I’ve switched to blogging monthly, and my immediate takeaway regarding the change is yay, more time to write elsewhere. I like blogging, but writing fiction is where I live and breathe; gives me joy. With that, I’ve now turned my attention to…being on social media (soc-med).

I’ve toiled inside the grind of pursuing and maintaining an online presence (read, social media presence). I’ve realized that, contrary to popular belief, social media may help but it isn’t a requirement for writers/authors. Success is relative, but for fiction writers, the key to any success is writing. Being active on social media takes away from that. Gaining a quality soc-med following is difficult, takes years. Okay, I was game. But I’ve learned time spent understanding and following the whims and idiosyncrasies of established and newcomer social media platforms is (for me) time better spent writing my next story.

The Tortoise and the— Well, just the Tortoise

I’m an introvert (ooh, boy!), preferring the quiet and comfort and minimal “peopling” happening inside my figurative shell. Still, I want fans for my stories, a readership if you will. But for novel publicity, no writer can rely on, “If you write it, they will come.” But social media isn’t the final answer on getting the word out because “If you post it, they will come” doesn’t cut it, either. Many try, but unlike social media influencers, it’s the rare author able to Tok or Gram their way to bestseller success.

Although it’s “public,” there’s still a remote factor to posting on social media that turtles (introverts) can embrace more readily. It seemed ideal to be quiet and write inside my tortoise shell and occasionally poke my head out for a bit of engagement with fans of my work. Cool. But then, a rabbit hole of information about which platforms to be on and what types of posts to make interfered with the plan. Information that was/is all over the place—and introverts don’t do “all over the place” well. Not at all.

FB, IG, X, PN, TT. Post about your cat. No, your release. No, comment on a current event. No, show a pic of your writing space. No, your lunch. No, post all of it— You know what? Too much, too peopley. I’m un-poking my head now; back inside my shell, I go.

The Platform Roads Thus Traveled

A social media presence has value, but I haven’t found it the opportunity for fiction authors that’s often purported. My take on the social media platforms observed or traveled:

TikTok: All the rage—for those under 35. And the sharp effects and editing evident in those videos— Next!

Instagram (author.sfpowell): IG is a platform centered around images. Writers, however, like words; we create imagery (pictures) with…words. First, the focus was pics, then videos. Now, it’s all about stories and reels—with faces. Seems IG is ideal for the aesthetically unchallenged (read, pretty people) who know their way around a camera. Being in front of the camera so regularly is more extrovert than introvert. Heavy sigh…

Facebook/Meta (author.sfpowell): Second to having an author website, author pages were once considered Author Presence 101 protocol. I’ve had a page for years, enjoying the ease of posting combo-content more writer-flavored. With the honeymoon period on my page, I even started a group. But, back to those platform idiosyncrasies, something’s changed, gone “less.” I’ve since paused the group, exploring other ways for connecting with my readers. Facebook is now Meta, so a state of flux may be influencing things. Some say it’s going the way of MySpace, but I was never on that, so…

Speaking of connecting with my readers, platforms like MeWe and Discord have piqued my interest in forming a private readership community. The privacy factors of these platforms appeal to the tortoise in me, so we’ll see. One platform I’ve migrated away from (with all the focus surrounding IG, FB, etc.) is Goodreads. It’s a network explicitly for books and readers (and authors). Well, duh. This platform doesn’t require much effort beyond reading books—something introverts and writers enjoy on GP. Time to work smarter, not harder, folks.

Ahhhh…

Withdrawing from social media has been the equivalent of taking deep inhales of fresh air after being confined to a stuffy room. A bothersome distraction, the pressure and “noise” of soc-med is gone, and I can hear myself think—and write. Now, where was I? Oh, yeah: chapter nine, when…

I like writing stories that entertain and hope readers who come upon my work enjoy the story. Simple. A part of me also likes providing fans and potential readers posts related to the books and characters. But it becomes a drag dealing with algorithms, changing platform trends, toxicity and cancel culture… As Roger Murtaugh from the Lethal Weapon movies famously and repeatedly remarked, “I’m too old for this sh#t.”

The more time folk devote to these platforms increases the likelihood that anxiety, stress, and depression enter the picture—and this isn’t restricted to teenagers. Given its addictive components, social media is the new version of nicotine cigarette smoking. And since I’m not a smoker…

My goal is keeping attention on the books/series—not the author (which is what being ‘social’ on the media is mostly about). But I’m not going dark, cutting to black. Fans will still see occasional posts. Let’s just say, I’ve decided, regarding my online presence from a social media perspective, that I’m going dark gray. Fans can find more “me” here (S.F. Powell, Sans Serif), and in my newsletter (Tranquill at Twilight). So, subscribe already!

Until next month, stay serif.