Tag: social-media

TikTok is Bad for your Writing

~ Brooke F. ~ Leave a comment

And in other news, water is wet!

Please excuse the obvious titling. In truth, it’s not just TikTok specifically, though, that has been the newest catalyst for this problem I’m experiencing regarding social media and its relationship to the creative process. You might be wondering: what problem exactly am I referring to? What is there to be said on this topic that hasn’t already been reiterated numerous times online? Social media is distracting and, therefore, we become too distracted to create. Duh. We all know this.

And yes, this much is true. Social media is horrible for our attention spans, but I’m going to take a break from railing against this specific issue and focus on another one that I have personally experienced this month. This is the issue of inspiration overload and the resulting creative paralysis that ensues.

I love a good Pinterest scroll. This was my first social media of choice as a teen. I felt like it helped me get started on a project by getting my brain churning with endless inspiration. It had it all! Writing prompts, concept art, writing playlists, tips, life hacks—everything!!!

For the most part, I walked away from my Pinterest scrolls feeling positive at this time. I’d scroll with a specific goal in mind, further develop an idea, pin a few pins (or even create a new board for this one idea), and then walk away within 10–15 minutes. Done!

I don’t know where I went wrong… well, I have a guess, so let’s discuss.

There came a point where my social media habits became less orderly. As an adult, school took up less time, I got on additional social media, and simultaneously, those platforms became more attention-grabbing and endless. I remember a time when you could scroll Instagram and it would eventually give you a message like, “That’s it! You’ve seen everything new that there is to see! Now go do something else!”

It definitely no longer does this.

You can scroll and scroll and scroll. This is true of every social media platform right now.
“It’s for inspiration!” I’d say. After all, it was writing-related content that I was consuming. After a point, however (whether due to the nature of the content or the sheer amount of it), I found it very easy to slip into the role of consumer as opposed to creator. Ideally, you should be able to do both, but that does require a certain level of balance that feels nearly impossible to obtain. What is that magic amount of time to scroll BookTok or Pinterest concept art before the very practice itself becomes a creativity-eating monster?

What I found was that after consuming copious amounts of writing content, I was hit with this intense feeling of creative paralysis. I recalled the gazillions of writing tips and do’s and don’ts. I recalled all that I should be doing. Show, don’t tell. Use metaphors. Don’t use metaphors. Use them sparingly. Adverbs are evil. Adjectives are evil. Passive voice is okay. Passive voice is evil. Develop your world entirely before writing. It will develop as you write, and then you have to rewrite it all. Put your character development above worldbuilding. Worldbuilding is key. And blah, blah, blah, blah.

I can’t write and I suck. That’s the conclusion of today’s writing session.

You see, we weren’t made to have this many voices speaking into our lives, much less our creative process.

At some point, inspiration stops being fuel and starts being noise. And while social media loves to market itself as a wellspring of creativity, it rarely tells us when to stop drinking. Creativity, at least for me, doesn’t thrive in a crowded room full of opinions shouting over one another. It needs quiet. It needs boredom. It needs the uncomfortable stretch of sitting with an idea long enough for it to become something mine.

So maybe the solution isn’t cutting out inspiration entirely, but treating it with a little more intention and a lot more restraint. Fewer voices. Fewer rules. More trust. Because the work doesn’t happen in the scroll. It happens when you finally close the app, sit down, and let yourself write badly, imperfectly, and freely again.

So happy late new year! Let’s make stuff again and give it a rest. The mantra I want to embody this year is Less is more. No more drinking out of a fire hose. Let’s try to think of it more as taking a sip from a well. Slow and steady.

Your Screentime Problem Isn’t Discipline, It’s Boredom

~ Brooke F. ~ Leave a comment

Or, at least mine is, come to find out. But before I dive into today’s blog post, I just wanted to say hi and recap my last post. I gave you readers a little life update about how I want to commit more time to writing and continue to fight this nasty habit of mine: doomscrolling instead of doing something that actually makes me feel fulfilled. I’ve made numerous posts about this little struggle, which I’m sure is becoming almost universal at this point. Who isn’t trying to lower their screen time these days? Especially when we all know there are tons of more fulfilling things to do.

