Gifted Underachievers

James writes books. Lots of books. Pat wants to know how he does this—what is his process for organizing, managing, and executing a big creative project like a book? She puts on her listening ears as James walks listeners through the crucial decisions and principles required for organizing a big creative project, such as:
* knowing your goals
* for the audience who will experience your art
* and for the art’s passage into the world
* knowing your unique thematic element—the north star that tells you what is relevant to your project, what to include and what you can leave out
* knowing how you’re going to open the book (or the performance, the film, the standup show), and from there, understanding the work’s structure and component parts, and the mission of each part for your audience
* on the process level, knowing how you will quickly re-immerse yourself when you go back into the project after a few hours away
* and many more nuggets of wisdom to take away
This segment is pure gold for anyone who’s managing one or more big creative projects in the course of their work, whether that project takes a month, a quarter, or a year.
Questions for Listeners:
* Do you have a repeatable process for managing big creative projects?
* Or are you winging it with each one?
* What are some of your techniques for getting from “great idea” to “finished and released into the world!”
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!
For Further Exploration:
Pat Dobie’s 7 Project Management Principles for Writing a Book
https://awritersroadmap.com/7-project-management-principles-for-writing-a-book/
CoMuse: Top 5 Ways to Manage Creative Projects
How to Manage Multiple Creative Projects (Tips + Tools)
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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

Money, clients, our personal goals can add up to constantly feeling the need to rush in a very anxious way. And yet, we know that high-quality, thoughtful creative work simply cannot be rushed. Yes, there are exceptions and rushing is not the same thing as efficiency. In fact, they are opposites.
So, how do we push back on that anxious sensation that creates an imperative to rush?
Pat and James have you covered…mostly.
Questions for Listeners:
* What happens when you rush your work?
* Yep, we thought so.
* How do you deal with this particular creative anxiety?
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!
For Further Exploration:
How hurry kills creativity and what to do about it: https://www.creativitywakeup.com/blog/eliminate-hurry
Inside The Chaotic Studios of Jean-Michel Basquiat
Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.

If you aren’t already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Want to Show Your Support for the Gifted Underachievers?
Visit the Gifted Underachiever Merch Shop
We have T-shirts, notebooks, hats, fridge magnets, mugs, and more. (Note: We’re working on getting free or low shipping in all countries!)


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

Branding and marketing are in the same room, but they’re not the same thing. Branding involves capturing the essence of who you are in a few pithy words—the right words in the right order. Or maybe it involves how the people who work with you feel about the way you work, the things you create, or the services you provide.
We feel pretty secure about the Gifted Underachiever brand, but if you weren’t aware, we also underachieve in other areas. (That’s a joke, folks!)
Listen in as we realize that our respective creative businesses could use much better branding.
And when you’re done listening, please, let us know what your brand is all about. How do you articulate it in (say) 25 words or less?
Questions for Listeners:
* What’s your brand?
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!
For Further Exploration:
What is Branding? 4-Minute Crash Course (short on details, long on perspective)
Bro lays out The Creative’s Guide to Personal Branding
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.

Want to Show Your Support for the Gifted Underachievers?
Visit the Gifted Underachiever Merch Shop
We have T-shirts, notebooks, hats, fridge magnets, mugs, and more. (Note: We’re working on getting free or low shipping in all countries!)


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

The MacDowell Colony is perhaps one of the most revered and elite artist residency programs in North America, and it also ranks highly around the world. In an attempt to democratize their admissions application process, they have temporarily suspended the formerly required references.
Good start.
Ack!
But then they require applicants list seven professional achievements. The last two require listing education or training and the number of non-MacDowell residencies they have attended.
Argh!
Is MacDowell committing the sin of hypocritical virtue signaling by removing the references requirement to improve equity, then asking for a list of accomplishments that demonstrate an audience, awards, grants, publications, performances, and so on?
Hmmmm…we here in the GU Clubhouse don’t think we’re objective enough to judge this. You tell us.
Questions for Listeners:
* What do you think?
* Hypocritical virtue signalling?
* Anti-democratic?
* Or reasonable and appropriate?
Treat us to a Coffee? You could 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!
For Further Exploration:
Art Just Became Even More Elitist
The NEA Creative Writing Fellowship program got killed. It was a disappointment for me—and points to a dark future for the arts.
Mona Lisa’s Face Redacted in Latest Trove of Epstein Files
The decision to cover the world’s most famous portrait feels particularly misguided as the DOJ faces accusations of releasing sensitive victim information.
Artist Residencies 101

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. Always free, 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

During a meaningful discussion on guilt and creativity that rose to a high moral and intellectual plain, things fell apart rather quickly and devolved into some fun silliness.
Questions for Listeners:
* Do you ever just find yourself needing to get silly with a friend?
* Give that person a call or send a text to let them know.
Treat your Gifted Underachievers to 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!
For Further Exploration:
Now for Some High-Grade Silliness: The Fish Slapping Dance
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. Always free, 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