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 I’ll start with the obvious: I hesitated to do this.
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 When I think of GoFundMe, I tend to think of medical bills, natural disasters and people facing circumstances considerably more serious than a guy who spends too much time staring at a laptop and making up people who don’t exist.
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 <br>
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 But I’ve learned that plenty of writers, artists and other creative people use crowdfunding to help fund their work. That made me feel a little less weird about putting this out there.
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 <br>
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 In 2026, I made a pretty substantial bet on myself.
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 For the last quarter century, I’ve made much of my living in the fitness business. This year, I deliberately scaled back that work to a bare, living minimum and devoted a huge amount of my time and efforts - my Mudd, Sweat and Tears - to something I’ve wanted to seriously pursue for years: writing and publishing books in earnest.
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 The result has been 13 new projects, all in my own words, from my own brain, through my own fingers, in 11 months.
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 <br>
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 I’m really proud of that. I’m also realistic enough to know that writing 13 books and making a living from 16 books (I had three pre-existing novels) are two entirely different accomplishments.
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 <br>
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 Independent publishing is a small business, and I’m trying to build one that sticks. There are publishing expenses, proof copies, covers, marketing, website costs and all the other little things that come with getting books from my laptop into readers’ hands.
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 The biggest expense, though, is time and effort.
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 Every hour I spend writing is an hour I could be spending training or soliciting clients and earning the more-dependable income I’ve relied on for years. I knew that when I started this. I made the choice anyway because I believe in what I’m building. It has been my proverbial leap of faith from the beaten path.
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 So I’ve created this fund to help me keep building Mudd Books, which features to date the 16 novels and more than 100 merch designs of all types, into 2027.
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 This isn’t an emergency. Nobody needs to save me from atop a building, and I’m certainly not threatening to close the laptop if the needle on this page doesn’t move. For better or worse, I'm going to keep writing, creating stories, building a legacy.
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 <br>
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 Think of it more as backing a very small independent creative business — one currently operated by a writer, publisher, marketing department, shipping department, website guy and occasionally confused IT department who all happen to be the same dude.
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 Money raised here will help cover the costs of publishing and promoting new books, maintaining www.muddbooks.com, experimenting with things like audiobooks and, most importantly, buying me a little more time to keep writing while I continue building an audience.
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 If you’ve read one of my books, enjoyed something I’ve written, followed this slightly ridiculous, daring adventure or simply like the idea of somebody taking a swing at something new at this stage of life, you’re welcome to be part of it.
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 Five bucks helps. Eight bucks and change helps. Buying one of my books would be great. Telling somebody else about one is super. Sharing is caring.
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 And if contributing isn’t your thing, that’s perfectly fine too. Visit my site. Read a book. Buy a ballcap or a shirt (they're super affordable and high quality - trust me, I'm a tee snob). Recommend one. Or just root for me from a safe distance.
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 I’m still betting on myself either way.
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 This just gives anyone who wants to place a small bet alongside me a chance to do it.
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 Thank you.
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 Jeff Mudd
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 Author/Creator, Mudd Works Creative
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 muddbooks.com
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