I Went From Being An Unemployed Autistic Adult To A Part-time Content Creator

original post is on my substack

@jessbaileydesigns" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">photo credits

When I created my WordPress blog (wordpress.com and then bought hosting to self-host on WordPress.org, back in 2019, I was an unemployed autistic adult. I made a handful of blog posts explaining my struggles with finding employment. It was hard making videos with no money for gear. You don't have to spend hundreds of dollars on a mic or lighting. I had no money for even basic stuff. I was unable to buy a new laptop when the one my grandpa got me for my birthday quit in 2018.

Getting monetized is not simple. Most apps have a certain follower requirement. Take YouTube, you need 4k watch hours and 1K subs, which can be difficult to get. Depending on your niche. I started earning from my cryptocurrency blogs in the summer of 2021. Although my earnings took a huge hit, I was still able to turn in something.

I am STILL trying to get people to join my Ko-Fi/Patreon and buy my art. When it comes to a business, you have to keep promoting it. You can't promote once and bounce and expect sales; you have to keep marketing. Your favorite store doesn't just run one ad and bounce; they keep running ads to promote a sale.

Before Thanksgiving, Facebook invited me to its Reels bonus program. When I got my first payout, they canned the program. They also have ads on reels, which I unlocked at 1k followers, and I will unlock stars after I stay at 1k followers for 60 consecutive days. I started posting my rail fanning (train-watching) videos on Facebook Reels. One video went viral where I filmed a "short" train. The reason I thought it was short was that I based it on the wait times for it. Normally, at the spot I train, you get those long trains where you're waiting 7-10 minutes.

Here's an excerpt from my substack. I scheduled this post because I'm taking my mom out of town for a funeral and will be on the road.