31 Comments
May 28Liked by Kerra Bolton

This resonates so deeply, Kerra! I have hard time with the attention economy because so much of it feels inauthentic and performative. There's a lot of resistance that comes up whenever I feel pressured to play because I don't my work or words that I pour so much intention into to be reduced to the consumption. I also have a hard time with the pressure to go viral, because it seems as if that's become the measure of "successful" art despite the fact that many viral offerings fade from the collective memory and gaze just as quickly as they fall into it. Visibility is so much more sacred than that for me.

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Thanks for sharing. I wish I had a shaman next door. To your point about social media and consumption, I felt it heavy in spaces like IG and twitter. The urge to do more, share more, and in turn receive more eyeballs was real. However on this platform I feel I am able to express myself more fully and release my work at a pace that feels sustainable. Who knows for how long of course but I wonder if the ability to use more forms of media - written, graphic, auditory - allow for myself and other to be satiated with that we share and in turn obsess less over the interpretation? Thanks again for the read.

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Thank you exploring this very real sensation so powerfully 👏🏽

What you said in your closing and how you said it blew me away:

“Stop playing games in spaces that frustrate you. Leave, observe the rules, or subvert them to achieve your aims.”

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author

Thank you. I appreciate you making shareable art of the quote.

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Very welcome. It was a powerful piece.

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May 30Liked by Kerra Bolton

I loved everything about this! Thank you ✨✨ Phew, the relevance.

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Thank you. The most challenging and beautiful part is we get to determine our own path. Yours belongs to you and you get to choose with whom you share your path and art.

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May 28Liked by Kerra Bolton

We’ve been talking about this and I’m glad you’re writing about it. You know my thoughts on this. We will continue to make make lemonade, and make our own lime light.

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I love this piece so much and I think you are right the attention economy is going bankrupt. I am feeling it to. So many things I love in your piece like duck duck goose you brought me right back to the feeling of being hit too hard on the head by the goose and I totally remember not wanting to get picked and also never getting picked. That strange feeling of wanting to be noticed and than not wanting to be picked. Also I love your French shaman cooking you Peruvian soup and your tears. I get the thing about artists wanting attention but in a way isn’t it also about wanting to express ourselves in order to hopefully educate others about the atrocities or injustices we feel and sometimes the only way to get through to people seems to be through art rather than speaking? I don’t have the answers but all I know is I love your work and it inspires me.

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Thank you for your insights and encouraging feedback. I believe you struck at the core of the matter — I want to “be picked,” but I also don’t want to care as much as I do.

Writing, reading, and connecting through the arts have been a lifeline and the means by which I understand the world. This matters so MUCh to me.

However, I must face reality and find a creative and business model(s) that work for me. Compromises are likely to be involved. But how boring would my life be if I got everything I wanted, exactly the way I wanted? Again, thank you so much!

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Haha. That’s such a great perspective, you are right life would be so boring. I should probably look at it that way too because it’s true some desires and dreams just magically come into fruition and many do not and sometimes I can get stuck on focusing on the ones that do not but you are right if it all fell into place perfectly that would not be as zesty

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And no French shaman neighbors to right the world with Peruvian soup and common sense!

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Thank you fro this Kerra! I know that hunger to be "chosen" oh-too-well. For some reason it was louder for me on platforms like IG or Twitter. I don't feel the same pressure here. Maybe it's me who's changed? I also systematically unsubscribe from folks sharing their success stories. I don't need that kind of pressure in my inbox.

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Thank you for your perspective. I don’t feel the same pressure on IG because I use it mostly to scroll for funny memes and to see what my friends are up to. I love writing, reading, and participating in a creative community. Therefore, I think these issues matter more to me here than on other platforms.

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You’re also right about that unsubscribe button. ;-)

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.. ‘Read you Loud & Clear Kerra.. You may have spotted my recent ‘Note re Edward de Bono - Lateral Thinking re Problem Solving

.. but 1st a little ‘housekeeping - believe I misspelled your name recently ! Abject self - embarrassment - ain’t sure - but ‘pretty sure !

Now then.. ! I’m here for specific reasons -

# One was/remains - Desired a ‘Powerful & Free Stable Site - to base a HyperMedia Gallery within - All Ages suitable & 24/7

# Two was/is Attain Visibility & Sustain Interest based on the Merits of Artists I Spotlight as well as My Diverse ‘Offerings

# Three - Be ‘discovered - ie ‘noticed, intrigued.. ‘recognized by Someone.. or someone who knows ‘someone who.. fill in the blanks

# Four - by establishing & confirming - A Capability to Write - on Demand - for Diverse ‘mainstream entertainment appetites & Markets

# Five - Publicize / Promote - Several existing Commercially Viable Properties accessible via Front Page of my Substack Site

In short Kerra - am here to hit a Home Run .. have not succeeded via Traditional Approaches - been there done it

.. ‘the deck is stacked against me here Kerra.. I ‘get it’ - But I’m an ‘indy contrarian & rebel.. embracing ‘lateral solutions ..

YOU are Completely Different ! (no kidding eh !) It’s very possible the deck is stacked even higher against you !

