A little red heart, meaning someone liked my Instagram post, was as satisfying as a shiny sticker on my grade school homework or a glowing performance review—and as sweet as brown sugar.
All of this is soooo true on every platform. I've avoided IG and Tiktok for all your reasons and to keep from compare and despair, but still get caught up in it all with my blog and my FB page. Why do we care so much about what others think? My only consolation is that I'm too frugal to have wasted my $$ on courses, professional photos, and "expert" help. I like the satisfaction of figuring it out for myself and not feeling I have to justify the money I spent on the superficiality of it all. I guess there's a balance somewhere between being seen and trying too hard. I hope you discover it and share it with the rest of us. :)
Those thumb ups and hearts on a post somehow validate what you've written as being important and something others connect with. When I've posted things that get no response at all, good or bad, I quickly delete the post, thinking it must sound stupid and berate myself on why did you post that or say that in that way? Very interesting how something so small, and easy to do, makes such a big difference to our psyche.
I can totally relate! I’ve procrastinated starting my own Substack newsletter because of all the pressures you mention, even as I thoroughly enjoy reading the fabulous writing here.
I can promise you this Hannah, one connection, one "I can totally relate!" comment, will be worth the risk and keep you fueled for quite some time. ❤️👍🏻
I feel your angst. Because I have middle-grade fantasy novels releasing in 2026 and '27, I figured I'd better develop a presence where my audience is likely to be. So I took a course on TikTok for authors, which sadly was the same week as the election and the whole thing made me want to take a long, hot shower and scream until the water ran out. "I'm helping to turn us all into goldfish!" I wanted to wail. Sigh.
“Fair share of abuse” is from “You can’t always get what you want.”
“Brown Sugar”
“The art of deception” is from “sympathy for the Devil
All of this is soooo true on every platform. I've avoided IG and Tiktok for all your reasons and to keep from compare and despair, but still get caught up in it all with my blog and my FB page. Why do we care so much about what others think? My only consolation is that I'm too frugal to have wasted my $$ on courses, professional photos, and "expert" help. I like the satisfaction of figuring it out for myself and not feeling I have to justify the money I spent on the superficiality of it all. I guess there's a balance somewhere between being seen and trying too hard. I hope you discover it and share it with the rest of us. :)
What fresh hell that must have been. Wow! Brave you. I haven't even installed TikTok. Let us know how it goes!
Those thumb ups and hearts on a post somehow validate what you've written as being important and something others connect with. When I've posted things that get no response at all, good or bad, I quickly delete the post, thinking it must sound stupid and berate myself on why did you post that or say that in that way? Very interesting how something so small, and easy to do, makes such a big difference to our psyche.
We all long to be seen and heard...and thought to be fabulous! 😘
I can totally relate! I’ve procrastinated starting my own Substack newsletter because of all the pressures you mention, even as I thoroughly enjoy reading the fabulous writing here.
I can promise you this Hannah, one connection, one "I can totally relate!" comment, will be worth the risk and keep you fueled for quite some time. ❤️👍🏻
I feel your angst. Because I have middle-grade fantasy novels releasing in 2026 and '27, I figured I'd better develop a presence where my audience is likely to be. So I took a course on TikTok for authors, which sadly was the same week as the election and the whole thing made me want to take a long, hot shower and scream until the water ran out. "I'm helping to turn us all into goldfish!" I wanted to wail. Sigh.