Building a Creative Engine (That Actually Lets You Create)

Behind the scenes of building a business that supports creativity, not burnout.

Lately, I’ve been pondering about what it really takes to build a creative business that supports you, rather than drains you. This year has been a big reminder that creativity needs space to breathe, and that space doesn’t just appear, we have to design it.

This last two weeks, I’ve been diving deep into what I call my engine hub, quite simply the systems that keep my creative world turning. For a while, it has felt like I was spending more time on invoices, funding applications, social media photos and promo posts than actually drawing and painting. So I decided to build something that would support me instead of drain me. I’ve been investing my time into creating automations and workflows, emails and structure, so that when I sit down to make art, I can actually make art. It’s been a huge mind shift, turning admin into flow, and marketing into something that feels more like creative self-care.

It’s got me thinking…what would it look like if your business supported your creativity instead of stealing from it?

I’ll be honest, it’s not glamorous! There are spreadsheets (eek, numbers!), automations with lots of tech jargon floating about and a fair bit of trial and error, but it’s also deeply freeing. I’ve been setting up little systems that take care of the repetitive stuff, so future me can spend more time writing, painting and dreaming up new ideas.

For years I resisted this side of things because it felt too corporate, costly or complicated. But now I see it as an act of creative self-care. The more I simplify and automate, the more energy I have for the work that truly lights me up.

One project that’s been fuelling my creative spark, and pushed me forward with my creative business engine hub, is my Chronic & Iconic card range. It’s inspired by my love of fantasy, gaming, and all things magical, and it’s now live on Thortful! Every card sold helps me unlock more design slots so I can expand the collection and bring even more of these ideas to life.

I’ve also shared a little behind-the-scenes look at how the cards came to be over on my blog, so if you love seeing the creative process unfold, go check out the series.

I’d love to know, how do you balance creative flow with the practical side of running your business? Do you have any systems or rituals that help you stay organised without losing your spark?

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