The Art in the War of Freelancing: Strategies for the Creative Mercenary

Why does being a creative freelancer feel like a war? Because it is one. And you’ve been fighting it like a Grunt—unpaid, overworked, and hoping “exposure” will pay the rent.

This is not another guide about “finding your passion.” This is a manual for survival.

The Art in the War of Freelancing adapts the ancient strategies of Sun Tzu for the modern creative battlefield. Written by John Crow, a five-decade “urban native” and nomad artist, this book is a collection of hard-won strategies, cynical anecdotes, and practical tactics.

Learn to identify a bad client (a “Sinking Ship”), build a fortress (your contract), and understand the difference between an “ally” and a “backstabber.”

With biting humor and wisdom from the trenches, this is your new field guide. Stop being a casualty. Start being a General.

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