Meet Jaachi Anyatonwu: Writer and Founder Poemify Publishers.

Our showcase creative for January 2024 is Jaachi Anyatonwu. We are elated to start off the new year with his words and tips. Let’s dive in!

There is a concept we hear of once or twice in the creative space, the “starving artist.” Can you explain what this is all about?

Well, the concept of the “starving artist” is a myth that has been perpetuated by the media and society for a long time. It implies that creatives have to sacrifice their material well-being and live in poverty in order to pursue their creative passion. However, this is not true for most creative people today, who have access to various sources of income and support for their creative work. The concept is outdated and does not reflect the reality of many artists in the modern world. As Andie Laf Designs points out, the idea of “starving artist” doesn’t exist anymore because artists can now sell their work online, get grants and sponsorships, collaborate with other artists, and diversify their income streams.

Being a starving artist is not necessarily a sign of artistic excellence or dedication, anyway. It can also be a result of poor management skills, unrealistic expectations, a lack of market research, or just personal choices. Therefore, I would say that being a starving artist is not a concept that applies to me or most artists today. I am proud of my work as a poet, editor, publisher, web designer, graphics designer, and virtual assistant. I enjoy creating content that inspires people and helps them achieve their goals. I also value my financial stability and security as an independent professional. I do not see my work as a sacrifice or a burden, but as an opportunity and a privilege. I hope this answers your question.

It does. How did you deal with the concept and all the controversy surrounding making money as a creative? Are you making any money with or through your art?

I think, I would deal with the concept and all the controversy surrounding making money as a creative by first educating myself and others about the different ways to make money as a creative, such as selling art online, teaching art online or face-to-face, creating content websites, setting up display advertising, applying for grants and competitions, earning passive income by monetizing my poetry, selling other merchandise with my art, and more.

Secondly, I would choose the best option for my skills, goals, audience, and niche. I would also consider the costs, risks, and benefits of each option. For example, if I were an oil artist and I wanted to sell my original pieces of art on Instagram, I would need to invest in high-quality photos and videos of my work, create engaging captions and hashtags, interact with my followers and potential customers, and use tools like Selar or Paystack to set up an online store.

The third thing I’d do is to create a business plan for my creative venture. I would define my target market, value proposition, pricing strategy, marketing plan, revenue streams, expenses, and profit margins. As a web designer with knowledge of analytics, I would also track my progress and measure my results using analytics tools like Google Analytics or Facebook Insights.

After creating a workable business plan, I would execute it and test different strategies to optimise my performance. I would also seek feedback from my customers and peers to improve my products or services. Most importantly, I would also network with other creatives in my field or related fields to learn from their experiences and find opportunities for collaboration or sponsorship.

In a nutshell, I’d monetize my art.

We have watched you and noticed your intentionality about building a business and brand out of your art. Which artist did you and do you look up to on this journey?

I am grateful for the opportunity to share my journey as a poet and a business owner with you. I have always been passionate about creating art that reflects my identity, culture, and experiences. I started writing poetry when I was a teenager, inspired by the works of my younger sister, Onyinyechi, and, of course, the legendary Chinua Achebe, Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, and other writers of colour. I later discovered my talent for graphic design and web development, which helped me create websites for myself, clients, and Poemify Publishers.

I realised that art is not only a form of expression but also a way of making money. I wanted to turn my hobby into a career, but I faced many challenges along the way. I had to learn how to market myself, manage my finances, negotiate contracts, and deal with competition. I also had to balance my poetic vision with the expectations of my clients and audience.

I decided to build a brand around my art that showcases my unique style and voice. I founded Poemify Publishers for the sole purpose of amplifying African literature, especially that of young African writers. I also developed a personal website that displays my portfolio of poems, graphic designs, web projects, and books. My website, Jaachi Writes, tells people who I am and what I do at a glance. It also has links to my social media accounts, where I share more about myself and my work. These websites generate income from display advertising using Google AdSense and the writing and publishing services we offer at Poemify Publishers. They also help me to build an audience of readers who appreciate my insights and advice.

These are some of the ways that I have built a business out of my art. Of course, there are many more aspects involved in running an art business successfully. But what matters most is having a clear vision of what you want to achieve as an artist and how you want to impact the world with your art. That’s why one artist that I presently look up to on this journey is Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. She is one of the most influential African writers today. Chimamanda is not only an amazing storyteller who creates captivating characters and plots but also an inspiring leader who advocates for women’s rights, education, and diversity. She has used her platform as an author, speaker, activist, etc. to raise awareness about important issues affecting women in Africa and the world (I long to do the same for the boy child). She is someone who embodies both artistic excellence and social responsibility. I think every writer who desires to make an impact should emulate her. She inspires me to pursue both my passion and my purpose. She is a reminder that art can be more than just entertainment or expression but also empowerment or transformation.

What should we be wary of as creators who want to make a profit or make money from our art? (While, of course, still maintaining our originality.)

As a creator who wants to make a profit or make money from my art, I think we should be wary of compromising our originality or integrity for the sake of making money. We should always strive to create art that reflects our vision, voice, and values. We should not let politics and religion trample on our principles and duties as the conscience of society. Most importantly, creatives should also respect the rights and interests of other artists and avoid plagiarism, infringement, or exploitation.

I should add this: we should not rely solely on one source of income or platform for our art. We should diversify our income streams and explore different ways to sell our art online and offline. I advise creatives to never be scared or shy about applying for grants and entering competitions that support emerging artists in various fields. While you wait for fame and monetary reward for your art, don’t hoard your creativity; share your art with the world via blogs, literary journals, and magazines. By so doing, you build an online reputation for yourself and your art even before recognition and reward discover you.

