Off line, wised up and loving those that show respect

A lot more of my creative work is happening off line.

I can’t share it with you yet.

It’s secret creative business.

The people who are seeing it are reading mentors, otherwise known as beta readers.

They are making suggestions and asking me questions.

They are people who like my ideas, but are skilled at seeing what can make it even more effective. I am growing so much through their mentorship.  They are so honest and constructive.  Writers if you don’t have beta readers, find them!

Soon I am to send work off to traditional publishers, now knowing that it is the best I can possibly do.

As for my art, when someone told me they printed one of my pictures and put it up on their wall, without asking me, I was a little upset they didn’t buy a copy of it from Red Bubble to help support my creative work.

I was also extremely upset when I did some volunteer work using video and photography as a favour for a friend, for some unnamed group and they then later freely used it without attributing it to me or linking to any of my sites and showed an absolute disrespect for my creative rights and a lack of understanding of the creative process.

The friend was wonderful their organisation was not!  That said I have done volunteer work for many organisations who have treated me well, later given me paid work and have trusted, respected and thanked me.  I love supporting others, and supporting causes I believe in, but can I continue to do it when some act this way and when I need to pay for the education of my children and my paper, printing, internet, etc.  Being altruistic I don’t do it to be thanked, but because of my love of humanity, but people being incredibly rude and using you now that’s not justice!

Over the years I have noticed that often volunteers are treated badly!  People who work with volunteers, especially when you are a volunteer yourself, ask yourself why do you do this?  They are people who are putting their heart into supporting your organisation when they may be doing lots of other things, looking for a full time job, raising their children, retired, unemployed, and want experience and they should be treated at least as well as normal employees.

My advice to others always gets written aggreements before undertaking voluntary photography/video work and make sure they communicate with you clearly, respect your rights and creativity and understand what you are wanting to do and if not DO NOT DO IT, even as a favour.  Read through their guidelines for their volunteers and if anything seems off, don’t work with them.  See how other volunteers have enjoyed working with them or for them.

Reflecting on my many years of voluntary work, for all those who make use of artists, photographers and musicians, you have to not take advantage of us and stop expecting us to give without respecting us, understanding the time, skill and love involved in our work , thanking us, and the fact that many artists do not make their full time living from art because of such attitudes.

People fund raising with art, rather than asking for a donation of art for an auction, purchase it for its cost price, with a small profit to the artist and then add costs above that.

If you have the opportunity to pay us when you hire us, even if it is extra work for you do it! Better still build a project with us, build a bridging relationship that can grow over time.

Copyright, is such an issue for artists  and writers online, bloggers, memers, make sure you have permission for your images and words!  I nearly always use my own photographs on this blog.

Watermarks, putting up images at low resolution, not putting it on line if wanting to fully protect it, these are just some of the options.  Respect for artists who willingly work in the community is another.

I was really concerned when I read a beautiful meme without the poet’s name on the work.  Just great-quotes,  actually she had a name and that wasn’t it – and so many people liked her work, I wonder if she even knew.  I punched the words in and found out the name of the poet, and attributed her to her meme.  I hope people support her to write more.  Sometimes I don’t know about pinterest.  How many memes might not be properly attributed?  I love the concept, but can I be really sure of the copyright on all the pins.

I can’t reiterate enough for people reading this  blog to respect the copyright and imagination of those generous (some would call us naive) to share our world with you online.

Why do we do it?  Because we love connection, growing as artists, reaching out to others, developing an audience through online means, overcoming isolation, reflecting on our creative processes.

So please new or quiet readers of this blog, be of that group who respect the writers and artists who share online,  When you love our work look at ways you can financially support us, we often give you hints of how to do that.

And to all those who do any of the suggestions here already, bless you and your sincere hearts.  I will be posting my wishlist soon.

All those that know me personally know I have a big heart, but I also want to stand up as an artist and writer and say please show us some love and respect.

(c) June Perkins