I’m not entirely sure how it’s possible, but with the Kickstarter having now come to a close, I feel as if the level of how busy I am has simultaneously diminished and increased.

How does that even happen?

 

Perhaps because even though I’m still editing images at an almost obsessive rate (less than ten left!), with all the Kickstarter prep and promotion out of the way, I do gratefully have a bit more head space to think about what Kristina, Kristen, and I were able to achieve.

(If you missed the final announcement, we’ve reached over $70,000, with more expected to come in once people purchase their “add-ons”!)

 

 

I have also had quite a bit of time to think about everything I’ve done these past nine months since my part in the Green Rider project began. And having now had almost two weeks to think about everything, I’ve realized there are five particularly important things I’ve learned through this experience:

 

First, a Kickstarter requires 100% of your focus.

When I first joined this project, I was bound and determined to not let Passages or any of my commission work to fall to the wayside. I was determined to operate as if Green Rider was just another project among many that I was working on. I don’t think I’ve ever been MORE WRONG about something in my life…

(Except maybe that Calculus final my sophomore year of college… man that was a disaster…)

Now, I am definitely not saying I regret taking on this project. With each new image completed and each new comment from a fan, I still get that little excited flip in my stomach. However, I admittedly have a tendency (sometimes good, sometimes bad) to think that I am capable of doing ALL things.

As it turns out, I’m not capable of planning multiple full-scale photo shoots, creating over 30 unique art pieces, prepping a Kickstarter, launching said Kickstarter, and relentlessy promoting it… all  “on the side”. It’s a full time job, one I’m really proud to say I did on a “weekends and evenings only” basis. Because that is pretty incredible. To beat myself up for having to put a few other projects on hold while I focused on Green Rider is denying myself the pride that comes in recognizing what Kristina, Kristen, and I have been able to (and will) accomplish this year.

 

 

Second, I’ve discovered a love for live video!

I say this quite often, but whatever: I am the classic definition of an introvert. If someone pulls into the parking lot at work at the same time as I do, I’ll hang out in my car until they’re safely in the building… all to avoid a bit of small talk. And my favorite part about my day job? I’m the only person in the company who has a cubicle all to herself.

Which is why I can’t believe I just typed point #2. Seriously? Live video? Where you talk to people?

But here’s the thing, while I detest SMALL talk… I LOVE conversations about things that really matter to me. Which is exactly what Facebook Live is. So when the Green Rider project finally draws to a close (I’m slightly in denial that day exists), I’m hoping we can still have Facebook Live dates every once in a while to chat about fantasy, costumes, and all things green (because it’s my favorite color). Cool? Cool.

 

 

Third, inviting fans along every portion of your creative journey makes a huge difference.

While it’s one thing to know you’d be nowhere without the fans… it’s another thing entirely to see over 640 fans stand behind you and your creations, not just with their Facebook comments, likes, and shares… but also with their money. Their money that they waited for the next paycheck for, or that they waited for their tax return for because it was that important to them to spend that last extra bit of money they had on what you created…

It makes you want to try harder. To keep creating for them. To make whatever you give them the very best it can be, because without them… you really wouldn’t have achieved your dreams, no matter how hard you worked.

 

 

Fourth, I want collaborating to be an active part of my business.

In the past, I’ve had quite a bit of fun collaborating with costume designers for the purposes of portfolio building. I always told myself, though, that if I couldn’t claim 100% of the credit for the creation, I couldn’t say it was really my work. It was for this reason that, while I enjoyed collaborating, I didn’t want collaboration work to play a HUGE role in my business. Until I started working with Kristina.

Green Rider is not my idea. I didn’t create the characters these fans have grown to love and look up to. Kristen is owed that great honor. I didn’t write the incredible song that makes Karigan’s desperate fight against the tainted Gray One come to life as I read about her life-and-death struggle. Kristina is the artist behind that particular brand of magic. But when I look at the images I created, inspired by Kristen’s stories and Kristina’s music, I see my work laying before me and I’m proud of the fact that those images truly did come from me. From Kristen, Kristina, AND me… and there’s something really special about sharing that privilege.

 

 

Fifth and finally, I learned about the power of one email.

I’ve reached out to fellow creatives before via email (see my point above) and generally speaking, good things have resulted. However, nothing could have prepared me for where my email to Kristina has led me.

From that one email, I was able to reach a group of fans that I can finally bond with, fans that share some of my same passions and that I feel like I can joke around with. Fans that I even look forward to hopping on Facebook Live with a few times a month!

AND I’ve been able to connect with my very favorite author! For Harry Potter fans: imagine getting on first name basis with J.K. Rowling, and then you’ll understand. The number of fangirl moments I’ve had since July is staggering…

I’ve also found a business partner that I have absolutely LOVED working with and hope to be able to work with again! The kind of business partner that has allowed a friendship to blossom. And not just a surface level friendship, but rather the kind that I can share my latest sob story with, text goofy memes and emojis to, and celebrate all of our successes with.

(Like the fact that Kristina is having her little baby girl TODAY! You’ve got this Kristina!!!)

Most importantly, however, I’ve discovered the sort of business I am capable of running… and what I am capable of… and I’ve come out on the other end with an absolute conviction that I am on the correct path. I know that with all of my heart and all of the rest of me.

 

So if someone were to ask me, “would you do it all again?”, my response would be this:

“Without hesitation and with every ounce of enthusiasm I can muster. Yes. Yes, again and again.”