We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Markette Sheppard. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Markette below.
Markette, appreciate you joining us today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?
The first dollar I earned as a freelance writer was with Essence magazine. I was in my early 20s and working as a digital content producer at a cable network. I had formed a nice professional working relationship with a freelance writer who wrote for the network and when she got a job as an editor at the magazine, she hired me to write feature stories at a rate of $1.50 per word. I was ecstatic. I had never thought of my writing as having a value per word. Some of my articles would be 1,500 words, so it also helped me as a single 20-something living on my own in a big city. It was great because it gave me credibility in the industry and a huge confidence booster for me, letting me know that I was good enough to step out on my own. I went on to freelance write for that Essence magazine editor for five years.
Markette, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
For those who may not know me, I am a multimedia storyteller. It’s hard to put myself into one category because I entered the work force at the dawn of the digital media explosion, so I started out writing and producing content for major media network websites, like BET.com, TV One and Essence.com, in addition to freelancing for the print magazine. I always wanted to work in television, but in front of the camera, so after a few years of content producing and building up my portfolio in the digital space, I went to work for a small TV station to learn on-camera reporting and hosting. It was hard work and a little unstable because I was a freelancer. But never in my career did I have so much fun! I went from reporting for that small TV station, to finding an entertainment reporter job on Craigslist with AMC Theatres. One thing led to another. I got married, had a baby and then ended up hosting my own morning talk show on the CBS station in Washington, DC. I had a one-year-old when I started hosting that show, so I was super focused, working hard not only for myself, but for my family. I also started writing children’s books during that time and would sometimes write during the commercial breaks on the set of my show. I was just super determined to write and produce content that would put goodness out into the world. It was during that time when I won my Emmy! I was nominated twice for Emmys and winning awards each year I was there, but the environment was super competitive and difficult for me to navigate. One day my agent called me to tell me that my male co-host was making $30,000 more a year than me for do the same job. I was so disheartened. I wanted to grow as a leader and entrepreneur, so I decided to get back to my roots and launched digital a platform, Glow Stream TV in 2019 to see if I could write my own checks and fuel my creative passions for writing, reporting and TV hosting. I launched with two major sponsors and clients, an embassy and a national association, and I started producing broadcast quality style content for them and my website. I hired camera guys and freelancers as contractors and felt like I was on top of the world. TO help make ends meet, I took a job as marketing executive for a non=profit, so I could create and be creative without being anxious about money. When the pandemic hit, there were so many twists and turns with my full-time work like COVID outbreaks in the office, back to the office policies that clashed with me also being a mother and overseeing my son’s virtual Kindergarten experience. Glow Stream TV held me down during the pandemic when the corporate world was inflexible. I’m so grateful for that because pouring into my creativity as a storyteller helped me stay optimistic during the uncertainty of the pandemic. I recently reconnected with my agent about getting back to my roots and he booked me for an acting role as a reporter on Season 5 of “Law & Order: Organized Crime,” just to say to the industry, I’m coming back to TV in a major way! With my agent’s advice, I also launched a new entertainment podcast called, “More to the Story with Markette Sheppard” to continue to get back to my roots of fun, inspirational storytelling and to stay engaged with my followers and audiences who’ve been with me throughout my creative journey. ANd, there will be an entire episode dedicated to my “Law & Order: Organized Crime” experience!
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
A lesson I had to unlearn is to not listen to negative people or naysayers. I have learned to drop the naysayers as quickly as I possibly can in order to preserve my light. When I see them, or meet someone who gives me negative vibes, I just keep the interaction short, speak up if I feel the need to and then keep it moving, so I can go shine somewhere else.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding part of being an artist or creative is the feeling you get when I’m using my God-given talents to make a positive social impact. When people laugh or cry, or they feel smarter, stronger or motivated after reading a story I wrote or watching one of my interviews, I feel like I’m walking on my path of purpose. Sometimes storytelling can be underrated in society, but I believe creativity, like writing books, TV, films and music create joy, calmness and connections on the planet. I once read a book that people started playing music at the dinner table during Medieval times to keep people from fighting! That’s also how we got butter knives with rounded corners, but that’s another story! The point is that creativity creates peace and introspection. I feel like I’m on the planet to shine a light on certain people or subjects that don’t normally get attention and it’s my pleasure to share their stories in a unique way that connects, informs and inspires.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://markettesheppard.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markettesheppard/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@marketteshepp?si=jUZqpUGxEMfam3Kq
- Other: You can listen to my new podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all the major audio streaming platforms: https://open.spotify.com/show/15tWV9EDu4jj2kCFonJuX7?si=a7e42eaaaa8640d8
Image Credits
Images courtesy of Markette Sheppard and The Week, Jr.