-Berthold Gambrel
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the limits of social media. While it’s an absolutely great way for writers to connect (it’s how I met everyone here, so, I mean, duh) it’s still not a perfect substitute for in-person interaction.
Social media is a fragile thing. Things happen. Technology breaks. Management changes. Connections formed here are frighteningly easy to sever.
And yet… as we discuss in the chat, we writers aren’t exactly keen to go out and <shudder> network. The great paradox: we want to be writers because we are introverts, but to succeed as writers, we need to meet people, build relationships. 
Writers Supporting Writers 
I’ve posted a link to this on my blog.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Good post! Thank you! I’m definitely in the “do more social media than in-person events” side of the ledger. Which is weird for me to say as I also feel more Luddite or non-technical than stating I have a social media preference might imply. Really folks I just want to make stuff without doing much talking about what I made. Isn’t there an app for that? 🤣
LikeLiked by 4 people
Please sign me up for the ” make stuff without doing much talking about what I made” app.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes!! If only there was such an app… 😘 ❤ I have certainly been guilty of making things and then not “supporting” them by doing the promoting (whether online or in person) but I’ve decided that there’s no guilt needed. My mantra anymore is to do whatever makes me glad to be alive and stop there. Sometimes I’m glad to do the promotion of something. Sometimes not. How proud I am of a particular one my works doesn’t apply. Sometimes whenever I finish the project I just don’t have the energy leftover for promoting the project too – no matter how delighted I may be with the finished work – at least I don’t have the energy at that moment.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s a really good approach, Sue! It’s the creating of art that matters.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It really is!! The regular exercise of creativity is the point I think not the end results.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think most writers feel this way. I’m trying my first in person event at the end of April, in combination with displaying other creative pieces of mine. We’ll see how it goes.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Best of luck to you!!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
My plan is to either donate copies of my book to the local library – if they’ll accept them, or to a local book store as a “local author.” And I’ve been putting both options off for months….
LikeLiked by 3 people
Libraries do accept books as gifts. Some may even have specific collections featuring local authors.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I keep telling myself that I’m going to do this too. And I’m still waiting.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I keep telling myself the same thing. And I’m still waiting as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
For me the question is do I really want to take any risk of giving up my anonymity? I’m comfortable with who I am, and feel no need to challenge myself to do things I know that I would feel very uncomfortable doing. The library is a pretty safe bet, but more than that… nah.
LikeLiked by 3 people
You had me at “grumpy.” If I’d wanted to hustle for money I’d have majored in marketing, not spent six years studying literature and the craft of writing fiction. And now? Well, as the old saying goes, suck it up, Buttercup.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I think each of us has to figure out how much and what kind of marketing will work for us. And none of us should beat ourselves up over it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
So true!!! If “hustle for money” was the point there are more lucrative ways. I think what writers do, what creatives create is far and away more important than money. If money reflects merit to society then every public school teacher, historian, fiction writer, poet, artist and librarian would be a billionaire. People who create gardens and grow crops would be triple billionaires…
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s a good thing creatives work for love rather than money, but it would be even better if there was something like a universal basic income to provide some stability and reassurance.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely!!!! And universal healthcare too!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m currently reading the sci fi fantasy monk and robot series by Becky Chambers and in it society doesn’t compete for money or status… it’s a lovely vision.
The titles are:
The Psalm for the Wild Built and the sequel A Prayer for the Crown Shy.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Interesting! Thanks for the info!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so right about that, Audrey.
LikeLiked by 2 people