So that leads me into today’s post, which comes from a few random thoughts I had when I realized that I’d actually managed to lower my screen time lately. To a whole two hours a day! (Cue the round of applause.)

Okay… so maybe it could still be better, but as a self-proclaimed YouTube essay addict, cut me some slack. This is better. But I began to wonder how I managed this over the past month. I’ve made a variety of attempts to lower my screen time with varying degrees of success, so it felt important to pinpoint what strategy finally worked for my life. Why exactly was I able to reduce my screen time this time around? What changed?

The conclusion I arrived at was simple: I needed a hobby.

In my previous blog posts, I’ve described my distant desire to reduce screentime, but I didn’t elaborate much on my strategy for doing so because I assumed it would be as simple as that. I’d decide to be on my phone less, and therefore, I would be. Alas, it doesn’t always pan out that way (hence those varying degrees of success I mentioned).

Turns out sheer willpower is a tough thing to rely on when it comes to breaking a bad habit. You need to fill that empty space with something else. You, or at least I, need something else to occupy your time. I feel a little sheepish typing that out. The conclusion seems obvious, but it wasn’t so obvious to me at first. Certain months, I was terrible about filling my evenings after work, and lo and behold, those were the nights I was most likely to do something… screen-y.

This last month, however, was different. I didn’t plan for it to be different. It just sort of happened. I wanted a book from the library. I wanted to spend more time writing. So I invested time in both. My focus was less on reducing screen time and more on simply doing something else. But it seems that the lack of doomscrolling was a delightful byproduct. And so, my conclusion was made: I need to stop focusing so much on not getting on my phone and instead focus on what hobby sounds fun to dive into on a random weeknight.

This is probably obvious to everyone reading and hardly a novel discovery, but, fool that I am, I didn’t realize until recently that I need more than willpower to kick an overindulging screen habit. I need a hobby. Actually, a few of them.

But if you happen to be in my shoes and are possibly just as dense as me, maybe this post helped you realize that you’re not a weak-willed weenie. You just need to direct your attention toward something else you enjoy. Focus less on not doing something, and more on doing something better for you.

So here’s your gentle reminder for the week: put the phone down, pick something up, and let your hands and mind get busy with life again.

And I think that’s all for now! Byeeee! 🙂

How to Rebuild an Attention Span

~ Brooke F. ~ Leave a comment

In the digital era, where the currency of our time is measured in fleeting moments and short form content and the ting! of notifications are ever present, the art of focus has become as elusive. Our attention spans have been whittled down to where we can barely settle down long enough to read a paragraph, leaving us scattered and unfulfilled as we leap from tab to tab, app to app, in a never-ending quest for the next dopamine hit. And yet, there are a few of us, who are waking up to the startling effects of a shattered attention span. Though recognizing the problem and fixing it are two totally different issues.

I am far from perfect on this journey to rebuild my attention span. My blog is proof of that. If you’ve kept up with my posts at all, you’ve probably heard my bemoaning my constant struggle to put the phone down. I have been delighted that in the recent year, my efforts have been fruitful. I enjoy reading again. It was a bit of a trick finding the correct genre but it’s also been a consistent effort of mentally yelling at myself when I find myself doom scrolling. But now that I’ve achieved this minor victory, this seems like a good time to impart what little I feel I’ve learned in the process of rebuilding my attention span. It’s been a slow process that will continue to be a struggle in this digital age but the joy of reading cozy mysteries in the evening to wind down for bed has encouraged me to say the least.

So, without any more stalling, here is my tips on rebuilding a scattered, tattered attention span:

1. Rethinking your Night Time Routine

Often what has been motivating me to move further and further away from the short-form content consuming life has been this anxious, awful feeling that I get when I finish scrolling. This feeling was by far the worst at the end of the day where I settled into bed and would find myself scrolling for…who knows what?

I’m winding down, I’d tell myself though, I realize now, that I was winding myself up! Scrolling doesn’t relax you in the same way a book or even a comfort movie might. You still paying attention to too much. And I don’t have to remind anybody that it doesn’t take much scrolling to find some bad news that’s infiltrates your mind and messes with your faith in humanity or the world (if there was much of that left anyway?)

