I had to type out a pitch on the spot.
If The Fray hadn’t already become substantial – and if my follower count was low…
There would be no animated series.
We’re talking about this today because I keep coming across people who put themselves up against me.
First and foremost – what I do it isn’t free.
Organic growth is nearly impossible, so budgeting and running ads will help you in the long run. It doesn’t guarantee people will care, follow, like, share or comment. It just means you paid for ads.
Can you keep the momentum up? I’ve watched a lot of people who were trying to compete with me do something part of the way, and never return to it. If your content gets noticed, you should get excited but building means from the ground up. So you have to continue with those same strides. It’s always better to take your time.
Your goal is your goal alone. I did not network with any other writers because people like to compete. We are literally raised and taught to do so. The issue with that is – it takes away from what truly matters…the craft at hand. And – having fun! If you’re too busy trying to outshine someone else, it doesn’t mean the quality of your work is better.
Next. Being realistic doesn’t mean to assume you’ll barely get reads or views. It means to take your time. If you rush a result, it will fail. Have you ever planted a seed? It takes about a week to sprout, and that’s under the soil. It then takes a few more weeks to grow bigger, and stay strong with proper care.
Initially, a plant takes about two to three months to really become something strong. If plants need time, so do new projects. New ideas. New ways of thinking. On top of that, that plant needs good soil, water…consistently.
Or it dies.
The good part is…you get to keep trying until you figure it out.
Lastly – stay in your lane. Where I see myself going has nothing to do with anyone else. The older I’ve become, the more I realize how much people love poking their noses where they don’t belong. The need to see what everyone is doing means you have control issues – comparing numbers, followers, content. It means you think you don’t have what it takes. That’s what it boils down to. If you can’t function without needing to put others down…it’s safe to say your linear line is very short (meaning you repeat your mistakes often and never learn)
I’m all for encouraging people. I’m not for competing, defending my work when I’ve worked really hard, and being torn to bits because you can’t live with yourself.
My life is about creation ✨