i truly hesitated 2 put this post up b/c i suspect it will b misunderstood & possibly attacked, but, hey, won't b the 1st time. the ? was asked sincerely, so i felt it deserved an equally
sincere answer.
a little over 3 yrs ago i made a
committment 2 write my version of the gr8 amerikkkan novel, w 2 slight differences: it probably wouldn't b that gr8; & its slant might b considerd more anti-amerikkkan than anything else. since i didn't feel confident i would b able 2 do that while working full time, i decided 2 stop (working, not the novel). yes, i realized ppl wld think me crazy, but u hv 2 keep 1 thing n mind: ppl who r
certifyably insane don't spend a gr8 deal of time worrying that ppl might look at them like they're crazy. they xpect it & r used 2 it. it meant a change n lifestyle: i said tearful goodbye's to: cable; cell phone & beeper; driving my 2 yo overpriced import (yes, it's sitting n a garage now dry rotting, but i hv visitations on wkends); my once every third month blind date, n a good year (seeing women won't date me anymore); premium web service (now i've got the k-mart blu light special of isp's); along w any hope of ever meeting serena williams w/o getting arrested. i wish i cld say that i hv reached some spiritual higher plane or purified my soul by extricating myself from all those materialistic entanglements. but i can't. the reality is, it sucks & i want my toys back!
i know, get the violins & hankies out, boo-hoo. i've cut my expenditures 2 the bone, hopefully temporarily. what i didn't xpect, was 4 the bottom of the real estate market, at least here n boringham, 2 fall out @ the same time. i'm not posting this 4 sympathy or criticism. it was my decision & i still don't regret it (xcept 4 the part about serena). i remain committed (i mean that n the non institutionalized sense, at least not yet anyway) 2 seeing this project thru (self publishing the novel) even thou some measue of postponement is inevitable
until the economy rebounds somewhat. of course, the broader ? u posed, asking f ppl felt the site was worth it, i am not willing 2 address n a messege board, but wld discuss w u privately, shld u desire 2 do so.
i would offer the following, merely as suggestions 4 consideration, hving no doubt some, or all, hv already been submitted or discussed:
consider
gradualizing the membership fee: 2 my ears, given the current economic climate, the rate of change was a bit sudden. while ppl r paying $50 & $60/mo 4 cable (or more), & similar fee's 4 cell phones, $10/mo seems
miniscule by comparison, but those comparisons ignore the intense competition 4 market share by said businesses, &
consumer resistance 2 changes n their spending habits. ppl r reluctant 2 spend $ 4 something they r used 2 receiving @ no cost. personally, i wish there had been more of a transition period n which some costs were gradually passed on 2 members. something like $25 the 1st yr, $35 the 2nd & so on. of course, i'm not privy 2 information on whether that amount, even f contributed by, 4 instance, half the membership, would cover the operating costs of the site.
while its refreashing 2 relax n an advirtisement free environment, i might b willing 2 tolerate, 4 instance,
1 ad located somewhere on the page n xchange 4 reduced membership fee's. ad's saturate virtually every page n cyberspace & most of us hv adjusted, so i don't think that wld b viewed as 'selling out', at least not by me.
online pay per participant:
guest author/poet/lecturer: i've heard
parry a. brown (author of: sittin n the front pew; & the shirt off his back; both were on the essence bestseller's list @ 1 time) twice now. the most extensive lecture occurred at my local library @ a free (or at least no cost 2 the public) event. this woman is a
dynamic, forceful, articulate orator, & is not afraid 2 tell u she's about tryin 2 make a buck. but she'll tell u jus as fast she's about helping folks, when she can. i'm easily bored by lectures, &, hving been 4tunate enuff 2 hear some of the most prolific speakers n the country (they nearly all come 2 nyc at 1 time or another), not easily impressed, but parry was up 2 the task & was decidedly the best speaker i heard that year. i got the feeling from speaking w her, she could b open 2 negotiation & availible 4 seminars & workshops, possibly online, thou i don't proport 2 speak 4 her. last i checked, she was still touring around the country promoting her latest book. i think there r many other ppl availible n a similar manner. these restricted chats/discussions could b fee based & needn't involve any physical transportation by the author or those wishing to attend.
perhaps other, similar but distinct online wkshops could b developed:
artist showcase wkshops:
how to: merge ur poetry w music effectivly; purchase licence rights 2 music; market ur cd locally, regionally, nationally; how 2 evaluate ur marketing strategies objectivly;
writing workshops: established author's critique poetry, annonymously submitted, 4 group & xpert critique; where & how 2 sell ur poems, what sells, what doesen't & y; current market trends n poetry; where the markets 4 poets r & how 2 gain access 2 them;
self publishing: the fundamentals; how much $ u nd 2 get started; dis/advantages; pitfalls 2 avoid; leaving ur book on consignment, what the stores don't tell u; how much shld u pay 4 editing, & who shld u get?; how 2 choose a printer; do u need an agent?; advertising, how much bang per buck; when 2 get an agent & how;
of course the variations r virtually endless, i presented these as suggestions 4 consideration only. the bookamericaexpo this yr is holding a 1 day seminar priced @ $150.00, not including the cost of travel & accomodations. of course, they're bringin n some pretty well established ppl n the publishing world, & spending who knows how many millions on advertisements. still, it jus seems 2 me, there shld b a way 2 compete, virtually, & tap n2 that market. w lower overhead, reduced admission, & unlimited seating, it seems, theoretically at least, possible 2 tap n2 a portion of this market. jus throwing out ideas here.
the rapidly escalating membership of this site is adequate testimony to its growing popularity and value 2 the community it serves. there is no serious ? as to it's
integrity or whether or not it's making a
significant contribution toward blk unity. the overwhelming majority of active members in both the forums & chat r
courteous, respectful, sincere, and committed, n 1 way or another 2 working 4 improvements n the communitys they work & play n, from their immediate neighborhood 2 our global planetary home. this site can
teach, motivate, & inspire as well as actually
generate information & activities directly impactful & ultimately beneficial 2 the blk community. i hv certainly com 2 regard destee as my cyberhome & cherish most of the ppl i interact w here. i regret not being able 2 contribute financially at this time. i will b watching, even f it has 2 b from the outside looking in.