How Two WOC Creatives Make it Work

See you this Saturday?

I'm so excited to be speaking at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books this weekend! I'm not exaggerating when I say it's a dream come true. Marty Preciado has curated a series of conversations for the event, including a conversation between myself and Gabriela Herstik on Social Media as Literary Discovery. It's taking place this Saturday, April 21 at 3:30pm at USC (my alma mater). I'd love to to see you there.

If you missed the downloadable wallpapers available so far, click here.

Your favorite small but feisty writer,
Eva 

Real Life, Art, Writing and Resistance: How to Make it Work

It was so cool to visit UC Riverside for a conversation with photographer Star Montana. I loved speaking to a group of primarily women and people of color students. Before the event, as Star and I prepped, we decided to be as honest as possible with the students about our careers. I remembered feeling like some of the speakers I saw during my college years were speaking from a "I did x and y to get to z that is all" viewpoint. Where's the nitty gritty of it all?

Thanks to Distinguished Professor Susan Straight for the invitation. Here are some of the main points we went over in case they might be helpful to you as well: 
 

• Don't wait for permission: Professor Straight asked that I share how students can get started now, while in school. I encouraged them to do what I would advise anyone wanting to do something creative: don't wait for permission. DO try to pitch to magazine, websites, etc. but in the meantime the only validation you need that your work is valuable is from yourself. If you're not getting the responses you want from mainstream outlets do your own thing: write a blog, create a zine, work on that book, take those photos. 

• Don't put pressure on yourself to make your story universal: We had one student ask us how to deal with comments that her own work didn't reflect the experience of someone who went through something similar. Star made a great point: "It might sound harsh, but don't expect to always get a connection from your work." You should make the work for yourself, and if someone can connect to it, great! If you get negative reactions, just put your blinders on. Your story being different from someone'e else's doesn't make your story less valid.

• Know when to ask for more time and when it's just fear holding you back: During her residency at The Main Museum, Star was nervous about presenting her body of work. She asked for two extensions before finally realizing it was her fear of the work not being good enough that actually held her back. The show was a success and she was so happy with the results. 

• Find your group: One student asked about the challenges of often being the only WOC in a museum or art setting. How do you deal with the day-to-day? We both suggested you find a group of like-minded individuals in the same position so that you can find support and solace in them. Star remembers that when she first started, she found that through social media. She would often DM with other photographers and they validated each others' work while struggling to get mainstream recognition.