I think the joy of creating is often less when people try to monetize it. I can tell the difference in how it makes me feel. I’ve published four books and made some money on all of them. One in particular has garnered me close to $10,000 which is nothing to brag about but isn’t exactly pocket change either.

However, and I don’t know if you’ll understand this, my experiences in the arts haven’t always been pleasant. I think artists live in a world of scarcity. Monetizing introduces a level of competition between artists for the crumbs that fall from the table. That can be devastating. You know the old saying, don’t give up your day job? Well, most artists whether they paint, make music, write, sing, act, you name it, rarely make enough money to support themselves. In other words, they can’t give up their day jobs. Also, in order to make money, they have to create art that sells, often at the expense of their most meaningful work.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t disapprove of someone making a living from their art if they can manage to do it. Like I said, I’ve made some money myself, but since I don’t have to make money any longer, I prefer to do it for the pure joy.

I’ve dabbled in all kinds of art. I’ve written one act plays that were performed by my students at competitions, two full length plays that were financed by local theater groups and brought in a considerable amount of money, and four published books. I also play the piano. And believe it or not, I’ve performed in many theatrical productions. No matter what I’m doing, the pure joy is always the best when I’m not competing for those monetary crumbs from the table.

You asked whether people needed monetary incentives in order to produce work that’s important to them. I responded by sharing that even though I’ve chosen not to get paid, I write a daily story for Medium. I also compose music, plant and care for large gardens, write incessantly, paint, and decorate my house with my work. Money is not the motivating factor. I suspect that creative people are driven by a passion that feeds their spirit. I’ve often wondered what people do who have no creative outlets. Maybe they watch football?

What’s even more shocking to me is that I have managed to write this entire epistle on my iPhone. LOL