Lastly, do not expect immediate or easy success in making money from your art. It takes time, effort, consistency, patience, and perseverance to build a loyal fan base and a steady income stream as an artist. It also takes courage to face challenges such as competition, criticism, rejection, etc.

What did you have to do, or do you still do as a creator who wants to make a profit from art?

I’ll make this short and simple; I monetize my art! Besides that, I do not depend on writing alone. I have developed and acquired web design and graphic design skills over the years, which fetch me gigs regularly. No creative who desires success should depend on art alone. Roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty with work that pays.

Have you lost creator friends because you took an interest in the fact that you had to make profit as an artist? What could you have done to handle that phase differently?

No, I haven’t. I value relationships and wouldn’t, in my pursuit of profit, trample on trust built over the years by hearts founded on art.

Let us move on to a more personal question. You are one of the few coming out as men to disperse masculine stereotypes and how the world views masculinity. Why?

Thank you for your interest in my personal journey and my views on masculinity. I appreciate your curiosity. I am one of the few coming out as men to dispel masculine stereotypes and how the world views masculinity for two reasons: first, I was a victim of sexual molestation as a boy child, and we live in a world where such tales are hushed, swept under the carpet, and treated like a nonexistent malady. Such stereotypes irk me. Secondly, I believe that gender is not a fixed or rigid category but a fluid and diverse spectrum that can be expressed in many ways. I also believe that challenging the dominant norms of masculinity can benefit men and society as a whole by promoting more healthy, equitable, and inclusive relationships.

Masculine stereotypes are preconceived notions of what it means to be a man, based on the social expectations and pressures of a given culture. They often limit men’s potential, creativity, and well-being, by imposing rigid roles, behaviours, and attributes that are not suitable or desirable for everyone. For example, some common masculine stereotypes are that men must be strong, aggressive, emotionless, independent, rational, stoic, and sexually active. These stereotypes can have negative consequences for men’s mental health, such as increased risk of depression, addiction, anxiety, substance abuse, suicide, violence, and sexual dysfunction.

I came out as a man who does not conform to these stereotypes because I wanted to live authentically and freely according to my own identity and values. Men should be free to explore different aspects of themselves and express them without fear of judgement or rejection.

What I do is challenge the assumptions and expectations that society has about boys like me based on their naturally assigned gender. I want to create more space for other men who may feel ignored, pressured, marginalised, or oppressed by these stereotypes.

I hope this answers your question. If you want to learn more about me or my campaign for boys and men, then you should anticipate my poetry collection titled ‘For Boys Like Me.’ It’s an unusual, feather-ruffling and toe-stepping collection of poetry pieces that highlight the untold and unheard plight of the boy child.

How can writers help create a more balanced society where the key word is human and not the gender of a person and what they are supposed or not supposed to do or react?

That is a very interesting and important question. I think writers can help create a more balanced society by writing diverse and inclusive stories that reflect the reality and complexity of the human experience without relying on stereotypes, clichés, or tropes that reinforce gender norms or expectations. This can also be achieved by writing with empathy and respect for all people, regardless of their gender identity, religion, or race, and challenging the assumptions and prejudices that may limit their potential or well-being.

Writers should write with courage and honesty about their own experiences as writers who belong to different genders, races, cultures, backgrounds, abilities, etc., and share their insights and perspectives with others.

Writers should be fluid by embracing writing with creativity and imagination to explore different aspects of themselves and others and to express their unique voice and vision without fear of judgement or rejection.

Lastly, I think writing with passion and purpose to contribute to the social change and progress that they believe in by raising awareness, educating others, inspiring action, or advocating for justice should be embraced by writers.

Aside from the fact that you give us twisted puns and oppress singles daily, what one thing in your daily routine improves you as an artist?

This had me chuckling. Yes, my daily routine isn’t something magical or unusual. The first thing I do when I wake up is say a prayer, after which I write. Yes, I write every morning. It’s a habit I have developed over time since my daytime life became too busy for creative thinking and poetry writing, so I learned to utilise the quiet of the morning hours to put pen to paper.

Which of your works marked the shift for you from just writing to writing more intentionally?

The poem I wrote in 2016 was called ‘Haunted by My Past’. I was struggling with a serious illness and depression after dropping out of school twice. Writing the poem was a way of releasing my emotions and expressing myself fully. I shared the poem with Graciano Enwerem, who hosted a poetry show on a Port Harcourt radio station. He liked the poem and read it on air. The listeners responded positively and related to the character I created. Many of them asked for the poem to be repeated on the show. I don’t think any other moment has spurred me to embrace my art and write more intentionally like that.

Thank you Jaachi, we value your time and words.\

Jaachị Anyatọnwụ is a poet, songwriter, and boy-child activist passionate about discovering new voices and mentoring emerging poets. He is also a fierce advocate for the boy child who is sexually molested. The Editor-in-Chief of Poemify Magazine. He’s the author of Sweetness (2018), Amina (2019), and 30 and Under the Sheets (2021), a finalist for the 2016 Pengician Poetry Award by the Creative Writers Association of Nigeria (CWAN) and Poet of the Year by Chrysolite Magazine, and shortlisted for the 2020 Libretto Poetry Chapbook Award. His works have been published in several print and online publications, including The Muse Magazine, Afro Literary Magazine, Nifty Review, Poets in Nigeria (PIN), Tell Africa, The Phoenix Review, Disquiet Arts, Unpublishable, Nanty Greens Review, ACEworld Publishers, BANSI I, BANSI II, and BANSI III, Word Rhymes & Rhythm, Conscio Magazine, Punt Volat, AllPoetry, Hello Poetry, Tush Stories, and African Writers Magazine.

My works can be found here: https://jaachiwrites.com/books/

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