We were lucky to catch up with Joshua “J-Writes” Whitfield recently and have shared our conversation below.
Joshua “J-Writes”, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
I always wanted to be in the entertainment business since I was old enough to spell it! But I begin to doubt that it was a “real” possibility once I got to college and was bitten by the thought/fear of being a “starving artist.” The thought of actually having to rely on someone hiring me in order to get work put the fear of a “black belt in the hands of a parent” in me so I bowed out! It wasn’t until 2015 (Junior year) that I was called to perform at that year’s biggest pageant. At the time, performing was just a hobby for me but this particular time, I felt something different happening. The rehearsals, the call times, the studying, the coaching, the incorporating my creative thoughts into the performance and being trusted to do so, all of it just felt like I could do this everyday for the rest of my life! I would be tired out of my mind from just giving everything in the performances and the show runner would say, “run it back one more time…” and I would go, “say no more!” Yes I was done with sweat dripping in places I’m ashamed to admit, but the passion made me want to make sure that everyone was satisfied and knew that they were going to get not just a show, but THE SHOW! It was at that moment I knew I could do this for a living and I haven’t turned back since!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Greetings my people! If you made it this far in getting to know your boy, you alright!🤪🤜🏾🤛🏾✊🏾
So it all started for me in Rocky Mount, NC. Rocky Mount…not Mountains! 🤣…I cannot tell you how many times that has caused confusion for people🤣! Rocky Mount is a very tough place to grow up in as it’s reputation procedes itself! “Murda Mount,” anyone?🤦🏾♂️ However, it’s still home and I will always cherish the good in the city! 252, stand up!
Nevertheless, I graduated from Rocky Mount High School in 2012, and completed my Bachelor’s in Psychology at Fayetteville State University in the spring of 2016 where I began to truly understand myself as an artist/entertainer. Big shoutout to my brother Ant Devon for inspiring me to follow my dreams and leading by example to this day!
I am blessed to be in the entertainment content creation business currently having three active podcasts, BlackVomit LLC, A Bootleg Brand and Blerd & Beyond. I work for the best blogging team in the land as well named TeaWithTia LLC that has been seen in media outlets such as Eonline, Time Magazine and The New York Times. I am currently the sports and engagement editor. I am also a professional singer, dancer and songwriter performing in stage plays such as The Wiz and touring the east coast in group and solo work performances.
In my daily life, I enjoy spending time with my family, and friends, as well as watching movies/documentaries, TV shows and traveling.
How did you build your audience on social media?
I will say that a few years back, I went on this journey to see how I could make the algorithm work for me or even better create my own. I begin to think of things that I felt would get engagement and run the comments section up as well as shares. I wanted to make it so the audience felt and knew that they were the most important part of my post as well as showing my personality giving the audience a sense that I was relatable. After awhile I just figured that me just flat out saying “hey support my business,” wasn’t going to work. I would get maby 1 or 2 likes if that, where as If I would ask my followers a “this or that” versus type of question, it would go viral! Same thing when it was a nostalgia related post. This strategy is also what got me hired by TeaWithTia LLC as she loved how my engagement looked on my page. I began to use this strategy to get my businesses noticed by not making it “all” about my business!
Advice I would give is that you have to learn that your family and friends will not be the ones to boost your social media presence! It’s in fact people you have never met that will. We love the fam engagement so keep it coming but it is simply not enough. Sharing your post in groups is a major way of getting your post noticed by the masses instead of just your Cousin Pookie and them! 🤣
Lastly, follow the three P’s: Practice, Pray, Perform! You can never go wrong using the three P’s strategy!
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Honestly my ultimate goal is to help people and leave this world better off than where it was when I came into it. What also drives me is to get to the point that doing what I love is how I will pay my bills and everything else money can buy! Plus, any day where I’m able to express creativity is a great day!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.abootlegbrand.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jwrites__?igsh=NG01dXVycWdhdnNp
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008036447171&mibextid=ZbWKwL
- Twitter: https://x.com/jwrites__?t=_4TMGy_fswck9Lyxm-toig&s=09
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@blackvomit2215?si=nVwWtsFS7SImhGDC
- Other: Follow @teawithtia2 on Instagram and TeaWithTia on Facebook. Follow @BlackVomit on all Social Media platforms. Follow @A Bootleg Brand on all social media platforms. Follow @Blerd and Beyond on all social media platforms.
Image Credits
TJ Sutton, William Heath, J Heir, Tia Squires, Vanessa Mitchell