Gifted Underachievers

Gifted Underachievers
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A podcast for midlevel creatives with delusional ambitions giftedunderachievers.substack.com

  1. 3d ago

    Platform Building: Clickbait vs Meaning

    In an attention-based economy, how do creatives honorably and effectively build an audience, platform, and artistic presence without resorting to sensationalism or grandstanding? Too many believe that the only path is making outlandish claims (you will get a gallery show if you do this…), market conflict (you will never get a gallery show if you…), or some other form of clickbait. The world is saturated with this strategic approach to winning people’s attention. Obviously, it works. But is it necessary? Can we build a presence and audience and platform by focusing with intensity on content and creative work that offers meaning? Betsy Lerner offers a great example. She gained a large audience by reading her cringey teenage diary entries on Tik Tok. Fun. Curious. Unique. And creative. Questions for Listeners * Have you leaned toward clickbait? (“I have in the past,” James admits.) * Did it work? (“Nope,” James says.) For Further Exploration Betsy Lerner: A new start after 60: I read out my old diaries online – and my youthful secrets went viral Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. No cost, no spam, unsubscribe anytime. Buy us a Coffee and Win a Book Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

  2. 3d ago

    Navigating Low-Inspiration Cycles

    Gifted Underachiever James Buchanan has just come through an extended period of overwork and is also dealing with a major life event, the death of a parent. Over the past few months, he’s reached a point of low inspiration on his own creative projects. He’s not only finding it hard to do the work, but also realizing that when he does start working on it, his brain’s in overdrive on life stuff. We’ve all been there. In this segment, we discuss what to do: Keep pushing through, or put everything down and take a break? Questions for Listeners * Have you ever had a period of low inspiration on your creative work? * What’s your strategy to bounce back? For Further Exploration Are you in a period of “woodshedding”? Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. No cost, no spam, unsubscribe anytime. Buy us a Coffee and Win a Book Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

  3. 3d ago

    Online Ads for Creatives

    Did you know that you can advertise your creative work online? You alone, by yourself, without spending big bucks or lots of time? In this short segment, full-time writer James Buchanan shares three fundamentals for placing successful online ads. Questions for Listeners * Do you have any further tips about advertising online? * If you’ve never done it, what have the barriers been? (didn’t know about it, didn’t know how, heard it was difficult, etc.) For Further Exploration Crash Course Media Literacy: Online Ads Pinterest Tools for Creators: https://create.pinterest.com/en-ca/product-features/ How to do online ads: https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/online-advertising Buy us a Coffee and Win a Book Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide! Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. No cost, no spam, unsubscribe anytime. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

  4. Oct 1

    The How & Why of Contracts for Creatives

    If you engage in creative-adjacent work or perform, submit, or sell creative services or pieces of any kind, you likely need a contract. As Pat says, contracts remove confusion, manage expectations, and help prevent scope creep. They are necessary, but what should you write into yours? How flexible should a contract be? How can you use a contract to close a deal? What should you look for—the howlers—in another person’s contract? How does a contract lay out your responsibilities and the client’s expectations? And much, much more. *Important note: neither Pat nor James is a lawyer. THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE. NONE OF WHAT JAMES OR PAT SAY IS LEGALLY BINDING. But they are more than willing to share what they do and why. Questions for Listeners: * What do you consider the must-have clauses in your contracts? For Further Exploration: If you’re in the USA: 23 of the Best Contracts for Creatives https://onestoplegal.co/contracts-for-creatives/?srsltid=AU7gw4Xd4ZEv9DYl8CsAXY_DTpbdemRiJXePpW8Z-t7IyHldj_PZPmx1 Buy us a Coffee and Win a Book Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide! Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU clubhouse. No spam, unsubscribe anytime. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

  5. Oct 1

    Flow Hygiene: A Debrief

    In a recent segment, Prepping for Crunch Time, we discussed ways to prepare for a period of intensive work, whether you’re an understudy called up to play the lead, a visual artist with an impending gallery show, or a writer on a deadline. Now we have a case study on Pat’s most recent “crunch time,” a 72-hour writing competition that brings contestants to their knees every year. Despite thorough and logical preparations at the logistics end, Pat found herself scrambling ineptly and producing sub-standard work. We discuss the lessons learned. The ultimate insight? If you need to be in a flow state to get your work done, you’d best do some “flow hygiene” as crunch time approaches. Questions for Listeners: * Do you have a “crunch time” coming up? * What do you do to get into flow? For Further Exploration: Creative Hygiene: How to enter the flow state in 2 minutes: How to enter a flow state in 11 minutes: Creative Flow: Buy us a Coffee and Win a Book Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide! Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. No spam, unsubscribe any time. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

  6. Oct 1

    Case Study: Marketing an Online Course

    As part of her pension project, Pat has been teaching courses online at the Editorial Arts Academy [https://editorialartsacademy.com/2020/12/22/tour-of-developmental-editing-for-fiction/] for quite a while. In one course, she demystifies the art of developmental editing by working with students on the basics and not so basics of this type of editorial service. Great stuff! And she has filled up the next cohort for this class. This segment explores Pat’s marketing efforts and what she believes worked best. Questions for Listeners: * Do you create and deliver online courses? * If yes, what marketing channels do you use? For Further Exploration: Buy us a Coffee and Win a Book Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide! Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. No spam, unsubscribe anytime. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

  7. Sep 24

    Opportunities & Compromise: Two Perspectives

    James floats out a scenario for consideration: * You’re a midlevel creative * You get your “big break”--an opportunity that could transform your career * They want compromises you’re not comfortable making What do you do? Pat figures creatives can cross that bridge when they get to it and base their actions on the specifics of the situation: what the compromise is, who’s asking for it, and what’s at stake. Questions for Listeners * Do you think this scenario can be usefully analyzed? * If yes, what’s your red zone when opportunity knocks? For Further Exploration 17 Stars Who Were Broke When They Got Their Big Breaks Buy us a Coffee and Win a Guide to World Domination! Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide! If you aren’t already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! No spam, unsubscribe any time. Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

  8. Sep 24

    Case Study: Prepping for Crunch Time

    Pat is an expert all-nighter puller. In fact, James says that when it comes to understanding how to prepare for an intensive period of work, there’s none better than Pat. That’s why he asked for her tips on how she gets ready for the international three-day writing contest as well as other demanding periods of work. Question for Listeners: * How do you re-find your creative thread? For Further Exploration Buy us a Coffee and Win a Guide to World Domination! Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide! If you aren’t already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! No spam, unsubscribe any time. Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

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About

A podcast for midlevel creatives with delusional ambitions giftedunderachievers.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Gifted Underachievers
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    313
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Gifted Underachievers
  • Show Website
    Gifted Underachievers