I have to admit, constantly seeing so many people get scammed by artists, or artists struggling to get through huge queue’s while trying to refund old orders is EXACTLY why I’m taking a big break right now. I took a look at the way I’ve been handling my business & realized that-

I was slowly taking longer & longer to get work done & respond to customers. I didn’t like that I wasn’t being as productive/professional as I was a few yrs ago. It took a while to realize how much all the negative things going on in my life were taking such a huge toll on my-

Ability to run my business in a timely & effective way. But still, I pushed through nearly non stop work since before BronyCon & waited till my queue was empty before I decided to take a break. It sucked working through intense burnout. But now I know when I get back to my-

Work, I’ll be ready to go & doing better than I have in a long time. I’d like to think that artists never take orders with the intention of scamming someone or taking yrs to complete products.I can absolutely tell you that it is SO easy to become overwhelmed & not disciplined-

Enough as a freelance artist though,& it’s super hard to get out of that hole once you’ve dug it. To artists that may stumble on this thread, I am pleading that you take a step back from your business & make sure you’re taking care of yourself & not overworking. Give yourself-

Days off, be open with customers, set strict work hrs for yourself, & PLEASE do not spend money before the work is done. I am not perfect, I’ve broken all these rules time & again, but trust me, it will be so much better for everyone involved in the transaction if you take your-

Business seriously & be responsible. I know it’s hard when there are bills to pay,I know artists aren’t giant companies, but hold yourself accountable. Only take in the orders that you can handle!