NSFW Thoughts

 

https://www.tumblr.com/coincidenceiscancelled/787007953228152832/munching-and-misogyny

Consolidating and Synergising

 Every month these days, I think, 'wow, this is the worst month of the year' but when I sit back and really think about it, I been struggling for a while now. 

A combination of things are responsible. The election of the worst government ever to government is one. My body failing me is another. A drop in the quality of available clients on upwork is a huge third. 

What this combination has conspired to do to me is that my work output has steadily reduced with nothing to replace it. As I sit here, I'm definitely in a hole that I'm trying to dig myself out of.

The upside to that is that I've been meaning to build up my own 'commercial' works - that means writing stories that sell commercially to publishers such as Harlequin and other novel sites. Now I have been forced to take that more seriously and actually work on the pieces of work that I have.

That's going okay but it's hampered by the continuous screaming in the back of my head that insists I should focus more on finding money now before I can choose to complete the work in the hope of future income. I'm trying everything, trust but so far, there's been a lot of scams, a lot of interviews that didn't go anywhere and a lot of borrowing.

Its harrowing for the soul. Capitalism is harrowing for the soul.

So I decided to try consolidating and synergizing all my content in one place - and so I put everything on ko-fi - the books I'm writing, the books I've written, the podcasts, etc. Everything that I've done, and a humble request for cuppa coffee.

I don't know if it'll work. I hope it does if only because it really returns the power of earning back into my own hands. I know you see the link on this blog, that's been there a while so let's call this a relaunch.

I'm not going to sit back and wait for y'all to come to me though. 

I intend to be in your face about it. 

I intend to remind you daily. 

I intend to find new and all ways to get the word out. 

Because if this works, it could be a game changer for me.

I could maybe start living like Ismatu Gwendolyn - making art while supporters help me to live. Now wouldn't that be great? I wish we could all live like that. The ancient Greeks might have been onto something with that finding a sponsor shit. 

Idea!

Anyway, so come to my ko-fi. For the small small price of $3, you win access to member only stories, and other goodies. I intend to be very active on there. You will feel like you're getting your money's worth.

One small step for me and who knows, we could make it a trend. 

Some of the gems that are going to be on there include this little text conversation between Ben and Anders. Just cute little things to make you smile, or whole codas or excerpts. I'm going to enjoy myself and I want you to too.

Today It's Us, Tomorrow It's You: Maandamano Edition

 

Today It's Us, Tomorrow It's You: Maandamano Edition by Annemarie Musawale

Don't You Just Love the Smell of Teargas in the Morning?

Read on Substack

Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 75 Writing Contests in May 2025 - No entry fees

Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 75 Writing Contests in May 2025 - No entry fees: This May there are more than six dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes range fro...

Going Wide and Long

 The freelancer industry, like any other, has been hit by this forced recession.  So I'm experiencing a lot of ghosting among my clients, a lot of reduced workload, it's kinda exhausting.

But seeing as life goes on whether or not your clients are acting right, I've had to look inward and find new pathways to income. Short term solutions, and long term solutions are what I'm thinking about.

It's not easy, I need a master mind group if anyone is so inclined to join. Times like these is when I wish I went the trad route and got myself a husband so that I have a partner in this madness. Actually, no. What I need is a wife who can support me.

Did I just come out? I guess I did.

Anyway, one of the ways I'm thinking long term solutions is to build up my readership in the subscription space (and also to write some strictly commercial books for traditional publishers). In the short term, I'm still figuring that shit out. 

So I've been uploading my work on various sites aside from the same old same old, in the hopse of expanding my customer base. Social media is helping out with that at least. People are free with their information and also, I've gotten on a black freelancer discord which has been helpful with tips and tricks.

I just need to implement. I think that's my major weakness. I think too small. 

So I'm trying to think bigger, be more ambitious and generally take some big swings. It's not like I have another option.

How is this recession treating you?

Unprovoked

I posted all my podcast episodes on Youtube and this is the latest one where I sat down with my son and we shot the shit for an hour. Revelations were made, philosophies were aired, it was a surprise, to me too.

I would advise you to listen if you have experienced challenges to do with mental health, career or just feeling like you're disappointing your parents.

Or if you want to hear us argue about Kanye. 

Contemporary Romance on Ream

I was riffling through my WIP folder  and I realized that I have so many half finished stories. So I decided to put them on ream where I can keep writing as you're reading. So go follow, and subscribe.