This routine, like any routine, is training your brain. In this case, it’s training your brain to think and continue to think even long after you’re ready to be drifting off to sleep. Replace this habit with something entirely different. If you can’t sit through a regular schmegular book, maybe grab a magazine or a poetry book (or something less intimidating and more short). Try and read in some form. This will train your brain to focus on ONE thing and will better relax you for rest.

2. On a Similar Note, Don’t reach for your phone first thing

Still guilty on this front sometimes. But if you do find yourself reaching for your phone, try and replace scrolling with maybe a quick read of an article you like or a quick WORDLE. When that’s done, get up. Though, I will say, in an ideal world, one wouldn’t be reaching for their phone at all, but baby steps! I think, overall, the goal is to not start your day scrolling.

I eventually want to personally progress towards reading a devotional or something else to start my day. Yaknow, something that doesn’t involve my phone BUT we’ll get there eventually. Just not there yet. It’s nice to have something to wake my brain up with and right now that’s a quick crossword that happens to be on my phone.

3. Set Boundaries

Designate certain times of the day as “sacred,” where you commit to a distraction-free zone. This could be the first hour of your morning (like what I was talking about in the above point), where you greet the day with a cup of tea and a good book, or the final hour before bed, where you bid adieu to the screens and let your brain unwind with a gentle stretch or a page-turning novel. These pockets of time, like stepping stones, will help you cross the river of distraction. Each small pocket of time is training your brain, no matter how small. It builds over time. Remember, your brain is a muscle and becomes stronger with consistency and patterns of thinking and focus.

4. Adjust Your Mindset

Try and pivot your brain into a mono-tasking type of mindset. In a world that glorifies multitasking, this can be almost a rebellious act of sorts. Yet, studies have consistently shown that our brains are not wired to juggle multiple tasks efficiently. Instead, we pay a heavy cognitive tax, switching between tasks with the grace of a clumsy octopus who does everything but none of it well. We forget little things. We’re hardly ever present. Our sense of time degrades. And when it comes time for us to focus on something important, it’s a constant battle to not check and see what else is happening in the world through a screen.

Embrace the beauty of single-tasking. Choose one activity and commit to it fully, giving it your undivided attention. This could mean turning off notifications during work hours, using tools that block distracting websites, or even adopting the Pomodoro Technique, where you dedicate chunks of time to a single task followed by short breaks. As you train your brain to focus on one thing at a time, you’ll find that your productivity (likely) skyrockets and your sense of satisfaction deepens.

One thing I found is when I’m getting ready to go somewhere, the time it takes is nearly cut in half if I’m not using my phone. But, if I’m watching a youtube video while I do my makeup or find myself watching reels while I tie my shoes, these actions take a lot longer and I am moving MUCH slower. And my attention is so scattered, I don’t even realize it till I glance at the time and shoot! Running late again!

5. Practice being still

Next, incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine. This ancient practice has been shown to be a potent antidote to the fragmented attention that plagues our modern lives. Begin with short sessions of meditation, stillness, or deep-breathing exercises, gradually increasing the duration as you become more adept. Mindfulness is not about clearing the mind entirely but rather about becoming aware of the thoughts that flit through it like butterflies in a garden. Observe them without judgment, and gently guide your attention back to the present moment. This mental workout strengthens the muscle of focus, making it easier to resist the sirens of distraction when you need to be productive. It’s like doing push-ups for your prefrontal cortex.

What I personally like to do is sit out on my porch at the end of a day, and just…do nothing. Sit, with my eyes shut and listen to my brain or the birds outside. It steadies me and while, I don’t do it every day, I never regret it when I take the time to do so.

To Conclude…

You’re probably never going to reach this fully “zen”, undistracted state. I’ve had to come to terms with this. It is simply because of the times we live in. Unless you’re interested in becoming a hermit, there is always going to be a slight tug to become distracted again. And giving in sometimes isn’t the end of the world. What I’m really after here are the patterns I’m giving into that is harming my brain in the long term. Not that random scroll I did the other day through pinterest while I was in the waiting room of a Doctor’s Office.

