Creating Art on Your Terms
In an era when the Executive Branch aggressively extends influence over national art creation and consumption, it is important for artists to be independent of federal ties that censor. But, how?
You’ve got the vision, the fire, and that undeniable Black Girl Magic ready to go independent. But before you leap, let’s talk about laying the groundwork so you can soar, not just stumble, into your brilliance. Honey, I’ve been there, done that, and got the (now slightly more organized) spreadhseets.
Wrap ya bonnet, get ya cup, let’s break down five things you need to know when you’re ready to boss your own talent.
💅🏾 From Brain Dump to Blueprint: The Plan is Your Power Move
Okay, let’s be real. That genius idea that’s been doing the electric slide in your head? It needs a home outside your brilliant mind. I’m talking about writing it all down.
- The Evolution is Real: My journey started with notes scattered like confetti across apps and journals. But as that idea started nagging me, becoming an “emotional irritation that needed to be released from its prison of pragmatism” (yes, I said it!), I knew I had to get serious.
- Structure is Your Friend: Think project description, timeline (with phases, benchmarks, the whole shebang!), and yes, even a budget. This took me weeks, fueled by late-night epiphanies and some serious Google-fu. This groundwork was a game-changer when grant deadlines rolled around. Suddenly, applying wasn’t a scramble; it was a flex. 💪🏾
- The Unspoken Truth for Artists: I’ve seen too many incredible artists, bursting with talent, keep their entire vision locked up in their heads. As someone who’s been on the admin side, coaxing those details out to make the magic happen, let me tell you: WRITE. IT. DOWN. Having your project documented in what might feel like “antagonizing detail” makes fundraising, networking, and marketing a thousand times smoother.
- Capitalism Ain’t Cute, But We Move: In an ideal world, we’d just create. But this is reality, and if you’re taking that leap because you’re tired of pouring your genius into someone else’s cup, you need to get savvy with the business side. The plan is to eventually hire a team (and trust, they’ll come knocking!), but understanding these pieces yourself first? Priceless. It gives you clarity when it’s time to delegate. As my public school teaching days in the South Bronx taught me (shoutout to Doug Lemov!), “economy of language” is a superpower.
So, gather those thoughts, sis. Bring them all together into one cohesive, powerful statement. Then, and only then, are you truly ready for takeoff. 🚀
🌐 Own Your Domain, Boo
If it’s not online, does it even exist? In 2025? Not really.
- Secure Your Spot: I snagged metacocomom.com years ago, way before the Black mommy blogosphere beautifully exploded with all this emotional intelligence and gentle parenting gold. (So proud of us, by the way! 🌱) I even grabbed the “MetaCocoMom” handle on every platform that made sense. Why? Because your name, your brand, is precious.
- Consistency is Queen: When the Labor Pains Project (hitting Albany, NY, and my beloved Oakland, CA!) started taking shape, I initially posted on my existing channels. But a weekly blog commitment needed its own home. This, plus a Coursera course from UC Davis on Content Marketing (highly recommend for my fellow DIY queens starting with “wit and an idea”!), taught me the gospel of consistent style, voice, and branding. No more picking fonts on a whim because they “felt right” in the moment! 😂
- Credibility and Connection: A dedicated website, even a simple free WordPress one to start, isn’t just about looking pretty. It’s your project’s home base, a place for people to land, learn, and see that your vision is real and deserves attention. In this age of digital scrutiny, where everyone’s a fact-checker, your website is your handshake, your proof of authenticity. And as I learned, it’s not just about aesthetics; it’s about ease of navigation and genuine relevance. Owning that domain legitimizes your work in ways you can’t even imagine and helps you understand things like SEO – crucial for building that audience.
The process of building the website for the Labor Pains Project actually helped me refine the project itself. Trying to explain it clearly for an online audience? Chef’s kiss for clarity! ✨
🗣️ Talk That Talk: Your Voice Shapes Your Vision
You know how an idea can feel a bit fuzzy until you try to explain it to someone? Exactly.
- The Power of Articulation: It’s like those Socrates seminars I used to run with my history students. Putting them in situations where they had to explain their decisions? That’s where the deep understanding and critical thinking bloomed, way better than any “whitewashed textbook outta Texas” could offer. The act of forming sentences forces your mind to synthesize, to persuade.
- From Cold Call to Coast-to-Coast: When I was ready to find partners for the Labor Pains Project, my first call was to a colleague in Albany. Low-hanging fruit? Maybe, because she knew my work ethic. But I still had to sell the project. Her enthusiasm was infectious! That one conversation gave me the juice I needed for the next call – a cold one, to Jil Vest at the West Oakland Mural Project. (So excited that this is where our Oakland performance will be in June 2026!) Because I’d been putting in the groundwork, making myself known in the community, it wasn’t that cold. Boom! Two partners, two coasts, in the first week.
- Practice Makes Pitch-Perfect: Talking about your project, even in its messy, early stages, is how you learn how to talk about your project. Each conversation is a rehearsal, a refinement. This is an ongoing evolution, especially when you’re wooing funders and sponsors.
So, don’t be shy. Share your spark. You’ll be amazed at how it catches fire. 🔥
✍🏾 Solidify That Language: Clarity is Kindness (to Yourself and Others)
Alright, you’ve been talking, planning, and building. Now it’s time to get crystal clear.
- Consistency is Key (Again!): As people ask questions, you’ll naturally start integrating those answers into your pitch. This is the time to go back through everything you’ve written and ensure your language is consistent, clear, and concise.
- Grant Writing Glow-Up: This is where the “technical language” actually helps. Having to articulate the relevance of your work within social, political, cultural, and historical theory? It elevates your idea from “just a thing I’m doing” to a genuine “contribution to a field of study.” That mindset shift is powerful. It’s no longer a hobby; it’s a mission. 🎯
- Channel Your Inner Zora: My hero, Zora Neale Hurston, understood and navigated the language of many worlds. That’s what we’re doing, sisters. I meet so many brilliant women with incredible ideas who doubt their ability to pull them off, conditioned to believe they’re not enough. Lies! We’ve been pulling it off for centuries. Sharing this knowledge, these skills, this language, is my mission. I want to give everything I know to women like us so you can manifest your freedom too. Because that’s what this journey is ultimately about: the freedom to define your own terms.
Speak your truth, clearly and powerfully. The world 🌎 needs to hear it💯
🙋🏾♀️ Know Your Needs, State Your Wants: Unapologetically
This one is crucial, ladies. At every single stage, be ready to answer these two questions with your whole chest:
What do you NEED?
What do you WANT?
And when someone asks, do not shrink. Don’t get squirrely.
- Confidence is Contagious: Backing down or being wishy-washy projects insecurity. It signals that maybe you don’t take yourself seriously, that you’re unsure, or that you don’t have what it takes to make it happen. Nah, sis. Not us.
- Clarity Commands Respect: Being able to look someone in the eye and state, “I need X amount of funding,” or “I need access to this space,” or “I want to collaborate with these specific people” communicates confidence, clarity, and professionalism. And let’s be honest, people want to work with, support, and invest in those who exude these qualities.
You’ve done the work. You have the vision. Own it. Ask for what you need and what you desire to bring it to life. You deserve it all. Period. ✨
Going independent is a journey, not a destination. There will be revisions, pivots, and a whole lot of learning. But with a solid plan, your unique voice, and the courage to ask for what you’re worth, you’re not just going independent – you’re breaking free.
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