Gifted Underachievers

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
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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!
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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

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

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

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

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