Today we’d like to introduce you to Linda Scott.
Linda, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
At around age seven, I decided exactly what I wanted to do with my life: I wanted to be both an artist and a writer.
I began drawing cartoons and anime, mostly Sailor Moon. Anime was my favorite and I watched a number of series. It definitely is the root of my style though it has developed beyond that. At the same time, I began writing my own stories. Of course, even then, I knew that in order to be a great writer, one must read avidly. So, I began devouring books both with and without pictures.
By the time I was nine, I was at a high school reading level and could easily read books like Oliver Twist overnight. This skill came in handy later on when I began reading the Harry Potter books in a single day. Yes, I was one of those kids. When I was ten, I was featured in our school newsletter after one of my teachers found out just how many books I had read. When I was twelve, I won a short story contest held by one of my reading teachers. Over the course of those very same years, I worked to develop my drawing skills. I learned new techniques with each drawing and developed my signature style.
Open to whatever medium my love for art and storytelling would really flourish in, I took an interest in joining the film industry for a short time in my teens. So much so, that I studied it in college for a little over a year. Though I detoured from that path as I found it was not for me, I do still enjoy being in the environment. However, that never gave me any true fulfillment.
I also started a book series around that time when I was eighteen years old. Almost ten years later, it is yet to be completed because it is fantasy fiction and I want it to be perfect before I can call it “finished”. But no matter what medium it decided to take form in, I knew that art and writing were my callings. They are what feed my soul.
In late 2017, I began writing as an editorial assistant for Griselle Rodriguez, owner of ArTL Magazine. ArTL Magazine was a digital magazine that focused on the flourishing art scene in Atlanta. Though I had been writing all my life, that was my first official writing gig. She gave me the assignment of interviewing Jocelyn Gragg, owner of Jardi Chocolates. I had never interviewed anyone before but after I did, it felt like I had been doing it all my life. It felt as natural as breathing to me. Griselle published my interview in the Winter Edition of ArTL Magazine. It was an extremely proud moment for me. After that, Griselle asked me to be her official editorial assistant and I was more than happy to oblige.
Unfortunately, in early 2018, Griselle committed suicide. When I found out the news from a friend of hers via Instagram, I couldn’t believe it. She was such a sweet, talented, and passionate person. I didn’t know what to do. But I knew that her story needed to be told and that the work she was doing needed to continue. A few months later, in April of 2018, I started FANSHIP Magazine with the goal of honoring my fallen friend. I wanted to continue to focus on art but I also wanted to expand the content to include other things I was passionate about.
FANSHIP Magazine is a digital arts and culture magazine that is for, by, and about Fans, Artists, Nerds, Shippers, Heroes, Independents, and Performers. In other words, it serves to showcase the talent and stories of uniquely gifted and inspiring individuals.
I chose to write about these topics because over the years of my life, I found that the things I love to create the most involve the arts, pop culture, technology, and activism. I have known that my calling was to be a writer and an artist since I was seven years old. Throughout the years, I gained knowledge and skills that led me to being capable of running a magazine. That includes my artistic abilities in various mediums, my second-nature computer skills, and my drive to ask clarifying questions.
There were many, many talented people also featured in the inaugural FANSHIP issue whom I met at different events, by happenstance, or even on social apps. Tyhiela Gibson, a wonderful singer/songwriter/actress was included in the first issue. Katie Cochran, owner of ATLDMG, a very successful digital marketing firm, was featured in it as well. Those are just a few of the people who allowed me to tell their stories to the world in that first issue.
In the Heroes section of the inaugural issue, I included Griselle’s story as my dedication to her memory. I could only tell her story from my point-of-view, but I think I served her spirit justice. The Heroes section also included the story of another friend of mine, Reyna Lumpkin, who recently passed away after a long battle with kidney failure. Not all heroes wear capes, some of them simply bear impossible hardships and never falter in their infallible faith in the sun’s will to shine.
Putting the inaugural issue together made me feel like I had finally begun to fulfill one of my life’s purposes. It felt incredible to see it done. That feeling was reinforced by the publication of the first annual Issue La Femme, earlier this year.
Though my personal experiences and relationships are what started FANSHIP magazine, there are other things that the magazine serves to focus on as well. The world we live in is very tumultuous at the moment. Every day we are flooded with stories of horrible things that happen in the world. I wanted to create FANSHIP Magazine to showcase a different set of stories. Positive stories. Art is healing and it is our most invigorating way to feel connected to one another. I want to use it to raise awareness to mental health, climate, and other issues. This is important because I believe that no platform should be created unless it serves a purpose to create a better world than the one that existed the previous day.
The future of FANSHIP Magazine looks bright. New issues are set for release beginning in February 2020. I have a very full editorial calendar and I can’t wait to share more stories with the world!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The journey to get FANSHIP Magazine started has been a pretty tough one. Between the tragedies that have occurred and finding ways to keep the magazine financially afloat, it’s been taxing. But I believe in my vision. And as the old saying goes, “Where there is a will, there is a way.”
Fanship Magazine – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
FANSHIP is an acronym. It stands for Fans, Artists, Nerds, Shippers, Heroes, and Performers. The magazine focuses on art, technology, pop culture, and activism.
I think that what sets FANSHIP Magazine apart from others is that it’s not a gossip oriented magazine. There are quite a lot of outlets that focus more on the rumor mill than on the work. FANSHIP Magazine is about the work.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success for me is creating something that I can look back on and be proud about. It’s a sense of achievement that is measured by my own personal fulfillment scale and not on exterior influences. I think that success can be defined by whether or not thinking or talking about your accomplishments brings me joy regardless of the hardships that may have occurred along the way. I want to create something that will outlast me and create a legacy that my descendants can be proud of.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fanshipmagazine.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fanshipmagazine/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/FANSHIPMagazine
- Other: https://www.deviantart.com/fanship-magazine
Image Credit:
Head shot photo: Jeff Roffman Photography, All other images were created by Linda Scott
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