No More Starving Artists: Why Indie Game Devs Deserve to Be Paid

We’ve all heard the phrase “starving artist,” and we're all a little sick of it.

But for narrative designers and indie devs, that myth is more damaging than we realize. It whispers:

• “You’re not good enough to charge.”


• “Other people are more talented.”


• “Just make it free — you’ll get more players.”

And because of it, too many of us undervalue ourselves.

We give discounts we don’t need to give.


We price our games too low.


We even consider releasing for free “just to get it out there.”

Here’s the truth: if you put your time, your life, and your story into your work — you deserve to be compensated for it.

The Fear of Charging

Every creative person has wrestled with this question:

“Am I really worth charging for?”

But let’s flip the script.

Would you go to your day job, put in 40 hours, and then say:


“You know what, boss? I don’t want a paycheck this week.”

Of course not.

So why do we do that to ourselves when it comes to our own games, our own writing, our own designs?

The Myth of Free

Whenever pricing comes up, someone says:

“But what about Linux? Blender? Godot? Those are free!”

Sure. You can download them for $0. But “free” is never really free.

• Linux is bankrolled by billion-dollar corporations that rely on it.


• Blender and Godot survive on donations from massive companies and huge communities.


• Even hobby projects cost the creator time, energy, and money.

And when something beyond that truly looks “free,” you’re often paying in another way — usually with your data.

So let’s stop pretending “free” is a neutral default, or good for creators like you and me.

Games Aren’t Really Free Either

The same argument shows up in games.

Players point to hit titles like Fortnite or Genshin Impact and say:


“See? Free!”

But those “free” games earn far more than most paid games — because "free" is just another pricing model.

Instead of charging once upfront, they spread the cost across months or years. Some players end up spending thousands.

So if a billion-dollar studio has the right to decide how their work is valued, why don’t you?

Why Your Story Has Value

Your story matters — and so does the way you tell it.

• 
  Your perspective is unique. Nobody else has lived your life.


• 
  Your skill took years. Every line of dialogue or branching choice represents thousands of hours of personal learning.


• 
  Your work is energy. Even if it looks effortless, it cost you thought, time, and creativity.

If you’re putting your humanity into your work, it has value. Full stop.

How to Start Thinking About Pricing

There’s no magic formula, but here are three questions worth asking:

• What would it cost me to rebuild this from scratch?


• If I didn’t do this, how much would it cost someone else to hire the skill I’m providing?


• What’s the long-term value of this work to the person using it?

Even if you’re just starting out, framing your worth this way helps you stop thinking in “hours worked” and start thinking in outcomes delivered.

The Starving Artist Myth Is Dying

Today, there are more ways than ever to make a living from creativity:

• Patreon, Ko-fi, Buy Me a Coffee


• Itch.io and Steam direct sales


• Crowdfunding via Kickstarter


• Community support through Discord, YouTube, or Substack

Creators are proving every day that even niche, highly specific projects can support them — if they value their own work.

But you’ll never get there if you keep treating your skill as worthless.

Be Brave Enough to Charge

At the end of the day, charging isn’t greedy. It isn’t selfish.

It’s brave.

It’s brave to look at your work and say: “This has value.”


It’s brave to reject the voices telling you to give it all away.


It’s brave to honor your time, your life, your story.

So when it’s time to launch your game, release your narrative, or offer your design services — don’t be afraid to put a price on it.

Closing Thoughts

Your work matters. Your story matters.

And if they matter, they deserve to be valued.

So let me leave you with a question:

Have you ever struggled with charging what your work is worth? How do you approach pricing as a narrative designer or indie dev?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!