Hey friends,

In January of this year, I started working on a big story about money, creativity, and how to reconcile these two things. This is the greatest challenge for any creator to navigate, and I wanted to write the most nuanced post anyone could find on this topic.

Well, after 4 months of thinking, writing, and drawing, I now have the post I’d give to anyone embarking on a creative career. It’s what I’d give to my daughter if she ever wanted to be a creator, and the piece I wish I read when I started my own journey.

Now, I present it here for your own endeavor as well. Regardless of which stage you’re at in your creative journey, I’m quite certain you’ll find something that resonates.

When you’re ready, let’s dive into this huge topic together:

​The Arc of the Practical Creator​

*Note: If you’d prefer to read this post offline, I’ve created a nicely formatted PDF for you. You can buy it here.

Another Thing I Made

​The Arc of the Practical Creator is a 6,500-word, 35-illustration post that took me months to make. So the question here is: Why? Why did I spend so much time thinking through this topic of money, creativity, and practicality?

I touch upon this question in a video reflection I just published as well. Read the post first, and then afterward, feel free to check out this video as an addendum to it:

An Illustrated Insight

Of all the illustrations I created for the post, this is probably my favorite one:

It’ll make more sense when you read it, but this illustration is a reminder that even when you’re facing silence as a creator, you can reframe that silence into something empowering. That by internalizing the normalcy of silence, you can develop the patience required to navigate this difficult section of the arc.

A Thought I’ve Been Pondering

I’ve published a number of long-form pieces on More To That, but I’m particularly excited for today's post. I thought about why, and it all comes down to my belief that creativity is an inherent part of who we all are.

The problem, however, is that the question of practicality continues to mask this greater truth. The necessity of money, the desire for prestigious career paths, and all the other threads weaving through the tapestry of society prevent us from accessing this core part of our being.

But the solution is not to disregard those threads and rip them apart. Rebellion for its own sake doesn’t yield progress; it only leads to chaos. It’s to learn how to accept the reality of the threads that hold society together, but to carefully weave our own unique perspective into it as well. To bend some of the existing threads in a way that serves us, instead of allowing a pre-existing structure to smother that creative spirit.

​Today’s big post is all about managing this careful balance, which is why I’m so excited to share it with you here in its entirety.

A Brief Parting Question

After reading the big post, I’d love to hear your responses to this question:

Which stage do you currently occupy on the Arc of the Practical Creator, and what’s the greatest challenge you face as a result?

I’ll be collecting the responses and reviewing them over the week. Hearing how you map your experience onto the arc will give me a much better idea of who you are, and the struggles you’re looking to overcome.

As always, hit reply to share any thoughts, to respond to the parting question, or to simply say hello. I love hearing from you.

Thanks for reading, and feel free to share this email with anyone who might enjoy it. Have a great rest of your week!

-Lawrence

P.S. I recently recorded an hour-long patron-only AMA answering questions on information curation, romantic relationships, education reform, long-term goal planning, rest, and more. Join the patron community to get access to it.