The Journey Back to Being Creative...
A lot has happened and changed since my last newsletter to you all. I’ve been in the thick of it with freelance writing full-time… But man, that’s whole ‘nother story! Needless to say, I am no longer doing that full-time and here’s why: It took too much of my creative time away. My job as a proposal writer ended with a small business and so I transitioned full-time into freelancing, something that has been a part of my business structure and model since 2017. But it was different doing the work as full-time — the hustle of finding the next gig plus the work itself was tiring and endless. Additionally, being paid on time consistently was something to be desired. I learned a lot and the most impactful lesson was about me as an individual and a creative and where I saw my purpose existing as it pertains to writing…
With a better understanding of myself (I pride myself on self-knowledge, which is an ever-evolving thing), which the opportunity to freelance full-time gave me, I determined that it wasn’t for me… Not in that capacity. I needed time to be creative, to get my own ideas, characters, and stories out there in the world. While writing and getting paid for it from clients is a legit thing and rewarding in itself, I realized that it wasn’t all that I wanted to do… So, I began thinking back to where it all began — and I wondered how I got on the path that I did?
Everyone has a journey and mine during the pandemic led me to leaving the classroom as an English teacher and becoming a proposal writer and freelance writer. It worked for a while, I thrived, but then when the first half of that equation ended and I was left with only freelance, I was in a spiral of constantly looking for the next gig; Upwork, a freelancing platform that I’ve used since 2017, which I have always been a fan of, stopped being a resource and instead was a stopping ground for me — a place I had to frequent a lot just to find the next thing because now my livelihood depended on it. Same for LinkedIn. I thrived better as a writer not being dependent on writing for others as my sole source of income. So, a change had to happen.
What many might not know about me is that I have a 17 year career in education, 15 as a public school teacher, and 2 solo years as an adjunct professor of Religious Studies. Ironically, since leaving the classroom, I’ve had several opportunities to go back in — to speak to classes, talk about writing and more specifically writing comics! Additionally, I was invited to help with a literacy program at a high school. This was my background in education reaching out to me — I had transitioned into becoming a writer professionally and there was a significant connection there. I relished it, going back in, and it wasn’t long before the ‘spark’ happened and the thought, and I wondered why not go back?
And so I did. And the Universe was prepared for me. It’s a lesson that I had to be reminded of… That your gifts and talents make room for you, not the other way around. I’ve been given an incredible opportunity to be back in the classroom at the end of the school year and several offers for next year… One even as a creative writing teacher! It’s a lesson that I felt compelled to share with this CHARACTER + OBSTACLE = STORY (notice how the name of this Substack is on my white board, that’s where it originated, in the classroom as part of how I teach writing!) community after being away for so long. But life has been busy as you can read… But with my return back to classroom, I also rediscovered the time necessary to be creative again. I’m in that process now. And I am planning something new with my team, something full scale that gets to the heart of me being creative. Here’s what I can say — it’s a new company, a new imprint, that’s specific to the kind of stories that I want to tell. I will still freelance (I am currently, I’m working with a great audio drama company and I do some ghostwriting via Upwork on comic scripts, oh and I am writing a 48 page comic for the State of Mississippi!) but my focus will be my new company and the titles that we’re going to release beginning this Fall. Beginning with…
Here’s what STAT is about:
A medical emergency reality series goes horribly wrong when a killer begins to stalk the hallways of the hospital that’s the setting for the series. No one — doctors, nurses, patients, the show’s crew — is safe and everyone is a suspect.
STAT will be a 4 Issue series that my new company will be releasing through Kickstarter. We will be releasing the series as double issues: Issues 1-2 and then 3-4/Trade. My collaborator for STAT will be BEEZZZ Studio. Stay tuned…
ON KICKSTARTER NOW
Our hit alternative reality series, BLACK COTTON, published by Scout Comics, makes its return in a gripping volume two titled, BLACK COTTON: WHITE ON WHITE CRIME. This time, the creative team of the BCU (Black Cotton Universe) is bringing the title first to Kickstarter with the hope of expanding both the story and its audience. Additionally, we’re offering some exclusive covers, art, and merch! For example…
Here’s what Volume 2 is about:
BLACK COTTON: WHITE ON WHITE CRIME takes place a year after the events in Volume One and finds Zion Cotton now a detective and working the murder case of a young white kid. While most of the department is chalking the killing up to just more “white on white crime,” Zion is determined to get justice for the slain teen and his family. Meanwhile, while her business mogul parents are out of the country dealing with the threat of rival family, the Keshinomis, Qia Cotton has her sights set on the low income neighborhood that the young white kid was from with plans of gentrification. However, the murder potentially hinders her plans and subsequently, Zion and Qia find themselves on opposite sides.
So yeah, the BCU team is back in form with Marco Perugini on art, this time Marcelo Santana on colors (last volume was in black and white), Francisco Zamora on letters, and Jerry Nilsson as our graphic designer. Additionally, we are partnered with Joey Galvez of the Geek Collective as our PR and marketing specialist; Patrick Foreman and myself are co-creators and co-writers for the series. And guess what? BLACK COTTON: WHITE ON WHITE CRIME is already funded! So, guaranteed books! And we’re inches away from our first stretch goal.
Become a backer today and get in on Volume 2 of BLACK COTTON. Volume 1 with a new cover is also available.
Alright, y’all! That’s all I got for this newsletter. Sorry that I’ve been gone for so long, but it’s truly good to back and communicating with you. I hope that something I shared helps shed a light on something in your own life… If not, just thank you for being a part of this community and interacting with me.
Talk soon —
B