V. H. King's Ink

It’s been a while since I’ve sidestepped from my typical fiction posts to do a bit of blog-writing.  My creative process feels like it has been as tumultuous as the state of the world.  Chaotic and uncertain, sometimes exhausting, and unexpectedly heartwarming when I need it most. 

During 2020, I spent my summer hours composing poems and paintings.  Resurrecting my love of both reminded me of everything I hold tightly to when everything else I thought I could count on fades away.  Gilded faith is brittle, but it can be burnt into something stronger than gold.  I have faith in my artistic endeavors.  I tend to be stubborn about my processes, trusting my internal compass even when it goes against trending marketing strategies or top-rated media. 

I have to be honest in every part of what I do.

In 2021, I continued my artistic endeavors and launched into putting my words out there—for real this time.  I started posting chapters from my debut novel, Glass Halos, Paper Crowns.  I dabbled in character bios, including sketches and playlists in their profiles.  I gave myself a push to be a bit more unapologetic about my writing, and it has been entirely worth it.

Embracing joy is a choice and a gift.

Early 2022, I’m currently faced with a sudden shift.  I thought I had 3-5 years to plan for how my disabilities would affect my capacity to work.  Turns out, I have 18 months. 

What am I left with, then, when everything falls away?

My plans this year included doing longer stories in shorter snippets, including illustrations along the way.  I also planned on designing some activity journals, adding more art to my site, and potentially doing a little more in my store.  The sudden reality of my health affecting my ability to work means I might have more opportunity than I thought.  Just in the past two weeks, I’ve fleshed out a process for taking commissions and expanding the products available in my store. 

I also set up an entire webpage based on funding: the goals I want to reach this year, ways for people to help me reach those goals, and some information about why I’ve set up the fund.  I could say fundraising, but this is more than a one-time or short-term effort. 

I aim to be not only strategic but also sustainable in how I request support.

While I don’t know what the future holds, I know that I have hope.  I know that when I get anxious about whether or not I will be able to support myself, I have a community of people who will encourage and reassure me.  I know that life is more than work.  Most importantly, I know that my worth goes beyond what I can produce in a capitalist society.