Creative people who are living in one day at a time recovery know what it’s like to create for free. Often we are selling songs for a penny. What many of us have learned is we create for the simple need of creative expression. Most of us won’t make a living from what we create. Some of us are foolish enough to hope that we might help someone. And if we do, it’s a bonus. We know some people will be able to make a living from their crafts, and those who do usually have to work very hard to do so. This is reality. Some of us might receive grants and other forms of sponsorship to help with creative endeavors, but such support is hard to find. Even then we are often selling a song for a penny. When we come to these realities we know we create for the sheer joy of creation. Often we have jobs and other forms of income which enable us to have some time for creativity. Another reality is often we have to pay simply to create and to duplicate our work. It’s a commitment. When we can sell a song for a penny, and if we are at even board, we are doing well. Being an artist is difficult and it can be time consuming. Most of us struggle. Poets, writers, musicians, painters and sculptors know this. Most of us sell our songs for a penny. Peace.
