I’ve made over 500k as a novelist. These are the mistakes I see new creators make.

Summary

In this video, Lydia Fox Glove shares valuable insights from her journey as a full-time fantasy author and part-time YouTuber. She highlights common mistakes creatives make in business, including the importance of research, managing burnout, setting realistic goals, and focusing on effective marketing strategies. Lydia also discusses the challenges of taking on ambitious projects, balancing social media efforts, and avoiding unnecessary expenses. With a candid reflection on her own experiences, she offers practical advice to help others navigate the creative career path with more focus, efficiency, and sustainability.

Takeaways

• 😀 Doing thorough research into basic and intermediate best practices is crucial for success. Understand what works and why before jumping in.
• 😀 Prepare for burnout by allowing flexibility in your schedule. Life’s unexpected events, like illness or personal loss, can disrupt your creative work.
• 😀 Avoid taking on overly ambitious projects that exceed your ability to deliver. Break down large projects into smaller, more manageable pieces.
• 😀 Focus on mastering one marketing platform at a time. Trying to be on every social media platform all at once is counterproductive.
• 😀 Work smarter, not harder, especially with your social media presence. Understand your goals and tailor your content to fit them, avoiding time-consuming activities you don’t enjoy.
• 😀 Be cautious about spending too much time on marketing efforts with low returns, such as merch, unless it directly aligns with your goals.
• 😀 Set aside income for rough patches. Success is unpredictable, and having savings can help you navigate slow periods in your creative career.
• 😀 Stay focused on a niche or specific type of content to build a dedicated audience. Avoid diluting your work by spreading yourself too thin across multiple areas.
• 😀 Learning from others and utilizing tools like BetterHelp for mental health support can help you overcome challenges and keep you mentally strong during tough times.
• 😀 Don’t forget to continually reevaluate your goals and strategies. Regularly check if the efforts you're putting in are helping you move toward success, or if they need adjustment.

Q & A

What is Lydia Fox Glove's main advice for creative entrepreneurs?

Lydia's main advice is to avoid common mistakes that can lead to failure in creative business. These include not doing enough research, not preparing for burnout, taking on overly ambitious projects, and not staying focused on one key area of work.

Why is research important for a creative business?

Research is crucial because it helps you understand best practices and what works in your specific market. Lydia emphasizes researching things like the book market on Amazon and YouTube success strategies to avoid wasting time on ineffective efforts.

What is Lydia's experience with burnout in her creative career?

Lydia talks about experiencing emotional and physical burnout, especially when things were starting to take off. She shares how a personal loss and overwhelming circumstances caused her to hit a wall and struggle with maintaining her work, leading to a scaled-back career.

What is the risk of taking on overly ambitious creative projects?

Lydia highlights her own failure with a nine-book series, where taking on too much at once without considering the possibility of failure led to a difficult financial situation. The lesson is to break projects into manageable parts to avoid putting everything at risk.

What advice does Lydia give regarding managing social media for creative businesses?

Lydia advises against spreading yourself too thin by trying to master every social media platform at once. She recommends focusing on one platform, becoming proficient at it, and then expanding to others once you feel comfortable.

How does Lydia suggest balancing hard work with smarter work in marketing?

Lydia cautions against working harder by doing time-intensive tasks like creating TikTok dances if they don't align with your goals. Instead, she emphasizes working smarter by aligning your social media efforts with the specific goals you have for your creative business.

What are the potential downsides of investing in merchandise for your creative business?

Lydia warns that investing in merchandise like bookmarks or custom products can be time-consuming and may not yield significant returns. If you enjoy making merchandise, it's fine, but don't feel pressured to make it an essential part of your marketing strategy unless it genuinely benefits your business.

Why is it important to save money during a big success in a creative career?

Lydia stresses the importance of saving money after a big success because creative careers can be unpredictable. Saving ensures that you can weather financial downturns or unexpected challenges without panicking when income decreases.

How does Lydia view staying focused in a creative career?

Lydia admits to struggling with staying focused due to juggling multiple types of content. She suggests focusing on one primary creative area to avoid confusion and burnout, and only expanding once you've mastered the initial focus.

What does Lydia mean by saying you should not 'be everywhere all at once' in marketing?

Lydia means that trying to master every social media platform simultaneously is a mistake. It's better to start small, focus on one platform, and grow from there. This strategy helps avoid overwhelm and allows you to build a strong, sustainable presence on your chosen platform.