Always More, and Less is Best

As artists, we sometimes wrestle with the question of volume: how many CD’s to press, how many books to print, etc.

I’d like to share a couple of encouragements on the difference between artistic output and publishing volume.

The best way to think of it is to always aim for more creativity and output, but be very restrained and measured in your publishing volume.

Re output: this is where the battle lies for most artists. We struggle with overcoming our fear of rejection and the invisible barriers that often seem to cause resistance in our work.

The concept of resistance and assistance is powerfully addressed by such thought leaders as Steven Pressfield (The War of Art, Do The Work) and his blog here, and Julia Cameron (The Artist’s Way), and her blog here.

Activity begets activity. Creativity begets creativity. Ultimately, your goal as an artist is to produce a body of work that best represents who you are as a person and reflects your artistic vision. Once you get started, keep at it! You’ll find it easier to sustain momentum. So, for creative output, it’s “Always More.”

For publishing, remember that “Less is Best.” It is very tempting to want to press 1,000 cd’s, screen 500 t-shirts, print 2,000 books.

Don’t.

Then how do you know how many to print/publish? Always do the minimum. Here’s how you figure out the minimum: count how many people you know who will buy the product. That’s your minimum.

Please do not be discouraged if that’s a low number. Publishing minimum amounts of anything is more cost-effective than ever. Start with 25 books, cd’s, t-shirts, etc. If you don’t sell all of  these immediately, no problem. You haven’t cash-strapped yourself. If you sell out, great! You can easily print/press/publish more, because now you know the ropes and you understand how to quickly get more of what you want. So, for publishing your work, “Less is Best.”

In every circumstance, keep at it. Our creator God is a living God. He will breathe life into your art and heart.


Here are a couple questions you can use for self-coaching. Share your thoughts in the comments section or contact me directly.

  • How are you overcoming resistance in your art?
  • How can you best maintain your artistic output?

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