Kiini’s Comments (group member since Oct 15, 2013)

Kiini’s comments from the Q&A with Kiini Ibura Salaam group.

Kenja, you're the best for showing up! I'm enjoying it--there's no real time line. I just tried this Q&A because Goodreads suggested it, but I think "A Conversation" would have been more my style than a Q&A. I'll look up Asynchronous.

So I'm just back from Atlanta. I planned the whole trip and so many things came from it--it just reminds me that self-promotions is really just showing up. It's an intimate act that you are doing for you and for your work... telling your work that it's important, telling the world that your work matters.

It can feel put on or forced if you don't have your own relationship to self-promoting. It's taken me some time to position it in a way that it doesn't feel like a chore. The point is that you're being you--and sharing yourself with the world. That makes it a little more vulnerable and scary--but also natural.

I went to a branding workshop--working on the vague notion that as I'm interacting with the world, there might be something of value there. At the workshop the branding guru was saying it isn't your job to remake yourself into something someone wants to be a part of, it's to be you, and find your tribe. There are people who want what you have to offer--exactly because of exactly who you are. Your struggle/your pain; the way you talk (or don't talk); the you-ness of you is your God-given message.

So do you have beta readers? People who read your work before it goes out?

My father used to be my beta reader. I've relied on my brother and one of my friends a lot. Interestingly it becomes even more important to me with nonfiction. Missing an angle or leaving something out when I'm trying to argue a critical point is a corner I'd prefer not to back myself in.

I've heard artists say they don't want to read/listen to/see other artists when they're doing their work because they don't want to be influenced. I don't find that influence takes me too far off my own unique voice. It pushes me into completely new direction--but it doesn't remove me from where I need to be.

Do you have friends/a circle who reads your work?

Welcome to my Q&A today. I just spend some time in Atlanta talking about books, writers, and writing--my favorite topic.

I just wanted to celebrate being here by having a conversation with any takers... any takers?

Let's do this!

Being in community has always been connected to artistry for me. One quote I just found in a car commercial on tv is "Conversations create future innovations."

I believe in that. It also helps you get unstuck, creates solutions for problems and keeps spirits running high.

Do you readers feel a need to talk about what you're reading? Do you artmakers feel a need to talk about what you're making?

Do you find that a writer's worldview can alienate you and cause you to stop reading?

What is the line (for you) between alienating fiction (and not fiction about aliens or alienation) and challenging fiction?

When does a challenge from an author go sour for you?

Are you an artist? If so, what are your issues with self-promotion? Are you a committed reader? What types of promotions to do you enjoy receiving from authors?

I'm finding that it is a gift to be doing this in a digital age--everything can be recorded and shared. And you can try out new tools. My new word for self-promotion: EXPERIMENTATION.

I'm experimenting with this form of connecting with audiences and I hope you will join me.