MacDirectory magazine is the premiere creative lifestyle magazine for Apple enthusiasts featuring interviews, in-depth tech reviews, Apple news, insights, latest Apple patents, apps, market analysis, entertainment and more.
Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/1234839
in media overall, I realized that it's great to allow people to see themselves in the heroes and the media they are consuming, especially when you're publishing in a place that is diverse. I started out thinking that everything had to be Japanese or European, without realizing that I could make a change on my own. Frederick has been insistent on challenging the diversity within Manga with all creators including myself. I now try to reflect that in my work because diversity IS important and also it inspires more people to do the same thing. Q: You have a successful YouTube channel where you share your art and tutorials. What role has the channel played in your career? My channel is very important for my career because it allows me to knock on doors without needing to actually knock on doors. (laughs) It's almost the opposite in some ways where people are knocking on my door. Taking advantage of social media has allowed me to build my network—it's how I met Raymond and Frederick and how I came to be part of Saturday AM. I was able to put my work out there, build an audience, and inspire others. My audience also motivates me to keep going and make sure that I put out good work. The channel has made it easier for me to get feedback, especially at times when I didn't have access to people in the industry or to mentors. It even assisted me in getting my Masters at Texas University, as the work I created was very different from everybody else, which helped me get accepted. Overall, it's helped my growth and networking in tremendous ways. Q: What do you think makes a creator successful online? I think that to be a successful creator online, you have to fully believe in and love what you are doing. A lot of people try to get into creating content online, but because they don't love it enough, they fall behind and lose motivation to keep going. It's important to also be realistic and honest with yourself about what you want to accomplish and what you are able to do. After that, you need to understand the landscape of the digital age and understanding how each social media outlet works and how it would best suit your needs. You need to be consistent with the quality and quantity of the content you create and stay organized. All of this is preparing yourself for luck because in some cases, you have to be lucky. You have to know that there is risk involved, but it is always good to be prepared for luck when it comes. Otherwise, even if you get the right eyes on you, you might miss the chance if you don't make a good impression. Q: How important are your interactions with your community to you? Personally, I want the people in my community to know that I am a contributor and to feel my presence. I do this by making