March 15, 2004
Awhile ago, I made the decision to not talk so much about all the projects I am working on as well, to not promote all of the work I do. With this decision came a lot of happiness and a lot less worry.
What I realised over various experiences what that in a lot of writing and art circles, you’re not a somebody unless you have something to sell. Going to give a speech? Better have a book to promote along side it. Going to teach a class? Better have some artwork to sell.
I somehow became well known in a lot of circles despite never having anything to sell. I don’t charge memberships for this site or get money from advertising and I don’t want to; they’re my pleasures. But, a lot of people in the business have been bothered by this. In fact, I get a lot of rude comments and hostile behavior from other writers who have books and fancy titles because they think, “Why is she known without a product?”
Don’t get me wrong, products aren’t bad and selling your work isn’t bad. But for me, I don’t want to feel like I have to sell something for the sake of it or promote something I’m not so crazy about. I choose to only take on work I want to do and I’m fortunate enough to be in that position.
I’m creating a book right now and it’s taking me about two years to work on it because I’ve been really hesitant in making it. I wanted to make sure it would be something I would own, that I could talk about without having to sell it, that I wouldn’t be pressured into making. When an agent made suggestions I had to really sit with them to see if they were things I would do or enjoy. I didn’t want to create something just to have something to sell or rather, just to be a somebody.
Not having a book makes me less credible to a lot of people and on some levels, I can understand that. But a lot of authors I’ve met can’t stand up to their words or when you talk to them they’re trying to sell you their product every two seconds that somehow, the magic of their book is lost.
I don’t want that to be me. I don’t want to justify my work or feel like I have to be fake to someone just so they will purchase it. Perhaps that’s a bit naive but so far that kind of thought has kept me passionate and in-love with my work. It keeps me happy and excited because I’m not pushing it.
I often get written about about my marketing genius with regards to my web sites when the truth is, I’ve never marketed my work. I’ve queried a couple of times in my career and that’s it. I don’t go handing out business cards or telling everyone about my site (generally I am very quiet about this!) but the word got out. I think what I’ve done has connected with so many people because I’m authentic with my work and I’m not so worried about getting to some level, meeting some standard or being able to be in some clique.
When I first started I didn’t know about all of these things and I think that gave me a lot of freedom to just be me. The trick is to keep doing that when you get to a certain level or other people start having expectations of you or start making comments.
So, that’s why I don’t talk a lot about specific works anymore because I just enjoy so much what it is I get to do; from writing articles, to doing art for books, to photography layouts and design work. I’m a busy girl but just keeping it rather private because for me, it’s a lifestyle and not a brag book.