Kern Carter's Blog, page 161

Freelancers — better time management means more money

Yes, part of being a freelancer is that you get to control your time. But make sure you’re controlling it.

It’s actually helpful for me to schedule out when I’m going to write what. So right now, I’m working on two ghostwriting projects, one guest blogging contract, one content strategy/writing contract that has a portfolio of twenty clients (I don’t write for all of them at the same time) and of course my CRY stuff.

If you looked at my calendar for the month, it will have exactly when I plan to work on each project starting at 6:00 a.m. every morning. I go kinda hard, so I don’t mind taking on a lot of work. But It’s not an accident that every year for the past five years, I’ve increased my income. Making six figures means taking on a six figure workload.

That’s how I manage my time. You need to find a system that works for you. Once you do, then taking on more high quality contracts won’t feel so overwhelming.

CRY

PREVIOUS LETTERSIt’s the end of the year — keep your eyes forward as you reflect backGet your contracts right — free templates I’ve usedFreelancers, you have to keep learning — here are some resources

Freelancers — better time management means more money was originally published in C.R.Y on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The Pressure Cooker Writing Method

You’ve got to shift your mindset if you want to escape it

Continue reading on C.R.Y »

Rolling the Dice as a Writer

Quitting what I hate to follow passion.

Continue reading on C.R.Y »

Opting out of Exceptionalism as an actor of color.

Me (left), Resident actor Maria Oliveira(right). Shot by Quoc Quan Le, resident DP at Art Rat

Hi, I’m Rose Kim. 24 years old. Korean American. Daughter of divorced immigrants. The founder of Art Rat Theatre Company (2019), previously the co-founder of Millennial Theater (2016), and as a fun fact: an office worker by day.

Before I continue — First: Sources: This tweet went around today and it DID me. I believe her name is Seren and she is speaking to the basics here. Listening to her gave me the surge of energy I’m flowing out to you now.

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This read just cleared my skin even more than it already is and raised my credit limit. This my new audition monologue. Seren 2020. https://t.co/CmGjoJztIb

 — @MajorPhilebrity

There is no one in any marginalized group in this country that can pull themselves up by their bootstraps and magically remove themselves from our’s society’s ills. Yes, certain types of people have the opportunities that other peoples don’t have, of course, the Obamas, perfect example of that. However, those are exceptions to the rule. And it is ridiculous — and I’m not finished, I know you’re white and a man so you think you can talk but you need to Tsk! Tut! —

That is the exception, and that is not the rule.
And it is absurd, it is ridiculous to look at the people who do get out of marginalized groups and use them as some type of benchmark that you can hold all the rest of us to.

If you look at the statistics of what’s going on with Black Americans in this country, it’s absurd. It’s of-fucking-ffensive.

— Seren (The Grapevine)

Foremost, I’m an actor.

I found acting in 2014 and began performing on stage in 2015.
From 20 years old to now, I have performed in, written, directed, and/or produced over 30 shows. I don’t think I need to prove it, so much as I just want to express: I love performing and studying it.

If I could act and do none of the producing/directing/writing legwork I think I’d be fine. But I’d only be happy “just acting” if my producers were all activists, my directors were all in a process of decolonization, and all the texts were timely and by POC.

Now, you’re getting my taste and style, I think.
4 years later and I think it’s really begun to emerge. Which means I’ve become increasingly protective — unapologetically precious — of my performing body.

The prevailing question now is, What kind of infrastructure am I manipulating my body for? Yes. It had better be the kind of space I’m looking for.

Resident actors Ash Mehta & Maria Oliveira. Shot by Quoc Quan Le, resident DP.

I take the show-making and acting process so seriously that the infrastructure that holds the space and the principles motivating the space matter. Ideally speaking, these are non-negotiables.

I produce and direct because I want to act and I can’t stomach waiting for someone else to say OK, you have my permission. And even after you’re cast, an actor can only meekly hope for diversity. You just pray 10 times before bed every night before the table read for a woke ass room. You tell yourself all the white people…they MUST be ALLIES, right?!

Sometimes, we are granted and blessed with truly diverse creative environments. It’s cataclysmic when we are; every time I have been so lucky, I feel the ground melt and tremble underneath our feet. But you can guess it~ it’s rare.

“Making it” would be a waste of time for what my goals are.

My core desire is simple and focused : I want to perform stories for people. But I am a scrupulous little woman and I know my needs better than last year, which were better than the year before.

What I mean is my principles are stuck way way way up my ass lol. So much so that assimilating into the industry would be chiefly taxing, risky and unhomely. In the end: a distraction and an annoying detour to what is the core need in my heart.

I’m not a career actor. My art is not meant to be my Capitalism-Success Hall Pass. I’d be lying if I said my first priority is performing if all I did was wait for the money, or wait for the Approval. Those are different priorities, you feel me?

My art is so good to me. It keeps me alive, fresh, excited, loving. I have to practice it like drinking water and breathing. My well-being literally could not afford waiting for someone else to Allow me.

I’m an actor. I am a performer. I bend my body, my voice, my spirit, to be seen in a way (that theatre is) that allows me to see others at the same time. I want to be in a room with you. I want to exchange. Nothing matters as much as this.

So no.I’m not going to work to become the Next Exception rising to the top of a broken system to do what I love. to live. To thrive. To flourish. To be Well. To perform and to be the best performer my body can love.

