Last summer, my laptop got stolen. Actually, my whole backpack got stolen, from right under my head, while I was sleeping. The couple who stole it got away with my laptop, two cell phones (my Obama phone, and the old iPhone 5 I used to take photos), all my Sharpies, a notebook (journal) or two, my harmonica, and $7 of something. In normal life, that stuff wouldn't be that hard to replace. But I don't live a normal life.
I've replaced the Sharpies and basic art supplies. I still didn't get a new phone, I just don't use a phone like most people do. Nearly all my writing and communication happened on my laptop. I still haven't replaced that. The last year has been me just trying to get by day to day, and do as much creative work as possible. Your Patreon support (about $65 each month), helps me with a few things I need on the first of each month, and I thank all of you for that.
Now it's May, and the SoCal rainy season, mild as it was, is pretty much over. As a homeless artist/blogger, weather plays a huge role in my life. During the rainy season, I pretty much just get by, writing as much as I can using the local library computer. Your Patreon support helps me keep working, a long with selling the occasional drawing, and "flying a sign," panhandling on local freeway off ramps.
Steve Emig The White Bear's Substack
You don't have to subscribe to my Substack to read all the posts right now. Just click "No thanks" on the first page, and it'll take you to the posts, 109 of them, I think right now. I have dozens of posts on different creative themes, and other themes as well.
So here's what I've managed to do in the last year or so. I've been writing A LOT on Substack. That platform was designed specifically for writers. I currently have three series of articles going on Substack, please check them out if they seem interesting:
The Poet- How I Became The White Bear- I've written somewhere around 400 to 500 poems in my life. This series features tells how I got into writing poetry, my process for writing poems, and features the poems I've written over the last few years.
Simulpocalypse- This is a term I coined to describe how every day civilization goes on as normal, while we have a growing number of vacant and abandoned buildings, and full post-apocalyptic looking places, in the U.S., simultaneously. This series dives into the tens of thousands of empty buildings from several different angles.
Recession 101- I just started this series, because I think we're finally sliding into the major recession (depression?) that I've been writing about for 7 years now. I haven't been writing about this recession just because it's the "next recession," but because this will be a world changing recession. This series is aimed more at the younger generations, who haven't lived through a full blown recession in their adult lives.
When I get a bank account again, hopefully over this summer, I will be able to get paid subscribers on Substack. It makes a lot more sense for a writer, and I'm thinking about asking about $7.50 a month. With 500 paid subscribers, after fees, I'll be able to rent a room, after paying taxes. With 1,000 paid subscribers, after paying fees, taxes, etc, I'd be in business as a truly functional artist and writer, and be able to actually live as a human (sleep in a bed, take daily showers, cook my own food, etc) again. This is the general direction I'm heading, bit by bit.
I'm still adding to my main Blogger blog: Steve Emig: The White Bear- which now has over 1,000 posts (1,050 ish), and over 418,000 total page views. But I've backed off on this to a large degree, and only add a post once in a while.
So that's where I'm focusing most of my time. As I've been just getting by week to week, I've been writing A LOT, and drawing a fair bit. If you're helping me out, this is the work you're supporting, and I truly thank you for the help.
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