This week, I’m focusing on the line between being a follower and a leader.

I spent most of this week working on a spec script for screenwriting competitions. I’ve made some progress while feeling so behind as I worked to write the spec. While I’ve found the exercise to be motivating, in the same breath, I’ve been wanting to strike out on my own to get my content out there. I’ve contemplated many times, but it wasn’t until some family members told me I may be better to do my own thing rather than wait on the entertainment industry to come calling. I think my biggest fear has been failing without a safety net or having my work torn to pieces by internet trolls. But in the age of cancel culture, insta-fame, and disposable media, I feel now is the prefect time to take a risk.

With the COVID-19 pandemic still raging on, I feel many independent contractors like myself as going to be more vital once people start getting use to the new “normal.” We’ll all have to make some adjustments, but the end goal will be worth it. I know if I keep grinding and practicing my craft my time will come. Just like last week, I feel like my time will come in my late 30s to early 40s like a lot of my favorite entertainers. Especially being black, it seems the industry never wants to give creators of color their time until they feel they’re “worthy” of their time and money. But also seeing creatives like Issa Rae and Donald Glover making content on their own terms has inspired me to start taking a risk with my own content.

While I battle between independence and the industry waiting game, I’m still pursuing more freelance work as I have a couple offers I’m considering. The ongoing pandemic has made the freelance landscape a little shaky, but I feel more and more working-from-home will become the new “norm” for businesses. I feel things will be on the up and up after everything is said and done.

As summer break continues on, I find myself trying to be a better professor as take an online course, which I’m actually taking seriously. Right now, the course is going well. Hopefully, taking this course will help me to better understand creating online courses for my student next Fall.

Watch this space for more on my writing journey.