2021.06.25 Ready's Ramblings Episode 027

Just a series of notes from me to you! Thank you!

Some thoughts on following your dreams, finding your passions and perhaps even finding love.

I recently received a series of questions from a long time friend and fan. I’ve answered variations of these before and I thought I’d share my answers again. Clearly, I won’t be identifying who asked and I did generify what they were asking into general topics. I also edited my answers to make them broadly applicable.

Regarding setting up a place for your own artwork and creative ideas...

I highly recommend getting your own website and domain. The total cost of a WordPress website with a domain is probably less than $150 a year and it is completely worth it. The domain registration is going to be $15-$30/year. The monthly hosting can be anywhere from $10 to $15 a month (maybe less!). All in all, it’s well worth it. Having your own site allows you to create and distribute your own content a LOT easier.

One thing you will want to consider is getting a membership plug-in (there are free ones!). For something like an adult site it’s best to have gating that keeps minors out. I think a lot of providers are skittish about wide open adult sites that don’t need at least a login. Your site can be free with free galleries but ideally you require people to sign up (for free, of course). Now this is just my opinion based off experience. When you do something like that you can introduce forums and comments and keep track of who’s saying what. For a while, I had my site wide open with no sign up needed and, for lack of a better word, troublemakers descended on it. I quickly switched back to a gated site.

As for deviantArt, I understand the frustration there. I long ago gave up putting explicit sexual content there since they don’t allow it. To me, they are basically a Playboy magazine site, if that makes sense. Kind of old fashioned, with the ethics of Playboy from the 70s or early 80s. They love cheesecake, they are fine with boobs and nudity but if you go too far into the realm of sexual erotica they’ll just ban it. I also figure, it’s their site and they can do what they want with it. It is a good place for people to discover your art. I doubt I’ll ever leave deviantArt because I still get a lot of discovery from that place. When people want to see more of my art they can just head my main site.

On work ethics and progress…

Lastly, I highly recommend just grinding away and drawing when you can. That’s my secret, if you can call it that. I just draw all the time. I keep a little schedule I stick to. I feel it’s important to be consistent and deliver what you promise, even if it is only to yourself.

Regarding Burnout...

For me, I don’t look at it like burnout. The inspiration, the creativity, and general interests have stages over time. Some days you really want to draw and somedays you don’t. Some days you have a great idea and can’t seem to get it on the paper. Other days everything seems to flow right into the drawing. It can be tough and something to remember, the inspiration does return.

The trick, I believe, is to do a little drawing or a little creativity every single day. No matter how you feel, just do something. Move the needle in some fashion. Even if it’s just a scribble, a doodle or maybe typing a few words out. What you want to do is establish the habit that you’re pounding away every day at your creative endeavors. You want to keep the streak going. Every day do a little something, it could even be research! Over time this will train your creative spirit and you will feel yourself being pulled along the creative path.

It sounds simple but I do practice this. I have practiced this for over 30 years. You can check my results by looking at the main site or deviant art or my Patreon. Really though, just start small and keep at it. Set reasonable goals in the short term and dream big in the long-term. Keep your eyes focused on the long-term also. If you want to make a movie, move in that direction. You want to make a comic book, move in that direction. If you just want to draw, then get to drawing.

I wish there was some simple explanation but it really comes down to just putting in the work.

Finding others...

I can tell you this, as you get older it becomes much more important to focus on doing things you love. I honestly believe doing things you really enjoy will bring people like you closer. You will also find people enjoy being around you. My point is you can really only focus on one thing and that’s taking care of yourself. When you take care of yourself, when you treat yourself with respect and seriousness you will attract people to you. Besides, anyone you find worth having would appreciate you at your best. That’s not to say a person who loves you won’t stick with you through the worst. You do deserve to give somebody you care for your very best.

As this relates to anything else, including erotic art, my opinion stands. Be your best self. Treat yourself and others with respect and dignity and you will go a long way.

Hope that helps. For me I feel I’ve come to do the things I really enjoy and I’m happier than ever. That means a lot. It also means I’ve made great friends. I’ve met amazing people like yourself and so many others. 

Now go out and follow your dreams. Put in the work and you’ll get there.

-Ready