Kim, this is the eternal dilemma, isn’t it? The ones who create the culture are rarely the ones who profit from it. The vultures circle, wait for the right moment, and package raw genius into something digestible for the masses. Your journey—from Paper to STUFF to this Substack—is proof that the only way to stay ahead is to stay unclassifiable. They can’t sell what they can’t define. And they certainly can’t kill what won’t die. Keep making them nervous. 😃😊🎢
Truer words have never been.... :) "Funny how some things never change. Forty years later, I tried for four full years to get my book STUFF published (yay finally out this March!). I was rejected by everyone. Why? The same reason we couldn’t get money for PAPER! They’d say to me, “What shelf will this book sit on? Is it a fashion book? (Not really). Is it an art book? (Not really). Is it a design book? (Not really).” One very reputable publishing house said to me, “What book have we published already that is the same or very similar to yours???” I was like OMG YOU ARE KIDDING ME???
this is so brilliant and so reassuring. it is a gift to have deeply egalitarian and keen eye on the world around us - thank YOU kim for giving us hope and inspiration in what feels like an upside down world right now
Kim, this is the eternal dilemma, isn’t it? The ones who create the culture are rarely the ones who profit from it. The vultures circle, wait for the right moment, and package raw genius into something digestible for the masses. Your journey—from Paper to STUFF to this Substack—is proof that the only way to stay ahead is to stay unclassifiable. They can’t sell what they can’t define. And they certainly can’t kill what won’t die. Keep making them nervous. 😃😊🎢
Truer words have never been.... :) "Funny how some things never change. Forty years later, I tried for four full years to get my book STUFF published (yay finally out this March!). I was rejected by everyone. Why? The same reason we couldn’t get money for PAPER! They’d say to me, “What shelf will this book sit on? Is it a fashion book? (Not really). Is it an art book? (Not really). Is it a design book? (Not really).” One very reputable publishing house said to me, “What book have we published already that is the same or very similar to yours???” I was like OMG YOU ARE KIDDING ME???
this is so brilliant and so reassuring. it is a gift to have deeply egalitarian and keen eye on the world around us - thank YOU kim for giving us hope and inspiration in what feels like an upside down world right now
Thank you Kim! This read (and display of your consistent perspective on the matter over decades) is the inspiration I needed today. Tyty