You continually inspire me Amie. Im a trad-pubbed author of two novels - first one came out in 2018 - you have absolutely revolutionised my thinking about how we let these books disappear because the publisher stop doing promo (if they ever did!), or because we feel like they've had their moment, and how insane that is. Because I adore my duology and there is nothing about them that is not as relevant and good now as it was five and six years ago! (if anything they are more relevant as greek gods and romantasy is popular now in a way it wasn't back then!) So I'm going to join you and start promoting them again for 100 days, and in fact have just posted onto my notes. WHOOP!
Thank you to both of you, for all you do, your energy, your passion, your determination to keep our creativity vibrant and strong and for us to back ourselves - it is so, so needed!
I've already pre-ordered your book, but I will deffo buy more copies for friends when it is out. ❤️
You don't have to want to sell anything! You can promote yourself as an incredible writer and artist. Share your magic. A sentence. Your work space. Your ideas. That is promotion.
Wow. I had no idea THAT was promotion haha! I can do that. I see your perspective now. I will talk about the courage it takes for me to write my ideas! Promotion feels beautiful now ✨
I set up a seperate account to market my books and illustrations without showing ‘me’ but felt so disconnected from it. I’m thinking about being brave and claiming my art and books as my creations and sharing them under my own name. Gosh, this feels scary, but I think I can do it 😬 also, Hi! I’ve just joined Substack!!
It’s the silence part that has been getting to me lately. I see people and I think, I know you’re reading my stuff… say something! Do you suggest putting them on the spot and saying, hey I’ve been so busy writing and putting it out there, it’s been such good hard work and I love it! Which I do. Yet crickets.
I love this SO much, thank you. It’s hard AF. I show up, I put all my passion into sharing what I’m doing and more often than not - crickets (and zero reach to my actual followers let alone new peeps!) - that’s what gets me down the most and makes me want to just be a hermit making my art just because and say FU to all else 🤣😅😭
I’ve done it for the last several years and never broke outside of the small group of people who always bought and supported. I had created my own website and loaded all my designs, printed and shipped my own greeting cards. Finally, last week I quit, sort of. I still have a website and it links to my FineArtAmerica shop where I will continue to upload my art but I refuse to bend over backwards to promote my art for little to no return. My creativity died the past six months because I realized I don’t want to be a business person. I just want to create art. I was spending more of my valuable free time on business than creating. I burned out. I don’t know what you do with that. I have a full time job that leaves me exhausted and depleted. I am trying to be in tune with my authentic self and selling is not who I am. I will share what create and if people want it, great! I will help facilitate that but I am done thinking I am going to make a living off my art. I bought and choked on all those courses by all the gurus and now I’m just in debt. I say, yes, create art but think very, very hard about whether self-promotion and ‘fighting’ is really what YOU want to do.
I so resonate with this - creation over content producer. We are not meant to put most of our energy into “content”, and I do feel the algos are really actively hiding real art creation right now - unless you pay them a tonne or are pushing other things they love 🤷♀️
Rly like the idea! And already feeling cringe about it
Oh yeah baby
I am in ! Just released a poetry book I am so proud of and also want to keep finding more places to share my writing and places to perform.
You continually inspire me Amie. Im a trad-pubbed author of two novels - first one came out in 2018 - you have absolutely revolutionised my thinking about how we let these books disappear because the publisher stop doing promo (if they ever did!), or because we feel like they've had their moment, and how insane that is. Because I adore my duology and there is nothing about them that is not as relevant and good now as it was five and six years ago! (if anything they are more relevant as greek gods and romantasy is popular now in a way it wasn't back then!) So I'm going to join you and start promoting them again for 100 days, and in fact have just posted onto my notes. WHOOP!
Thank you to both of you, for all you do, your energy, your passion, your determination to keep our creativity vibrant and strong and for us to back ourselves - it is so, so needed!
I've already pre-ordered your book, but I will deffo buy more copies for friends when it is out. ❤️
Lets go! I have a few books I’ve self published but never, ever promote. That changes today. I am proud of my work, let’s share it.
I don't know "how" to promote and I'm not really sure i want to sell anything! I'm a writer and artist
You don't have to want to sell anything! You can promote yourself as an incredible writer and artist. Share your magic. A sentence. Your work space. Your ideas. That is promotion.
Wow. I had no idea THAT was promotion haha! I can do that. I see your perspective now. I will talk about the courage it takes for me to write my ideas! Promotion feels beautiful now ✨
Powerpuff Girl, I hear you! A little Blue Sky, a little Facebook, let's get our brag on!
I promote my art almost every day and have done so for many years. It's exhausting and I have sold thousands of paintings.
I set up a seperate account to market my books and illustrations without showing ‘me’ but felt so disconnected from it. I’m thinking about being brave and claiming my art and books as my creations and sharing them under my own name. Gosh, this feels scary, but I think I can do it 😬 also, Hi! I’ve just joined Substack!!
Do it!!!!
Love this idea! I have a book out 9th December so will join in. ✨
I was thinking about being more promotional about my writing, so I’ll take this as a sign. Gotta come up with at least a bare bones plan now.
It’s the silence part that has been getting to me lately. I see people and I think, I know you’re reading my stuff… say something! Do you suggest putting them on the spot and saying, hey I’ve been so busy writing and putting it out there, it’s been such good hard work and I love it! Which I do. Yet crickets.
I know for me, I often don't comment on posts because, damn, after the beautiful, effective writing that I just read I don't want to sound stupid.
I love this SO much, thank you. It’s hard AF. I show up, I put all my passion into sharing what I’m doing and more often than not - crickets (and zero reach to my actual followers let alone new peeps!) - that’s what gets me down the most and makes me want to just be a hermit making my art just because and say FU to all else 🤣😅😭
I’ve done it for the last several years and never broke outside of the small group of people who always bought and supported. I had created my own website and loaded all my designs, printed and shipped my own greeting cards. Finally, last week I quit, sort of. I still have a website and it links to my FineArtAmerica shop where I will continue to upload my art but I refuse to bend over backwards to promote my art for little to no return. My creativity died the past six months because I realized I don’t want to be a business person. I just want to create art. I was spending more of my valuable free time on business than creating. I burned out. I don’t know what you do with that. I have a full time job that leaves me exhausted and depleted. I am trying to be in tune with my authentic self and selling is not who I am. I will share what create and if people want it, great! I will help facilitate that but I am done thinking I am going to make a living off my art. I bought and choked on all those courses by all the gurus and now I’m just in debt. I say, yes, create art but think very, very hard about whether self-promotion and ‘fighting’ is really what YOU want to do.
I so resonate with this - creation over content producer. We are not meant to put most of our energy into “content”, and I do feel the algos are really actively hiding real art creation right now - unless you pay them a tonne or are pushing other things they love 🤷♀️
Yes. It has truly been soul sucking.
Hi Amie,
Check your web page. Under the Pre-order button on your website you've got the title Pre-order now from US, but the link goes to Pre-order from UK. https://www.amiemcnee.com/pre-order-we-need-your-art-book-amie-mcnee?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Thank you Glen! I've just fixed it. Let me know if it's still not working for you!
I’m ready to speak up about my art. Thank you so much for the nudge.
Such a great idea. So hard. Okay, let’s go.
You are my new favorite cheerleader! Thank you!