The ultimate goal, at least for me, in doing all these things, is to be present. I want to remember my life and feel deeply. And if I’m bouncing from task to task and never trying anything new or focusing, how is that classified as living?

Anyways, I don’t wanna go too deep with you guys on a random Saturday morning where you were just hunting around for some little tips on how you can better your attention span. So, I’ll see ya’ll later!

TikTok and Promoting your Writing: My-not-so-Scientific Findings

~ Brooke F. ~ 5 Comments

I gave TikTok a shot. I really did. I have a WIP poetry book, and frankly, poetry is coming out of my ears at this point. Why not see if TikTok could help me get some eyes on my work? A little poetic clout, perhaps? I have seen so many creators get a nice little audience boost from tik tok but that led me to ask a few questions: First off, how long does this take? Second, how luck based is it? And third, is it something I could even remotely pull off? The only sure-fire way to figure this out for myself was to try. For about 2 weeks. (Ok, ok, it’s not that long of a time frame but I just wanted to give it a quick little go, alright?)

TikTok is an interesting creature when it comes to promoting writing. It moves fast. I soon found out that it moved so fast that most users are like ships passing in the night. They’ll comment something like “Wow, love this!” and then vanish, never to be seen again. Which is nice in the moment, but also? Not super helpful when you’re trying to build a consistent audience.

It seems like the only way to really win at TikTok is to post every single day (consistently for more than two weeks), possibly even multiple times a day, for an extended period of time. And I don’t know about you, but I have a full-time job. I have a life. I have two cats who expect me to provide them with a high standard of living. I cannot be out here churning out viral poetry videos while also making sure I have clean laundry.

Oh, and the algorithm is super punishing if you miss a day or two. When I built what felt like momentum towards the middle of the first week, it was great. My videos were consistently getting around 600-900 views. Then I missed a day and it felt like I was starting on square one all over again.

By the end of the experiment, I ended up with around 49 followers and 1,421 likes. A little disappointing especially given my account had around 40 posts one it. So, I gained like a follower per post I guess? No wonder people have to post a lot to gain traction with that kind of math!

So, for now, my TikTok writing experiment is on pause. But maybe one day, when I have the time (or when my poetry royalties pay my rent—ha!), I’ll give it another go.

Until then, I’ll just be over here, writing poetry and thinking about posting it on TikTok. I hope you’ve found this post insightful and maybe even…helpful? Perhaps I have squelched your curiosity when it comes to sharing your writing on tik tok or at least answered a question or two.

I Used TikTok as a Slightly Out-of-Touch 20-Something, and Here’s What I Found

~ Brooke F. ~ 4 Comments

If you haven’t joined TikTok yet, you might be wondering: Should I? Maybe you’re feeling FOMO, or maybe your curiosity is piqued by all the buzz. Allow me to satisfy that curiosity and save you the download—it’s not worth it.

Don’t get me wrong, TikTok might’ve been a fun app in its heyday (circa two years ago). Back then, it seemed like a magical place where trends, humor, and creativity collided in glorious harmony. However, as of now, TikTok has become a shadow of its former self, buried under an avalanche of TikTok Shop promotions. Imagine scrolling through your feed, only to be hit with an endless parade of “must-have” items you didn’t ask for. No thanks.

Honestly? I’d rather wait for TikToks to trickle their way over to Instagram Reels, where I can actually enjoy them without feeling like I’m trapped in an infomercial. That’s the beauty of Instagram—it’s like the highlight reel of TikTok, minus the ads.

The (Few) Positives

I will admit, there’s one thing TikTok does better than Instagram: content creation. I found that TikTok’s video editing system is surprisingly intuitive and far superior to Instagram’s. Adding text, syncing to music, and playing with effects felt seamless. I actually enjoyed making videos, which is saying something for someone who only opens the app sporadically.

Speaking of sporadic use, my TikTok “routine” looks something like this:

  1. Open the app once in a blue moon.
  2. Film something fun or quirky (because why not?).
  3. Watch all the TikToks my sister or friends have sent me.
  4. Close the app and forget about it for another week (or two).

