So my birthday passed a few weeks ago. I am now 41. What exactly have I accomplished...?
What?!?!?! Why would you say that?! How can you say that?!?!?!
Easily. How many of you have actually contributed to my literary "success"?
Go ahead....I'll wait. I've got time.....
**crickets chirping**
My lack of support has really got me questioning this path that I'm on. I DON'T want to go back to being a wage slave, working day in and day out as some job that won't fulfill me, just to make a check. That's the whole reason I started on this journey. I first started out trying to be a screenwriter, and wanting to break into films. I could never find any people that were willing to work with me on any of my script projects (of which I have MANY). I wasn't trying to work FOR the industry, I just wanted to work IN it. If I have to explain the difference to you, then you're NOT the right person to read this post. I've wasted most of my twenties, into my mid thirties being on that journey. That's what really steered me towards being an author. It was more of a solitary project, and I didn't need to deal with anyone else's bullshit ego/issues.
My books cover diverse subject matters; two nonfiction political books, one nonfiction comedic memoir, two novels (one erotic, one action/adventure), and an eBook of poetry. You would think that I would be able to generate SOME sort of cash flow from all those different titles, right...?
Wrong!!
But, if I complain about it, I get some bullshit artist talking about, "You need to learn how to better market you books!".
Motherfucka....you've SEEN the damn link posts to my shit, and all you've ever done was pressed the damn "like" or "favorite" button!! Fuck you mean, I need to learn how to better market my book?!?! Stop pressing the fucking "like" button, and BUY the damn thing!!!
I've seen people make a lot of complaints on social media about what we don't have. I know PLENTY of creative artists/content producers who are making these products that the mass claim don't exist; comic books with Black/Brown lead characters, children's books for children of color, independent films, etc. People just need to do ONE simple thing...
STFU AND SUPPORT!!!!!
I've always wanted to make a living using my creative skills for the benefit of my community. At the same time, I'm not going to continue down this path if I'm not going to be supported. It's a waste of time on several fronts. Why put forth all of this energy to create these products, produce them, and promote them...if nobody is going to support you? This isn't a hobby for most of us; it's a part of who we are, what we do. Many of us put a lot of time and effort into what we produce. If we're working hard to make our products/projects available to you, the least that you in the community can do is support us, and help to spread the word.
I have several projects planned for publishing next year. Now, I'm wondering if I should even bother. I haven't been supported very much the past year+, so now I'm wondering if it's even worth it to continue? Especially with these rhetoric spewing zealots, talking all this crap about supporting Black businesses and entrepreneurs, I haven't seen much of THEIR support either.
Are we really about, what we say we're about..?
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