Bettering yourself, part 8 + 9: supporting lesser known artists, bettering other people

Okay, this example is of course closer to my heart, but: support an indie writer. I swear: all you need to do is like a tweet of theirs and they’ll be like ‘WHO IS THIS MAJESTIC—‘

There are fewer people less appreciated in this day and age. They have chosen a relatively unpopular creative medium which they use, without solicitation, to try and add to various canons. The fuck, right? I’m not saying they deserve more appreciation necessarily but it’s definitely true that they don’t have a lot in general, and those who do show their appreciation are bound to their writers—their writers—with hoops of steel.

Imagine how most of them feel, if you agree with the typical behaviours I outlined in part 7. They overcame the fear of doing something, which already puts them in the minority, sure, but they’re expecting prizes and recognition and shit and many of them haven’t learned how to react to the response if it is a resounding silence. The majority of indie authors feel underappreciated but also that voicing this lack of appreciation would appear unprofessional.

See if you discovered them—without their introduction—bought one of their books—without them asking you to, or before they even had the chance to email you a free copy—and reviewed it—again without them asking you to—and sent them that review—without them knowing you’d done it beforehand? Do you understand how in the minority that would put you? Because what could be a surer sign of their incipient success than you, the seed they didn’t even have to plant in the hopes that it would sprout? You planted yourself and sprouted! That’s the DREAM! And If you help people realise their dreams, I swear: they’ll go to town on your junk so fast you wouldn’t believe it.

So, to that point, help better other people. If you really, really have to see it this way, the recognition it would afford you for doing this would be so easily obtainable because so few people can be bothered.

Although, also? People enjoy it a bit too much if you help them too much. That might become your role pretty quick. So for your own sake, I would even advise you not to do it too much. Win win!