Why TikTok Isn’t My Thing

It’s not that TikTok isn’t fun. It’s just that it isn’t fun enough to outweigh the downsides. The sheer volume of ads, coupled with the temptation to waste hours scrolling, made the app feel more like a chore than a source of entertainment. Sure, I could see how it might become a massive time suck, but I never got there because the experience was too frustrating to stick around.

If you’re someone who’s already on TikTok and loves it, more power to you! But if you’re on the fence, take my advice: skip it. You’re not missing much.

Stick to Instagram Reels or good ol’ YouTube, where the best of TikTok inevitably ends up anyway. And if you ever get that itch to try TikTok for yourself? Just remember—your curiosity doesn’t need to be fed that badly.

But in the event you’re already addicted to the app, feel free to drop me a follow here.

Alrighty! Byeeee!

The Twitter Experiment: Is It a Good Platform for Writers?

~ Brooke F. ~ 4 Comments

Ah, Twitter. The home of 280-character rants, controversy, and the occasional cat meme that restores your faith in humanity. But amidst the tweets, retweets, and hashtags, is Twitter actually helpful for us writers? I really didn’t know the answer to this question so I struck out to answer it for myself. And so here we are- me writing this post to share with you my findings and observations. Let’s break down the pros, cons, and along with a bit of my own Twitter escapade to see if this bird app deserves a place on your bookmarks bar or app homepage.

The Ups

Networking Like a Pro
Twitter connects you to a world of agents, publishers, and fellow writers that might otherwise be impossible to reach. Think of it as your literary networking cocktail party, where you can rub elbows with people you respect and admire without the actual pressure of elbow-rubbing. You can follow your favorite authors, ask questions, or even have the odd chance of interacting with a big-name editor. If you’re looking to build a network of writing buddies and potential mentors, Twitter definitely has the reach.

Possible Feedback on Your Work
Twitter is also a great testing ground. Have a line you’re unsure of? A tiny snippet you’re kind of proud of but want some feedback on? Post it. Writers love to share and support each other on Twitter, so you can get responses on tiny samples of your writing. Just don’t post too much—you want to avoid giving away too much of a work-in-progress!

A Constant Feed of Inspiration
Thanks to #WritingCommunity and #AmWriting hashtags (tags not limited to twitter alone one should note), Twitter provides a steady stream of advice, tips, prompts, and writing-related memes that will either make you laugh, sigh, or just plain inspire. Whether it’s celebrating a 50k word count or the struggle to write two sentences, Twitter’s got a solidarity vibe that’s comforting. It really feels like you’re not alone in this whole writing thing and that’s neat and definitely earns twitter a few brownie points.

Promo Without the Sales-y Feel
If you’re a self-published writer or have a new book out, Twitter’s a good place for quick, casual promotion. Just don’t overdo it. Twitter works best when you focus on sharing and interacting rather than constantly pitching your own work. (People might get off-put if your profile is 90% self-promo.)

The Downs

So many opinions
Twitter can be an echo chamber where everyone has an opinion (and are not at all shy about sharing it). Writers (ahaha me) can get bogged down by what’s trending and feel like they need to shape their stories or characters to fit popular discussions. So if you’re easily influenced or find it hard to stay true to your style, Twitter can sometimes veer into counterproductive territory. People are VERY vocal on twitter and that can be overwhelming if you’re an overthinking personality like me. Yes, advice is wonderful but I think there is such a thing as advice overconsumption/intake. It would be really easy to hype fixate on the wellspring of advice and opinions that are available on Twitter. One thing I had to remind myself and that I’ll remind you of too is this simple fact: Not all writing tips/advice is meant for you. It is, however, up to you to parse out what is helpful and what is not and that takes energy for sure.

And so here is my advice to you if you choose to embark on your own twitter escapade: follow a few writers that you look up to and wish to emulate and follow them along with a few publishing companies and agents that you are interested in. Then go from there. This will help you from being TOO bogged down by advice and opinions that may or may not apply to you.

