Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kelsey Pearson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Kelsey, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you share a story about the kindest thing someone has done for you and why it mattered so much or was so meaningful to you?
For the past four years, I have focused my time and energy on creating content across multiple social media platforms, while also pursuing my dream of becoming a published author. For many years, I struggled to accept myself as a queer woman. I feared coming out, convinced I’d never be successful if I did, and battled with low self esteem. However, I knew I wanted to do something big with my life, be someone others could find community in, someone who encouraged others to live their truth. To do so, I had to live mine. So, I started sharing my story and my relationship openly online. During that time, I also decided to start writing queer young adult books, creating stories I wish I had when I was younger. Fast forward to this year, I received an email from a literary agent at a larger agency, interested in reading my writing. Though she’s closed to queries and doesn’t represent young adult books, she stated that she wanted to work with me. Me. Knowing someone saw potential in me, enough to possibly branch out of their own specialty, felt extraordinary. It made me feel like the pain I once felt, the fear I had to overcome to get here, was all worth it. It’s kind enough that someone wants to follow my story online, but to also want to use their own expertise to make my dreams come true is unbelievable and by far one of the kindest things anyone has ever done for me. At this time, I am still waiting to see if I’m going to receive an offer of representation from her, but this experience alone has encouraged me to keep chasing my dreams.
Kelsey, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I first started sharing my story online after being outed on social media and “losing” my teaching job in Mississippi in 2015. While I wasn’t fired, I was basically pushed out for being queer, which led to me embracing my truth online. I started sharing my relationship, and surprisingly, people cared enough to follow along. After my spouse and I got married, he came out as Trans. His transition intrigued more people, and our audience continued to grow as people became more interested in learning about our journey as a couple. We are both able to create content full-time now, working with brands and promoting products we use. Luke, my husband, dreams of being a model and has started getting more opportunities in that field, while I dream of being a published author. I’ve now written two young adult queer romance novels, and I love sharing the process with my audience. Our main goal is to make a positive impact on the world around us, while also using our privilege to provide representation for queer couples like us.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Share what you’re passionate about! If you’re passionate about it, someone else out there is too and they are looking for you. I first started building my online community in 2015, sharing my relationship and love for plant-based foods. I have found that hashtags are helpful to use, and you can look to other creators to get an idea of the type of hashtags they’re using. Shareable content is also helpful, allowing others to share your posts to their stories and ensuring your content is seen by a larger audience. A lot of people enjoy sharing quotes to their stories, so you can put a quote over a video or in one of your photo slides on Instagram; this is something I should do more myself. Focus on the community you have and the rest will come. You want to build on the relationships you already have, so be sure to comment people back when you can, or engage with their content. It can be easy to fall into the trap of wanting more “followers,” but be sure to appreciate who already has eyes on your page.
Always remember that your worth does not come from likes or comments!
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I think one of my struggles is asking for help, which also applies to searching for resources. One revelation I had recently in regards to my writing was to search for podcasts on the topic. I’d been reading books to help me learn more about the process of writing and editing a book, however, I hadn’t yet thought to search for a podcast related to the topic. Seems so apparent now, but I have found many that have been very beneficial to my writing. With that being said, search across multiple platforms for resources pertaining to your own interests. Chances are there’s a YouTube channel or podcast specifically designed to help you learn whatever it is you’re diving into. Depending on what you’re wanting to learn, Skillshare is also a great app. From creative writing to graphic design, there are thousands of classes on that app, and I wish I would have known about it sooner.
Contact Info: