEADLINES.
Some creative people struggle with this because their perfectionism leads to procrastination. Do the best work you can, but remember, “on time and okay” beats “late and brilliant.” “Late and brilliant” isn’t even close.
The quality of your work is subjective. The deadline is not. Treat deadlines like sacred contracts, and you’ll build a great reputation for yourself.
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The best way for creative people to avoid arguing and complaining in their day job is to work on outside projects of their own. When you’re unfulfilled creatively, you sometimes develop the expectation that your job will fulfill all your creative needs, which is unrealistic.
Outside projects where you have most or all of the creative control are best. When you can run your blog, shoot your video, or paint your painting any way you want to, you’re less likely to rail against the confines of your day job.
Do you think any of these are way off base? What have you learned as a creative person in your day job? I’d love to hear about it. Thanks for reading!
First, I love your blog! So encouraging with a fresh new topic each time you post. Second, I totally agree with each point above. I am an IT professional, steered into IT By a well meaning Guidance counselor, who said english and history had no job future for me…sigh…good news is, IT is a very creative field, and I have learned to polish all of the professional skills you list above. now I have returned to thinking abour writing again, peaking over the ledge, daring to read blogs like yours , chatting with favored authors, thinking how wonderful it would be to write again! Glad to have found your blog and thank you!
Hi Jolene! Oh man, I had a guidance counselor in high school who was sure I would never be able to feed myself as an English major, too… he was definitely wrong about that. But I think it’s really cool for writers to be in other fields, because they have more knowledge to draw on!
I hope you start writing again! You obviously want to 🙂
Thank you so much for reading, and for the kind words. They made my day!
What a gift this message is to everyone who applies it. As a professional leadership and business etiquette consult, you are giving sound advice for us all. Thank you for sharing.
Your gifted in teaching writing skills is great appreciated too.
Teach on!
Oh, thank you so much, Carolyn! In your line of work, I bet you could write a much better post about this 🙂 But it’s good to hear that you think this one is on track!
Good post, but the “hit your deadlines” idea needs a little nuance. Some projects have absolutely firm deadlines, such as the book I’m working on now; if it’s going to be sold at Shakespeare’s Globe on the 23rd, it needs to go to print this week. But others are more relaxed, and some people set a deadline just for the sake of setting a deadline. I’d say the real skill is “Figure out which deadlines matter”. Assuming good communication is in place, the sky doesn’t fall when you renegotiate a less-important deadline.
Lia 🙂
Hi Lia! I think we just have different philosophies about deadlines, which is totally fine — it would be so boring if everyone who read my blog agreed with me about everything 🙂
Oh my gosh, how exciting about your book! You must be thrilled. That is a huge accomplishment. Congratulations!
Yes, and maybe we approach from different angles because I’ve never worked a corporate job. I have to determine my own priorities as a freelancer, especially as one with chronic health problems. There’s nobody above me to structure my work for me.
(And yes, much appreciated! This book is the biggest, most complex and highest-profile design job I’ve ever done. Hopefully it should help expand my network 🙂 )
Hey, link to the book if you want — I’d love to see 🙂
I’ll definitely do that! It might have to wait until I’ve had clearance to show off the internal pages, though 🙂
I would say 1 and 2 are basic life advice, applicable so far beyond creative fields or jobs in general, even. They’re just things that I learned through experience make me a little happier as I go through life. As I recall, back in the distant past, you were much less of a complainer than I was, so maybe you knew this all along.
Rachel it’s so funny, because I always think I’ve developed and matured so much… But I bet in a lot of ways, I’m just the same person as always, the good and the bad. 😀
I agree SO MUCH about #1 and #2 being good advice in general!
When my wife and I married, she was a new Adjunct Professor. Pay has never been good for teachers. She tried, but fashion was not her thing. Three children later, a fellow Professor lovingly expressed a concern about her wardrobe (she just wanted to help my wife’s professional appearance which was okay, but needed some updating), so they went shopping. By this time, I had become a Federal Prosecutor which had some really high expectations about courtroom dress codes. At the time, I was good friends with a man with a much larger family and smaller wage than mine, but he always dressed to the nines. How? He outfitted at a thrift store. When I came to court wearing a $500 Brooks Brothers suit, eyebrows raised with approving smiles. My peers never knew how thrifty this Scot could be. It cost $35.
On the matter of deadlines. They try to teach that in school, but the notion just doesn’t seem to stick to the brain cells of some folk. Coming out of high school, I was okay, but my first job was as a cub reporter for a major newspaper. Meet it, or take a hike. Years later at another newspaper, I came into the office after spending the entire afternoon gathering a story. It was 3:45 and press time was 4:30. The department head never liked me because I was male and literally yelled at me in the newsroom (there wasn’t any of this “correctness” in those days) that I couldn’t have the story ready in time. The publisher always left his door open. He came out, looked at what I had, and quietly asked her to come to his office. I went to work. She came out red-faced angry and said I better have it ready for the proof reader in ten minutes. I handed her the story, then went back to the dark room to get the pictures. She didn’t talk to me for over a week and finally moved on. That’s a job aspiring writers should begin with to learn how to handle deadlines and pressure.
Happy writing. –Sean
I love that story about the Brooks Brothers suit, Sean! 😀 Thrifting is a serious talent!
It’s funny — I was thinking after I wrote this post that some work environments really drill into you the importance of deadlines. My boss used to work at a newspaper, and I think it’s the kind of no-excuses job that makes a person more responsible.
Advertising was a high-pressure environment (with lots of yelling and cursing, haha), and while I don’t think that kind of pressure is great for people in the long term, I have to admit it made me tougher.
Thanks for commenting! I love these stories.
Great advice. Like you, I’ve had many different jobs to pay for my love of writing. Although I’m not sure my jobs were quite as ‘creative’ as yours have been! The only other advice I’d add that has helped me is to (1) be willing to learn. Even though I’ve had some creative solutions at my jobs that I’ve wanted to put in place immediately, I first kept my mouth shut and listened to the powers-that-be. They know more than they share sometimes. (2) Be cheerful. Even if the job isn’t ‘creative’ enough or quite what you want, act like you want to be there.
Pamela, that is such good advice! A lot of us have trouble learning, because we feel like we should know everything already… but when we are open to learning, we do so much better! And being cheerful… a thousand times yes.
“Creative” is a charitable way to describe my work history. 😀 Thanks for commenting!
I’ve never struggled with being a creative person in my work environment. I’ve been in the military, and now work in finance. I’ve always followed rules and conformed, which may sound stifling to some, but I find it liberating to know where I stand at all times. The only exception to that is when I’m writing. The rule books go out the window when it comes to that! I didn’t start writing until my mid-forties, but I played violin and ‘cello when I was young, and music requires a lot of discipline – at least when you’re starting. Maybe that has helped me. My physiotherapist told me that working in finance, and then going home and writing, is good for my brain, as I’m using both sides. An additional reason to be happy with my job!
I love hearing your perspective, Alison. It’s so true that sometimes guidelines can be liberating. And with writing… well, I’m always trying to learn, but I can’t follow hard and fast rules, even if I try. 🙂
I think playing a musical instrument when they’re young is a great way for people to learn discipline– you are so right!
I feel like the left side of my brain could use more working out — interesting that you brought that up! I sometimes think about studying a foreign language for that reason… I believe that uses more of the left side of the brain.
Thanks for commenting!
I wish I had read this before I took a corporate job. It didn’t end well. I did go onto to teach and write, for me it ended well, eventually. Great advice!