I want myself and you to know that me and you are exceptionAL period, for reasons deeper and more unexplored than outer space.

The company in a run through of Antidotes of the Heart. Shot by Quoc Quan Le.

Here’s 1: a heritage of indefatigable Resistance that is so exceptional it is contagious. I believe if you can feel connected to it (and that’s possible without any regard to what race you are) , you tap into a powerful energy source accumulating for millennia.

Oppression is ancient. and Resistance has never ceased. Ever.
I find Us being here today Speaks to that fact very easily.

I feel connected to this history and I draw incredible power from it. I am lucid. I see that we are exceptional and and we don’t need to be the exceptION of white infrastructures to find out and live out this truth.

I love finding and living out this truth because I know I am contributing my own energy to this ancient heritage. We are in a vitalizing exchange.

I will prevent ExceptionaliSM from complicating this natural truth of me , and of you. That when we connect to our heritage of Resistance, we are gifted with the glimpse of how radically exceptional we truly are : powerful and common and empowered in common.

Opting out of Exceptionalism as an actor of color. was originally published in C.R.Y on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

How To Deal With Debt When You Only Want To Write

Do I have to keep my day job AND keep on writing to stay relevant? Is there a less stressful way?

Continue reading on C.R.Y »

Call for submissions — let’s talk about the pressure to stand out

The holidays got me thinking about how much pressure we put on ourselves to buy gifts, host family or travel to visit family.

As writers and creatives, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to create. We want people to acknowledge our work and that’s not the easiest thing to do.

So let’s talk about pressure. How are you coping with the pressure to stand out? Are you doing something or have you done something you didn’t think you would just to get some more attention? How are you maintaining the integrity of your art while still trying to step outside of your comfort zone?

Some thought starters

I believe a little bit of pressure is good for artists. It keeps us on edge. Here are some possibilities to consider when submitting your stories:

You’re an indie author and you’ve paid a PR firm to bring attention to your book. How did that work out?You feel pressure to make money so you do projects you hate but that pay really well.You’re someone who really just wants to write (or paint, take photos, design, etc.) and are turned off by all the other things you have to do to bring attention to your work. You know that attention will lead to more opportunities so you can get rewarded financially for what you love. How do you find balance in this situation?

We’re also open to read stories about the pressure you put on yourself in general. What’s driving you to keep creating?

Instructions

If you’re already a writer on CRY, simply submit your drafts.

If you’re not yet a writer on CRY, reply to this letter or leave me a note in the comment section and I’ll add you.

Looking forward to reading all your submissions!

CRY

Call for submissions — let’s talk about the pressure to stand out was originally published in C.R.Y on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

It’s the end of the year — keep your eyes forward as you reflect back

Photo by Eric Welch

Approaching the end of the year and the beginning of the holiday season, it’s easy to start thinking of the things you wished you accomplished. And that’s OK. True progress requires honest and sometimes harsh self-criticism.

But be gentle with yourself. As you reflect on your year, be sure to keep your eyes forward. What’s happening now and the possibility of tomorrow should outweigh any prior regrets.

CRY

MORE FROM CRY

Thoughts of a Fractured Soul is my first novella. It tells the story of a teenage father forced to make life-changing decisions for both himself and his family.

It’s the end of the year — keep your eyes forward as you reflect back was originally published in C.R.Y on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The struggle to create while life is happening

Because there’s real stuff happening every day.

Continue reading on C.R.Y »

Authors — Amazon is cutting down on its holiday season orders from publishers

What does that mean? It means less exposure for authors and less sales for small and independent publishers who know readers automatically turn to Amazon for the majority of their books.

You can help. Buying direct from publishers will help authors and small presses in a big way. And while Amazon has cut down on the amount of orders it’s making from publishers (down from 70% to 20% in some instances), this is an even better time to really support authors and make sure you purchase their books direct.

Authors usually get a much higher royalty percentage from direct purchases than from a sale made from a third party distributor like Amazon.

Our community will thrive if we support each other in the right way. If a book isn’t available on Amazon it doesn’t mean that book doesn’t exist.

CRY

MORE FROM CRY

Have you read my novel Beauty Scars? It’s the story of Treasure and Justin who only see each other through their dreams. When fate finally brings them together in real life, their love flourishes, but not without discoveries that threaten to tear them apart.

Authors — Amazon is cutting down on its holiday season orders from publishers was originally published in C.R.Y on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Get your contracts right — free templates I’ve used

One of the most important things as a freelancer is what you put in those contracts. It determines the scope of your work and, just as important, when and how you get paid.

I hate that it’s still a thing that freelancers get paid at the will of the client. I’ve found that well constructed contracts help alleviate that issue so I’m a huge believer in taking as much time as needed to get these contracts right.

Here are just a couple of platforms I use for free contract templates:

Jotform — They have over 60 variations of contracts. Everything from photography to studio rentals to general freelance contracts are included and totally free.

Legalshield — The actual app on my phone is called Shake, but it comes from a larger company called Legalshield. They don’t have quite as many templates as Jotform, but the ones they do have work really well. I mainly use Shake for freelance work and Jotform for larger, more nuanced agreements.

CRY

MORE FROM CRY

Have you read my novel Beauty Scars? It’s the story of Treasure and Justin who only see each other through their dreams. When fate finally brings them together in real life, their love flourishes, but not without discoveries that threaten to tear them apart.

Get your contracts right — free templates I’ve used was originally published in C.R.Y on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.