It’s my view - the ethereal original Writing that attracted me is very different than the Services you’re offering ..

.. raising the possibility that you might either ‘utilize the ‘diffusion - ie ‘Promote Both Talents as Unique & proven Assets

fyi though & to my knowledge - no one has ever visited my Sections housing Different ‘Properties.. ie Diamond Walker

or Ann Harvey or Turks Grift.. It’s quite possible the combined total of ‘Likes - Comments - reStacks in One year..

as I mounted approx 50 Posts - including other Artists Award Winning Works are less than what several Self-Publishers here

gross from a single Post.. I’m fine with this.. but will explain the ‘exception in a moment

What should remain My Key Strategy here is ‘Visibility & not ‘popularity.. or ‘Attention

Thus my ‘unease with Notes / certain Members here - plus the Algorithm !

Currently - I see the situation at Notes resembling an ‘Open Channel.. or Photo/Video ‘Party Line’

For those seeking Visibility via a SINGLE Post of Merit via Notes ? While others narrate/shoot post every bird, cloud on every walk

& this along with also Posting Notes of their Latest Art or Pet Peeve .. or restack their favourable restacks & reviews via Notes !

One I caught essentially ‘making deals/prizes for readers to Restack selected Writings.. got Blocked for inquiring about that..

and vague insults & threats.. (yes.. there are screengrabs.. I deal in facts..

Currently i’ll post to Notes approx 4 - 6 times daily now - but ideally, one is an original Photo of mine - and/or a sample re my ‘other stuff

if it’s new or progressed. Work by others ? Always great stuff to share.. or to Laud ! And when it’s obvious that certain others are ‘Flooding Notes’

may probe them gently at first - mebbe a little ‘restraint won’t hurt ? As Notes right now is essentially the Only Way To be Visible or FOUND !

If I can find or be spotted by a potential Partner or Patron.. will Reward Substack appropriately - but expecting complete strangers

to Pay Me to be Noticed seems laughable

It’s my view you face far more Challenges.. so I’m trying to point out my far far smaller issues here ..

Glad to help.. always ! Ain’t forgetting the Inspiring - History, Themes, Emotions & Realities gleaned early on

as I started creating & imagining the Cinematic & Story basis of Turks Grift - Story Outline

Thanks to you - my continuing Research took some abrupt turns.. but the Payoff I deem ‘staggering..

as my ‘Fiction In the Story is now ‘rooted in undeniable ‘Veracity ..

Now .. if I can glean some unique Perspectives from Ms Charlotte Pendragon re ‘Magical Illusions.. boffo !

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Thomas, I'm GLAD you're here. I wouldn't have "found" you if you weren't. Also, I have a soft spot for indy contrarians and rebels. I hope to be one, someday. Your reasons belong to you. Sometimes, I am exhausted, that's all. Maybe some people feel the same way. Maybe they don't. But I'm here for it -- all of it.

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I’m also here as an ‘observer - a spy.. & a 72 year witness re the Evolutions & Revolutions of Culture & Technology per Marshall McLuhan..

My ‘Skin in the Game’ is also about Canada.. my Country.. the Politics, Propaganda, Yellow Media, Corruption, Racism, Ideology etc.. but not within my Site.. only via Notes here

A little further ‘down the road’ you’ll see a Synopsis and/or a Character or two.. and you’ll laugh out loud - just knowing who planted that ‘seed .. was you ! Yes - Slavery, Plantations ..‘Open Water & even Voodoo .. but set in the Caribbean sub tidal areas & mangrove as well as Resort social settings

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Thank you! I’m flattered.

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It does feel quite overwhelming at times to produce content for this space. My stuff is a reflection on me and my experience of the world, and not everyone is going to have to desire to witness or consume that. I will keep posting weekly, but it’s definitely more for me than for anyone else.

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May 27·edited May 27Author

I love reading your work. Produce as much as YOU want to, WHEN you want. I'm here for people who create in ways that nourish them. I'm processing (aloud) my frustration about feeling like I'm shouting into the void. I could have easily been writing about those same feelings on Instagram.

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And thank you so much!!

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Or LinkedIn. It’s brutal.

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Oh my god, don't get me started on LinkedIn. There's a great meme that says, "I proposed to the love of my life this weekend. Let me tell you what it taught me about B2B sales."

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Have you watched Black Twitter on Hulu (I think it’s Hulu). I enjoyed it very much. It’s 3 episodes.

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I haven’t because I don’t have Hulu. But I will when I can get to it.

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HAAAAAAAAAAAA!

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May 27Liked by Kerra Bolton

Thank you ma’am for your wisdom and wit, your grace and clarity. 💜💜

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Thank you for reading and conversing with me.

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I’m so glad you’re having a positive and fulfilling Substack experience. That’s wonderful to hear! Please stay in touch.

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The question of whether social media is protecting abusers is an important one. Additionally, the concept of karma and the balance of justice are thought-provoking. I'd love to hear your thoughts

Check out this article where facts are presented about Kerra, lets see how long this lasts before truth and facts are deleted and blocked…?

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/reglenneyofficial_legalabuse-law-scamms-activity-7207426449820057600-oumY?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios

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