Creative, Not Famous:
The Small Potato Manifesto
This one goes out to the 99.9% of creative humanity who have yet to be and will likely never be rich or famous as a result of our art.
And yet, we struggle on, undeterred that most of the world, if they consider us at all, think we’re SMALL POTATOES.
“Creative, Not Famous is a book of encouragement and advocacy for small potatoes everywhere.”
–Bookish Jen, The Bookself Blog
History decrees that a lot of big bananas will eventually be downgraded to small potatoes, too.
OUR RANKS ARE SWELLING!
“What a great project, full of great insights from artists I love!”
–Jeffrey Lewis, indie-rock folk-punk
musician and comic book artist
The Wonder and the Horror of a Life in the Arts!
Triumphs and Busts!
Tours and Tabling!
Community Spirit!
Bad Behavior!
Adventures in Self Promotion!
Interviews with Dozens of Cool Creative Humans!
Conflicting Advice, All of It SOLID!
AN ACTUAL MANIFESTO Lest We Forget Why We’re Doing This in the First Place!
“Full of wisdom, practical advice, anti-capitalist ethos and joy that will inspire any artist to get cracking and stay excited about their work.”
Other ways to get your hands on this book:
Buy it from an independent bookshop
Buy it from Microcosm
Buy it from Amazon
Borrow it from a library
"Ayun Halliday’s writing had buoyed my small-potato spirit since her genius genre-bending 'NeonatalSweetPotato' first appeared in my zine P.O. Box in the ‘90s—was it puppet show script? Was it a NICU vigil? Did it matter? Her ability to transmute love and anxiety into creative inspiration felt like something akin to magic. Now she’s collected all her best hard-won knowledge and advice plus a whole bunch of other artists’ and writers’ best hard-won knowledge and advice and we all win! This book is the antidote to both imposter syndrome and the bullshit of every gatekeeper you’ve ever met. Every writer and artist—aspiring, emerging, or old and bitter—must read it." –Ariel Gore, Hip Mama & Ariel Gore’s School for Wayward Writers •
"Ayun Halliday’s writing had buoyed my small-potato spirit since her genius genre-bending 'NeonatalSweetPotato' first appeared in my zine P.O. Box in the ‘90s—was it puppet show script? Was it a NICU vigil? Did it matter? Her ability to transmute love and anxiety into creative inspiration felt like something akin to magic. Now she’s collected all her best hard-won knowledge and advice plus a whole bunch of other artists’ and writers’ best hard-won knowledge and advice and we all win! This book is the antidote to both imposter syndrome and the bullshit of every gatekeeper you’ve ever met. Every writer and artist—aspiring, emerging, or old and bitter—must read it." –Ariel Gore, Hip Mama & Ariel Gore’s School for Wayward Writers •
Contributors
… and Four Mystery Spuds Whose Identity Will Leave You Guessing!