Algorithm Struggles and Follow Fatigue (ugh, another algorithm to keep up with??)
Growing your following on Twitter as a writer can be a real pain. The platform seems to favor viral content, and if you’re not constantly tweeting or getting engagement, your posts can sink fast. If you’ve ever tweeted something that was pure genius (in your humble opinion) only to get… crickets… you’re not alone. The algorithm’s quirks mean that building an audience is often slow, which can feel demoralizing if you’re there to share your writing with the world and the world doesn’t seem like it’s ready to listen quite yet. Of course, just like with anything, give it time and be consistent and result will likely follow. I’m going to be honest, that seems to be the most consistent thing among all these social medias I have reviews. Instant results are not really likely. You have to play the game first and you might see success after awhile of constant posting.

The Temptation to Chase Virality

We’ve all heard stories of tweets going viral and driving tons of engagement to people’s work But here’s the unfortunate reality check: it’s rare. Trying to go viral can feel like chasing after a breeze. Not only is it unpredictable, but it can also become an obsession that takes up way too much time. As I stated in the previous paragraph, rather than aiming for that one breakout tweet, Twitter can be better as a slow-and-steady kind of thing. Build relationships, engage, and post content. Rinse. Repeat. Viral success might never come, but if you’re focused on finding a real community, you won’t mind as much. Make sure you goals and focus are realistic and clear when it comes to Twitter (or any social media for that matter).

The Verdict

So here’s where I landed. Twitter, like most social medias, is a mixed bag. I think it serves it’s purpose best as a means to connect with the broader writing community and keep up with what people in your specific genre are looking for. It’s also great for stoking discussion and inviting people to have a discussion with you or even just commiserate. I think that’s where it stops however. Twitter content must be short, snappy, and (mostly) to the point and doesn’t leave room for sharing bigger works though you can definitely use it to tease something.

So, if you’re a social butterfly, writing trend enthusiast (or simply just want to keep up-to-date on the writing market in general), or are a one-liner genius, Twitter might be for you! If you’re a long-form content writer like the beloved Tolkien or have little to no interest in muddling your head with the fleeting trends of our time, don’t worry about it. Not all discussions or engagement is healthy or fruitful for oneself. There’s no shame in that (it’s sort of like reading the news. Sometimes I don’t want to know everything going on!). Personally, I think I’ll leave twitter be for the time being, perhaps picking it up when I ready to engage with the fun (albeit sometimes messy) chaos of the writing world.

And I think that’s a wrap. Thanks for stopping by!

Can Pinterest Actually Help Your Writing?

~ Brooke F. ~ Leave a comment

Welcome to a writer’s guide to Pinterest where I plan to discuss the good, the bad, the pretty. (I’m sorry, I love this tag line format, okay?) And rest assured, as someone who has dumped many, MANY hours that I cannot get back into this social media app, I am an expert on this matter.

Pinterest is where I go to build my dream library, organize my “writing room” ideas, and pin cute coffee shops I probably won’t visit but love to look at. As a writer, Pinterest has been an absolute gem for inspiration; you could almost call it a mood board for my entire brain. But as far as promoting my writing? Well, let’s just say Pinterest isn’t quite built to send people flooding to your latest blog post or novella.

Here’s the scoop on how Pinterest can actually help (and where it kind of misses the mark).

The Good: The Perks of Pinterest for Writers

  1. An Endless Well of Inspiration (Literally, It’s Bottomless)
    If you’re ever stuck on a writing project, Pinterest is the perfect place to scroll through photos of foggy forests, vintage journals, and other people’s aesthetically pleasing bookshelves. The platform is a visual feast, which makes it amazing for building storyboards or getting character inspiration. Dreamy landscape? They’ve got you covered. You’ll be drowning in imagery before you even get through the first page of your search.
  2. Organizing Writing Ideas Like a Pro
    Pinterest boards are a lifesaver when it comes to keeping track of all those ideas we want to come back to someday. Want to keep that list of dialogue ideas, character profiles, or writing prompts handy? Just pin it! In a way, Pinterest lets us organize our creativity, which is both refreshing and slightly magical (especially if you’re like me and tend to misplace things…like ideas).
  3. Perfect for Building an Aesthetic (Hello, Vibes!)
    Whether your story is set in a gloomy castle or a sunny seaside town, Pinterest boards let you curate a “vibe” that can bring your creative world to life. You can find everything from historical costumes to quirky cafes, and it all adds a splash of personality to your work—even if it’s only for you to look at. Sometimes, having that mood board handy is just what you need to get into the writing groove.

