Hello there, fellow nerds, and welcome to
Nice to meet you, I’m Lu, a frog lover, cinephile, and the South African author and artist behind the fantasy world, called Fistbump the Sky.
In 2025, I decided to quit my previous job and expectations, and pursue a life of art and writing full-time. Things have been sloooow, but I learned a LOT! I’m still very much unknown but, in my defence, it takes most artist at least 4 years before they become “officially successful.” Or so I’ve heard. What I’m doing is pretty frikkin niche, so it might take longer. That being said…
I started this year with a massive slug on my head.
I’m pretty sure it’s called anxiety.
I’m not sure whether it’s a personality thing or my AuDHD brain, but I have trouble identifying emotions. I thought I might feel these feELinGs in my chest for poetic reason or (far more logically) in my head, as that’s where emotions come from. But nope. I feel them as slugs slithering around on my body.
I’ve felt this particular slug before, and wasn’t all that suprised when it appeared this year. Being a creative of any kind is stressful, but being a self-employed one is just vomit inducing if you take into consideration the amount of time and money you’re spending without guarantee of sales.
BUT I DO NOT HAVE THE TIME NOR PATIENCE FOR ANXIETY SNAILS
If this has to be my last year of being an artist and author, then I’m not going down without a fight!
I’m going to apply everything I learned in 2025 to make sure I reach, at least, enough growth to continue with my dream. AND I’m going to document the entire process. That way (if I do have to quit) I’ll have something to look back on and, hopefully, other unknown artists and indie authors can use my experience to see what to do… or NOT to do.
… I’ve also been wanting to share my thoughts.
I know, I know, this coming from the one who can’t even process emotions. But I have no idea how to write a diary and therapy is (very good for you) but just makes me feel uncomfortable. So, hey, if this is the last year,
why not go all in?
So that’s SLUGS OF LIFE, a little side-newsletter where I’ll be sharing my process of trying to defeat fate, along with some random thoughts in between. It won’t receive any kind of spotlight, and it will be sporadic, but you’re free to come along if you’d like.
– Lu
