As a writer, I've grown comfortable relying in the basic materials: pen, pad, and Microsoft Word. Now, with Twitter, the ever-growing blogosphere and other social networking sites, the Web has become not only a place where artists can showcase their work, but actually connect with established supporters, potential fans, and other artists. It used to be a pain scouring through websites of literary journals to whom I could submit my work with hopes that a poem would be placed and my name would appear on the coveted pages of Google. Now, all it takes is a couple clicks of a mouse, taps of the keyboard and minimal knowledge of keywords and you can spread yourself across the world.
Instead of mulling over where and how I could be seen/read, the question has become "What can I put out there to make myself stand out as an upcoming writer and be taken seriously in the literary world respectively?"
Whether it's coming up with interesting blog topics or trying to figure out how much information I should actually share on Twitter, the Web 2.0 revolution has almost created as much stress as it has good. Now I'm faced with the matter of maintaining my image as a talented writer, and allowing the world to see that, even as a poet, I'm not always deep and analytical as people would assume (when reading my work). It's a blessing and a curse. I'm able to reach the masses with little/no funds, yet taking advantage of the web robs people of the mystique that people have about artists whose personalities have generally been left to decode between pages, on canvas and other nonverbal mediums.
Either way it goes, I'm happy that I'm an artist in an age where my words can be stretched around the globe with a few clicks. The challenge is now figuring out how to make the most of these socializing opportunities.
Showing posts with label publishing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label publishing. Show all posts
Ain: The Pimp.
Out of nowhere, she goes “I don’t pimp my poetry.” First, I try to see if anyone else shares my reaction. I scan around the table and try to figure out what the other three people at my Soul Café poetry Meetup are thinking.
She continues, “You’ll never see me passing out cards with my stage name on it, or trying to sell CDs, or trying to sell books. I don't even tell people about my blog. I just do it because I love to do it.”
At this point, I’m thinking “STFU, please.”
Wait. Backtrack.
She introduced herself at the beginning of the meeting and said that in her “real life” she works as a [insert well-paying career here]. Now it makes sense. I can respect that. Unfortunately, she made trying to make a living off of your craft something ugly and illicit.
I wanted to respond with something profound, which I ultimately didn’t wind up doing. I simply hold up my book again and say, “Yeah, well I’m trying to make a living off of my work. This is my life and I want to get paid.” (Actors do it. Musicians do it. Visual Artists do it.)
Of course, once I get into my car and drive away after the meeting I begin to think of more clever responses, for example, pointing out that “pimping” implies taking advantage of a situation, and when I’m in a position to take my poetry to the highest level, I’m going to be a pimping mothaf*cka.
It was almost as motivating as it was insulting when she kind of frowned up her face as if she were in a different class of poets from those who push their work for profit. She almost made me forget about Jessica Care Moore, Saul Williams, Poetri and a beautiful cat by the name of Versiz who has a hot double album.
At the end of the meeting, she spit a poem and split.
By the way, buy my book.
She continues, “You’ll never see me passing out cards with my stage name on it, or trying to sell CDs, or trying to sell books. I don't even tell people about my blog. I just do it because I love to do it.”
At this point, I’m thinking “STFU, please.”
Wait. Backtrack.
She introduced herself at the beginning of the meeting and said that in her “real life” she works as a [insert well-paying career here]. Now it makes sense. I can respect that. Unfortunately, she made trying to make a living off of your craft something ugly and illicit.
I wanted to respond with something profound, which I ultimately didn’t wind up doing. I simply hold up my book again and say, “Yeah, well I’m trying to make a living off of my work. This is my life and I want to get paid.” (Actors do it. Musicians do it. Visual Artists do it.)
Of course, once I get into my car and drive away after the meeting I begin to think of more clever responses, for example, pointing out that “pimping” implies taking advantage of a situation, and when I’m in a position to take my poetry to the highest level, I’m going to be a pimping mothaf*cka.
It was almost as motivating as it was insulting when she kind of frowned up her face as if she were in a different class of poets from those who push their work for profit. She almost made me forget about Jessica Care Moore, Saul Williams, Poetri and a beautiful cat by the name of Versiz who has a hot double album.
At the end of the meeting, she spit a poem and split.
By the way, buy my book.
Free Book Marketing Guide.
Greetings fellow writers! I came across this really handy guide from Wheat Mark for writers on marketing your own work. Thought I'd share. Admittedly, I haven't really read it thoroughly, but the skim through was impressive enough to post. Hope it helps!
Click here for the PDF and save as a copy!
Ciao.
Click here for the PDF and save as a copy!
Ciao.
First Stop. Google.
The goal of all upcoming artists should be for accurate results to bud after typing their name in Google's search box. I can say that I've accomplished that goal with a few decent placements on various websites. Cool. Now what?
There are many things on the horizon for me and as my creative career blossoms, I'm looking forward to enjoying a life where I can truly survive off of my work. However, aside from aiming for high book sales and a future filled with the luxuries now on my growing wish list, what would make me an "accomplished artist?"
Many people look forward to palm tree lined streets adorning plush retirement communities. Being able to retire and live off the fat of the land while you spend your days traveling and volunteering is supposed to the finale of the American Dream.
I can't imagine retiring as an artist. It's creatively impossible. So the last stop can only be creating for the sake of art, which may be a good place to end.
There are many things on the horizon for me and as my creative career blossoms, I'm looking forward to enjoying a life where I can truly survive off of my work. However, aside from aiming for high book sales and a future filled with the luxuries now on my growing wish list, what would make me an "accomplished artist?"
Many people look forward to palm tree lined streets adorning plush retirement communities. Being able to retire and live off the fat of the land while you spend your days traveling and volunteering is supposed to the finale of the American Dream.
I can't imagine retiring as an artist. It's creatively impossible. So the last stop can only be creating for the sake of art, which may be a good place to end.
Sarah Plain and Small
McCain and his camp are either incredibly dumb or have the foresight that I and many people lack by giving his running mate slot to Sarah Palin, the current Governor of Alaska.The move further confirms the fact that politics is a science, not an art.
These calculated moves based on targeting a specific demographic and winning voters over (read: Hillary groupies who refuse to support Obama), are nothing but obviously insincere. But people are going to love it. The opportunity to have a female VP or a black President has the whole world clappin' they hands (shameless plug for an awesome friend). And aside from the phoniness of it all, I'm excited that such a monumental moment is occurring during a period of my life when I can truly appreciate it.
In bigger news, I have an ISBN # for my poetry collection, [If] Life's Rotten, Write to the Core. I've been unofficially peddling my art through Lulu w/o an ISBN or the opportunity to pitch it to retailers. Now I'm official!
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