In this episode of Drip Trickle Flow Flood, we go into the myth of the starving artist and how creatives can shift from scarcity thinking to sustainable income. Whether you're a writer, screenwriter, poet, or daydreamer with a notebook full of ideas—this one's for you.

Melissa shares how she built a business around writing, from screenplays to romance novels, while Tony gets honest about navigating the freelance writing world, building confidence late in life, and finding joy.

You'll hear:

• Why the "starving artist" narrative needs to die
• How to treat your creativity like a business
• The difference between a hobby and a side hustle (and why both are valid!)
• Ways to diversify artistic income without "selling out"
• Why promoting your work doesn’t make you less of an artist
• The power of choosing your clients, rates, and creative priorities

🎧 If you're interested in how money flows into your life as a creative—and how to turn your art into income streams (without selling your soul)—give us a listen on any podcast platform.

Creativity and business are not mutually exclusive. You can write poems and get paid. You can self-publish and show up like a CEO. The flow begins when you stop thinking like a starving artist and start thinking like a business owner.

• Tony’s book A Wandering Mind
• Melissa’s Lockwood Universe book series
• Episode 2 on the 7 types of income streams
• Tony’s Website
• Melissa’s website
• Melissa on Instagram
• Tony in Instagram

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