20% off all products! Sale ends tonight at midnight EST.
9 Years Ago
As I wrote in my title - Failing with one thing, may offer a new opportunity.
That was very true for me in the past, and it's happened again. As you might know, I started a book project in the middle of July, called “SelfisBook” on Indiegogo. Even though I was doing everything possible to make it a success, sadly I failed with the idea. Many people found it very interesting, and some people even joined my project with their selfies, but it wasn't enough to make the book a reality.
So, after a lots of thought, I have decided to turn my project around, and return to the original idea, which was to publish my own selfie book from my personal selfie collection, pictures I took over many years of my personal emotional journey, and how I recorded the changes in myself. I believe it will be an interesting book for others, to see an artist’s self-exploration.
When I was thinking about publishing my own self-portrait book, I was worried about how people would react to it; and I wasn't sure if anyone would find it interesting to see only me in the book. Because I am just a regular person, and not a photo model, and I am not considering myself a pretty person either.
That’s what made me think of a collective selfie book, where people can participate; and I still think that idea was great, but with a lack of publicity I never got to publish it....maybe one day I will return to that project, as I haven't given up on the idea yet!
So, going back to the current updated project:
Over this past weeks, when I was telling/writing people about my idea for the book, and explaining the reasons why I took so many selfies over the past years, I got a lot of interest even from professionals (my therapist too). When I was messaging on Facebook with Bryan Rider a couple of days ago, he was asking my reasons to start the project (as I was asking his help about how to make the collective selfie book to be seen by more people), and his questions made me think about my original reasons for taking selfies. So, after much thought, I have decided to publish my own book.
And the other, less important, factor was to bring back my original project idea is:
I sent Kim Kardashian a Tweet a few days after I started my project. At that time the title was called "SelfisBook", but I changed it on the July 26th. To make the title easier for people to understand, I've changed it "SelfiesBook".
So, I messaged her and other celebrities that night. But in the morning I felt kind of embarrassed to tweet Kim, so I deleted that tweet and a few others, too. I guess if Twitter really wants to help me, they can recover it, so I can prove I informed her about my book project at that time. But a few days later, I read in the news about Kim's "idea" of publishing a selfie book – which made me very upset, to see how her intentions are to get published, just because she is a celebrity. I believe she got the idea from my project, as that time my book title was spelled in the very similar way, she only put a "h" on the end, creating “Selfish Book.”
So, I was thinking, if she can publish a book of herself, just to display her "assets", I can publish my own collection, which some people may find interesting and associate with my experiences; or that maybe even can help them, at some level, to better understand themselves.
Here is the updated version of my book project:
http://igg.me/at/selfiesbook/x/6513667
Reply Order
9 Years Ago
Sounds neat Marianna - Good luck with it. I've been simply trying to complete a book of my digital abstracts - may never get completed in any form. I also wanted to create a video for youtube - and that has gone the same direction.
9 Years Ago
Marianna,
Our ability to dream has no boundary. When we limit our choices to only what seems possible or to society's standards of what is realistic, the only dream that is left is a compromise. Always follow your heart, be true to yourself, and your dreams will become a reality one day.
Best of luck with it! :-)))
9 Years Ago
Ha! I think your's will be way better and more interesting than Kim's.....you have the kind of assets that really matter and I wish you all the best AND I'm looking forward to getting my signed postcard print, yippeeee!!!!
9 Years Ago
Marianna, I like your idea and believe you can do it just by looking at your self portraits and Art. I also liked your original idea and will also be looking forward to my signed postcard.
9 Years Ago
Kim Kardashian's book has been in the works for a while, so I doubt she stole the idea from you. I think it's probably one of those ideas that just seem to happen around the same time. Wishing you all the best with your project!
9 Years Ago
Thank you so much everyone for your encouraging words.
RoyD,
I know what you mean. I always have some unfinished project, but everything get done sooner or later.
Jeffrey,
"Always follow your heart, be true to yourself, and your dreams will become a reality one day."
Thank you for saying that!
Someone wrote to me very similar a few years ago, and that was the time I realized, I do NEED to be true to myself, as we are only live once....
Melissa,
Thank you so much for your comment and your contribution to my project. I am very happy to send you the postcard print soon, please send me an email with your address and which one you would like to have. :)
Jim,
Thank you for believing me and my art project, and for your contribution. Please send me an email with your address and chosen image for the art postcard.
I am thinking all day long how I will set up the pages to make it an art, but interesting in the same time. I am very excited to create my own book.
Mario,
Thank you! Yes, I try not to give up.
Patricia,
Thank you. Yes, maybe you are right. But the time I was thinking about my collective selfies project, first thing I was doing; to search up every keyword if someone already published this kind of book yet. And that time I only find one book, what was called Selfie, but that was covering a totally different angle on this subject.
That time was nothing about Kim Kardashian's idea to make a selfie book. It came well after my project was running and I wrote to her.
Maybe it is just a weird coincident...anyway, I don't think my book will be a competition for her.
9 Years Ago
For those of you who don't know, Marianna and I live together (plus her kids). I've gotten to watch this project develop from its inception, despite a false start or two along the way. Her tenacity throughout the process has been an inspiration.
9 Years Ago
:) looking forward to my postcard. Thank you for such great communication along the way!
Hi Murray
9 Years Ago
Murray,
Thank you for all your support on my project and helping me to correct my grammar mistakes :)
Abbie,
It makes me happy to send you the postcard. Thank you so much for your support and understanding about the changes I had to make on my project. x
9 Years Ago
Just an update of my book project.
I am 77% of my goal amount.
I was thinking if I will reach my goal I might use some of the money for renting an art studio space in Baltimore Art Tower. That may be a good opportunity to showcase my photo book too.
Because last Saturday when I was volunteering in Bromo-Seltzer Tower which is accommodating artists. They have got about 30 studios for rent (only 3 available at the moment).
Since I was experiencing that atmosphere to be a part of the artist community, I can't stop thinking how could I rent a studio there, and to have my own space to create every day and paint again with oil on canvas. Would be great to meet with art lovers/buyers and exhibit my work. But my financial situation don't allow me to do it, because the yearly rent is approx. $4000.
9 Years Ago
The arts tower is fascinating. Fifteen floors of artists and studios. It could be a perfect venue for working and selling.
http://www.bromoseltzertower.com/history.cfm
The tower appears in this old picture of mine, shot in the early '70s for a newspaper ad:
Hi Abbie
9 Years Ago
Yes, you are right Murray. Thanks for posting them pictures.
The tower is made a big impact on me since I was helping out there. Actually I will do more volunteering there in October too...can't wait :)
While I was there, I gone up to the clock and took some pictures with my phone's camera, but I want to go back there with my Nikon.
Here is the picture I took last Saturday.
