Did you figure it out? I dropped some hints yesterday. They were all red herrings, of course. But if you know me, you’d probably know that I’d know you’d know, but knowing that I’d know you’d know, I’d pull the Ol’ Switcheroo. But anyway, I will reveal the answers by giving you the projects’ titles. DONUTS FOR EVERYBODY will proudly feature:
SILVERSTEIN’S RECIPE by Kate Allen Fox
THE BIG ORANGE BANG by Bill Canterbury
DEATH BY CHOCOLATE by Jess Yoon
And now for today’s topic.
There’s a common perception that having an online platform will translate to publishing success of one type or another. Whether it’s turning a webcomic into a graphic novel series, or finding an agent through a pitch contest, or impressing an editor with your sharp with through a carefully-written-but-doesn’t-look-like-you’re-trying-too-hard tweet, yes, creators have in the past parlayed their social media presence into an actual paying project/career/whatever.
That said, I don’t know that it ever happens intentionally. Or, rather, you can’t fake it. Kate Beaton kept HARK, A VAGRANT for years before turning it into a series of books. Matthew Inman did the same with THE OATMEAL before running an 8.7 million dollar campaign on Kickstarter for EXPLODING KITTENS.
DONUTS FOR EVERYBODY is similar to both of those projects (though far, far more modest than either) in that I didn’t go into it aiming to make anything but a couple dozen donuts on Twitter. I can’t even call it an artistic experiment. All I wanted to do was make donuts for people, so I did.
So, if you’re looking for guidance on how to land a book deal by appearing like an interesting person online, I can’t help you.
But Jerrold, you ask, isn’t that a bit disingenuous? Isn’t your social media curated and didn’t I even see you post a thirst trap recently?
Okay, I’m not so naive as to think that an online presence doesn’t impact how you’re viewed as a creator. Sure, it’s a reality of the business. But I’ll say it again, you can’t fake sincerity. If you want to be known as a person who makes things, you have to start by making things. So, to that end, if you’re looking for advice on creating for the pure joy of it, on indulging in making without expectation of reward, or, in short, how to shenanigan, here’s my advice:
DON’T SELF CENSOR
Certain creative impulses can feel frivolous. Making donuts? When you’re supposed to be building a portfolio?? Writing rhyming couplets when you’re supposed to be revising your middle grade novel?? There’s no end to the excuses a person can make when inspired by something silly and it’s very easy to consider certain things beneath your notice. My advice? When something tickles your fancy, follow it. Just listen to that voice and don’t offer any criticism. If it suggests something, reply only with “Yes”.
DON’T WRITE TO AN INVISIBLE AUDIENCE
If you pass that first hurdle and actually allow yourself to start making something, a voice is eventually going to say “I bet (this person) would like this”. “This person” might be an agent, an editor, the buying public, or Guy Fieri. IGNORE THIS VOICE. You were drawn to that inspiration by a need to make real something that was inside you. You are doing this for yourself. No one else. And I don’t offer this as a touchy-feely “honor your inner child” type philosophy (though it kind of is). It’s more about letting yourself discover and develop your voice.
LET YOUR INSPIRATION TAKE THE WHEEL
There were a few donuts that completely surprised me. One was the Summer Sunrise donut, another was the Shel Silverstein donut. Some of that surprise came through discovering an unexpected technique, some of it was in uncovering a type of visual narrative. I don’t know if I would have had either of those experiences if I went into the project with a set of rules. Like making only “edible” donuts, for example. I let each request inspire me in its own way.
And the inspiration for some requests (the Podcast Donut, for example) took more than a few months to arrive. Did this cause me stress? I don’t think so. I did keep a list of unfulfilled orders, so they were on my mind, definitely. But I trusted I’d do them eventually. I guess it comes down to exactly that, trust.
GO ALL IN
I’m realizing a lot of what I’ve typed here basically comes down to trusting and honoring your own creative impulses. A great way to show your ideas that you honor and trust them is to go all in. Dedicate a weekend to making donuts? Sure! Make a picture book themed all donut advent calendar? Why not? Attach yourself to a twelve hour livestream and make one hundred and forty four donuts for no good reason at all? You bet! Spend a day interrogating your reasons for making donuts in the first place and then do a blog post about it and cross-post it across three social media sites? Sign me up!
I know there’s some privilege attached to this. We don’t all have the time or resources to dedicate an entire day (much less multiple days) to our creative impulses, but whatever time you have, celebrate it.
HAVE FUN
Finally, none of the above applies if you’re not having fun. I think a lot of creators feel bound, perhaps in an unhealthy way, to projects they start. If you see yourself in that statement, you might want to practice letting go. DONUTS FOR EVERYBODY for me was a joy start to finish. And I can say that honestly because there’s a finish, we’re approaching it. I couldn’t have kept making donuts on Twitter forever and I wouldn’t have wanted to. I’m happy moving on. If something stops being fun for you, thank it, let it go, and make room for the next thing.
IN CLOSING
All this is easier said than put into practice. I know I come across as a go-with-the-flow type, but I wrestle with many of these things I’ve talked about. I am very, very impatient and what’s more, I have the focus of a lighthouse (hyper-illuminated, sees a great distance, but is constantly moving). I have, however, done good in quieting my inner critic, and that’s made space for things to click. And when they do, my goodness, what a feeling.
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