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Bad Artist: Creating in a Productivity-Obsessed World
The perfect antidote to the toxicity of the current productivity narrative, this collection of essays on creativity features 21 Canadian and international writers, providing warmth, support, camaraderie, and empathy.
In a world that worships productivity, creating for art’s sake is seen as romantic and nearly indefensible. For anyone who has ever struggled to honour their artistic impulses, Bad Artist offers an antidote to this toxic productivity narrative. This collection of essays features 21 Canadian and international writers from a breadth of backgrounds and experiences whose lives are not always proscribed by predictable work schedules or reliable support systems. They fit creating into the cracks of their lives, and through their stories show us all how to keep creating—not producing.
As artists, many of whom have faced systemic barriers, the collection’s contributors offer pragmatic reflections on resisting the culture of productivity, reminding us that creativity can take many forms. Taken together, the essays present a comprehensive rumination on creativity in late capitalism, providing warmth, support, comradery, and empathy. It’s The Paris Review meets the Billfold’s “Doing Money” with a generous dash of the friend who knows you’re an artist even on the days when you’re not so sure.
In a world that worships productivity, creating for art’s sake is seen as romantic and nearly indefensible. For anyone who has ever struggled to honour their artistic impulses, Bad Artist offers an antidote to this toxic productivity narrative. This collection of essays features 21 Canadian and international writers from a breadth of backgrounds and experiences whose lives are not always proscribed by predictable work schedules or reliable support systems. They fit creating into the cracks of their lives, and through their stories show us all how to keep creating—not producing.
As artists, many of whom have faced systemic barriers, the collection’s contributors offer pragmatic reflections on resisting the culture of productivity, reminding us that creativity can take many forms. Taken together, the essays present a comprehensive rumination on creativity in late capitalism, providing warmth, support, comradery, and empathy. It’s The Paris Review meets the Billfold’s “Doing Money” with a generous dash of the friend who knows you’re an artist even on the days when you’re not so sure.
- GenresNonfictionArt
256 pages, Paperback
Published October 15, 2024
16 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 6, 2025
A collection of Canadian people’s experiences pursuing creative writing. The pieces are personal and subjective. Most didn’t apply to me but others had lines that resonated. I especially liked Writing as an ADHDER!, Creating Outside the Boxes, and I Artsy.
August 26, 2025
Loved this collection of essays and think it is such an important book to read for creatives to recognize all the ways capitalism and the patriarchy limit and box in what “art” is worthy
February 23, 2025
This collection of very personal essays, sometimes distressing, sometimes triumphant, often both, struck a deep chord with me. The drive to create can be so very strong and the roadblocks diverse and formidable. Even though the circumstances and personal struggles represented vary widely, it is easy to relate to each author's situation. And to take some comfort in the fact that you're not alone in your own desire to be creative.
December 16, 2024
An excellent essay collection discussing what it's like to be a creative practitioner in today's productivity-driven world. The best I can describe it is validating, encouraging, and relatable.
If you're currently in a happy place in your creative career, if you are riding high and feeling (mostly) all-powerful (which is a great point to be at!), then you might not align with this book. If, on the other hand, you're in a bit of a slump, struggling with self-doubt, burnout and impostor syndrome, if you are questioning yourself and your creativity — you might find solace in the words of fellow artists.
Bad Artist doesn't provide solutions (No Magic Formula, as the title of one of the essays reminds us), and the advice found in some essays can come across as too simple, even generic. Instead it offers something a lot more valuable, in my opinion, and that's validation. You are sure to find your own thoughts, doubts and struggles reflected back to you in other artists' musings. And who knows, maybe you will stumble upon some insights and figure out solutions of your own... After this book reassures you that there is nothing wrong with you, and that you are not the only one going through whatever it is you're going through.
If you're currently in a happy place in your creative career, if you are riding high and feeling (mostly) all-powerful (which is a great point to be at!), then you might not align with this book. If, on the other hand, you're in a bit of a slump, struggling with self-doubt, burnout and impostor syndrome, if you are questioning yourself and your creativity — you might find solace in the words of fellow artists.
Bad Artist doesn't provide solutions (No Magic Formula, as the title of one of the essays reminds us), and the advice found in some essays can come across as too simple, even generic. Instead it offers something a lot more valuable, in my opinion, and that's validation. You are sure to find your own thoughts, doubts and struggles reflected back to you in other artists' musings. And who knows, maybe you will stumble upon some insights and figure out solutions of your own... After this book reassures you that there is nothing wrong with you, and that you are not the only one going through whatever it is you're going through.
October 29, 2024
Incredibly trite. Editor Nellwyn Lampert's was perhaps the best essay in the bunch. The rest were sadly forgettable and felt generic like every self-help essay you've ever read.
A lot of the advice boiled down to don't be hard on yourself, walk, and sometimes you won't be productive and that's okay.
A lot of the advice boiled down to don't be hard on yourself, walk, and sometimes you won't be productive and that's okay.
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April 25, 2025fave essays(stories?) were a regulating home (m.e. burns), hummingbird (gloria blizzard), i artsy (christian smith), no magic formula (kim fraser) the lemurs make me write (keriann mcgoogan). most of my favourites were the ones by scientists talking about their relationship w their creative endeavours (relatable)
November 3, 2025
A collection of personal essays on artmaking. The best are enjoyably honest and reflective, the worst are self-congratulatory and neat stories of overcoming hardship.
I really picked this up because of the great title, and wish more of the contributors really admitted to being bad. But I’m not rating on what it wasn’t. The average rating reflects the all-over-ness of the contributions.
I really picked this up because of the great title, and wish more of the contributors really admitted to being bad. But I’m not rating on what it wasn’t. The average rating reflects the all-over-ness of the contributions.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews