The Social Media Problem

As an author, I like to connect with my readers. One of the best ways to do that is via social media.

META

Once upon a time, someone developed a website for people to connect and they called it Facebook. It was remarkable in that so many people wanted to find people they'd lost touch with. Then the powers that be decided they could make more money if they went public and sold ads and whatnot. Now, what started out as a "water cooler" or public meeting place has turned into META, a giant that no longer seeks to connect people, but is now trying to influence the world. And now we're all suckered in. META has pirated books to train AI, they've stolen our personal data and sold it to marketers to make more money. How badly do we want to stay connected? I've reached a lot of readers through Facebook, and for that I'm grateful. I have also tried other social media outlets, but Facebook by far has been the most far-reaching. As I watch it turn into something opportunistic instead of a friendly space to connect, I'm reconsidering my options, especially after what happened to Twitter. 

You can connect with me at Facebook, Instagram, or Threads.

X

I used to be on Twitter, largely due to a book I read by one of my favorite authors. It was extremely helpful, especially in getting news 'real time.' Now it's full of users who are angry and spew hateful things. I don't need that kind of negativity in my life, so I closed my account over there some time ago. 

BLUESKY

I joined this site shortly after leaving X. It seems to be more like what Twitter used to be, although I don't use it the way I should. They have a wonderful subsection of users for bookish people called BookSky. Working to improve my visibility over there. Connect at BlueSky

SUBSTACK 

True confession, I joined this one when Kristan Higgins invited me. I used it actively for a while, then wasn't sure I needed "one more social media outlet." The original footprint invited subscribers to underwrite with a paid subscription. I never agreed with that concept (if you want to pay me, BUY MY BOOKS). While that option remains, it isn't being pushed quite as hard. With META becoming less attractive, I'm taking a second look at Substack. Connect at Substack.

They all have their pros and cons, and for someone who often feels socially inept, they offer ways for me to connect with readers (and yes, family and friends). I wish I had a personal assistant who could navigate all the avenues for me to allow me to concentrate on what I do best - write books - but I don't make enough to pay "staff." So here I am, asking you. What do you think about social media and connecting with people and their work?

Conquering Slumps or "Writer's Block"

In addition to being exciting, writing comes with its share of down times. 

Many authors struggle with depression. Most notably, The Bloggess, Jenny Lawson, regularly talks about her bouts of depression and how she deals with it. Stephen King is another example. Most authors go through dark periods, myself included. Let me say right off the bat, if you’re struggling with depression, it’s okay to get help. When I hit my lowest point, I did, and it helped tremendously. My goal today is to provide some ideas for how to kickstart your brain when it wanders down those dark alleyways, before it reaches critical mass, a very high-level approach to get past the doldrums rather than a ladder to climb out of despair. As with all things, your mileage may vary.

During the course of writing a book, there are inevitably those times where writer's angst kicks in. The “I suck” feeling. The imposter syndrome where I'm sure nobody wants to read my drivel – including me. When the creative juices seem to dry up, or when sales slack off. The problem with those days is they can creep into other aspects of your life, like The Fog (Creature Features movie, for those of you who might not remember it) until you can’t see your hand in front of your face. Metaphorically speaking, of course.

So what do you do when the fog starts rolling in?

• Exercise.
• Yoga.
• Phone a friend.
• Get outside and look at the world around you. Really look at it, at all the beautiful things hiding in plain sight (#OutAndAbout).
• Volunteer. Nothing reminds you how small your problems are like seeing how good you have it when compared to someone who isn’t as fortunate.
• Go the Jiminy Cricket route and “Give a Little Whistle.” Or sing a song (#MyLifeIsAMusical).
• Learn something new.
• Listen to music that relaxes you.
• And one thing very author-specific: Read a book. I’ve found this can inspire you, either to be as good as your favorite author, or better than someone who might not write as well as you do. (This one is last because it doesn’t always work the way you expect!)

In the end, falling into writers angst is a frame of mind. Maybe the writing does suck, but the important thing is not to let it pull you into a black hole. We all have bad days--some worse than others--and we will continue to experience disappointments. The key is to overcome them. 

On those days I doubt my ability, I remind myself why I write (because I love creating new and different worlds to escape to) and ultimately, putting in the effort shines like the sun on the encroaching fog. It helps to have a couple of awards (and five-star reviews!) to provide some validation. Even if I'm only writing for myself, it brings me joy. 

How do you overcome self-doubt?

via GIPHY