In the words of educator and writer Walidah Imarisha, writing or creating every day “works for some, but if it doesn’t, especially because you’re struggling to survive, it doesn’t mean you aren’t a writer” or artist. You are the only one who can set the best, and most feasible, rhythm and schedule for yourself.

Try: If fitting in large chunks of time for your art feels unattainable right now, set aside a few minutes on a regular basis to explore.

Or, if you’re ready and able to carve out more time aggressively but find yourself pulled in opposite directions by various priorities and responsibilities, set aside realistic chunks of time in your calendar to create.

Become your own best supporter.

Try: Create your own repository of kind words.

Creative block will manifest for every artist, but it is different for every artist.

In the words of author Pam Stucky. Wendy Perron (Fellow in Choreography '85) recommends doing the thing "even if at that (blocked) point, it feels really stupid and pointless. At least then you’ll have something to look at or fix or edit."

You don’t have to do it alone.

Try: Reach out. Your local arts council or arts organization likely has the exact resources you need.

It can be a challenge to find the perfect outlets for your work once you’re ready to share it with the world.

Try: Create a list of 10 favorite artists in your discipline with whom you feel an affinity in style or subject matter.

Don't let the “no's” you receive define you.

Lean into the “no’s” you receive because that means you’re putting your work out there.

Being an artist can be a financial challeng.

Try: Artists and creatives in all fields are often at a loss on how to price their work or services.

Another principle to live by: when you're creating a project budget, remember to pay yourself for your time.

Here's a staggering statistic from the National Endowment for the Arts: “American artists are highly entrepreneurial; they are 3.5 times more likely than the U.S. workforce to be self-employed.”

This means that artists and creatives can find themselves without the protections of a standard workplace, shouldering more risk and liability.

Try: There are a range of contract templates online or you may want to ask peers to share their template with you.

Your work and your well-being are precious resources; luckily, protecting yourself is well within your power.

Every small step you take adds up to readiness in the face of disaster, as well as readiness for exciting opportunities in your arts career.

Artists are all too familiar with imposter syndrome, as people who make their own rules and create something out of nothing.

‘Your work is worthy, your work is worthy, your work is worthy.’ I try to take it very seriously. So that even if I suck that day, I still try.”