Yesterday at the writing retreat we turned off our technology and enjoyed the lack of beeps, pop ups and distractions of social media.
Has it become a habit we can’t break?
As a writer we’re told that we need a platform. A following. A tribe. We need to have people who follow us and engage with us, who will potentially, buy our books. So, we build our social media presence and try to keep relevant.
My public profile has grown in many ways, but real engagement is what really matters. Social media may give you numbers of followers and look good to a statistician, however, what’s the story behind the numbers?
I’m trying to manage Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and not let it manage me. It’s tricky because it’s like an addiction. I find that if people message me or comment on Facebook I feel obligated to reply, otherwise they may feel that I’m being rude and ignoring them.
Even writing this blog is an interesting exercise. I wrote a while ago about adding value, not noise to the conversation.
Today though, I wrote for three hours and turned off my laptop. I went old-school notebook and pen and thoroughly enjoyed the time with my work. I sat on my chesterfield couch with the windows open. It was a sunny, autumn day with a light breeze and everything felt right.
As I wrote yesterday, getting back to my novel has been frustrating and I was going around the bend trying to get it to work.
But, getting away, switching off and writing the way I used to, kicked something off in my brain and I’ve been able to write more freely.
I did check in on Facebook. I do sync my blogs with Twitter and schedule my posts for my page, in an attempt to manage this social media beast and release my creativity in a fresh way.
Today, my appointment for adventure is to Switch Off!
#365adventure is a book lover’s year of adventures. Adventures in travel, friendship, family, soul, heart and, of course, book stores!