The Bad: The Downsides of Pinterest for Writers

  1. Driving Traffic to Your Work? Not So Much
    Here’s the thing: people on Pinterest are mainly looking for visuals and ideas, not links to blog posts. Most users are there to save images, maybe jot down a few notes, and then go on their merry way. I’ve pinned some of my writing work before, but it’s rare for people to follow an image all the way to an actual article or story. Pinterest is more about the “aesthetic save” than the “click-through,” so don’t expect it to be a major traffic source.
  2. Lack of Community Engagement
    Pinterest is not the place to chat, bond over writing struggles, or get feedback on your work. There are no extensive comment sections where people are swapping tips or sharing the same cozy creative space you might find on other platforms. Truth be told, they DO have a comments section on individual pins but it’s not laid out very well nor is it heavily used among the platform’s users. Pinterest is more of a solo mission; everyone’s there for their own pins and projects, so if you’re looking for a writing community, look elsewhere.
  3. It Can Become a Time Sink (Oops)
    Pinterest may look harmless, but let’s not kid ourselves—it’s a gateway to spending hours pinning everything under the sun without actually writing. There’s so much content that it’s easy to fall into the “one more scroll” trap, especially when it feels like you’re being productive. At some point, it’s best to stop pinning and start typing. (Believe me, I speak from experience here, ok.)

The Verdict: Is It Worth It?
If you’re in need of visuals or inspiration, Pinterest is fantastic and I highly recommend it. With your own private library of images to draw from, it can make the writing process a lot more fun as well as help you visualize things you’re struggling to picture yourself. Just don’t rely on it for promotion, because Pinterest users are likely just passing through.

Happy pinning (and happy actually writing, too)!

A Guide to Instagram for Writers: The Good, The Bad, and the Draining

~ Brooke F. ~ 3 Comments

Is a picture really worth a thousand words? Well, we aim to analyze that very thing today as I walk you through what it’s like to use Instagram as a writer. If you’ve some much as even glanced at Instagram, you’ve probably noticed it seems to the hotspot for creatives. I mean, it’s basically one giant virtual gallery of coffee cups, open books, and people with serious-looking headshots writing snappy, one line poems. But is it actually useful for writers trying to build their craft and audience, or just another time-suck we justify as “networking”? Spoiler: it’s a little bit of both.

So here’s the full rundown of using Instagram as a writer—complete with highs, lows, and plenty of aesthetic pressure.

The Good: The Highlights of Instagram for Writers

  1. Connections, Encouragement, and the Validation of Strangers
    Instagram is kind of like the local open-mic night—someone will always clap, even if you just read your grocery list (as long as you use enough hashtags of course). Through hashtags like #WritingCommunity and #AmWriting, you can find other writers to cheer you on and remind you that yes, there are people out there who care deeply about your haiku on existential dread. Plus, it’s a safe bet that people will comment something nice on your posts, even if it’s just a thumbs-up emoji. HOWEVER, whether these are real people or just bots vying for attention to promote themselves everywhere is up for debate.
  2. The Sheer Joy of Making It Look Pretty
    Who doesn’t love a good aesthetic? Instagram encourages us all to be photographers, so if you’ve got snippets of writing or a stack of favorite books, there’s endless fun to be had. (Although, honestly, does my journal really look better next to a potted plant? The people say yes.) If you’re visually inclined, Instagram might be your paradise.
  3. Slow but Steady Growth (If You Have the Patience)
    I can attest to this one personally. When I first tried sharing my writing, I started to see a slow and steady trickle of followers—as long as I was babysitting my page like a needy plant. But take a break? You’ll be lucky if the algorithm even remembers your account exists. It felt like stepping away for a week was like hitting the reset button, and I didn’t have the energy to keep jumping back in. Eventually, I just let it be, and now my poor little writing page is collecting dust in the dredges of the Instagram algorithm. Oops! Sorry, this was supposed to be the positives section. But now that you mention it, I think it’s time we move onto….

The Bad: The Drawbacks of Instagram for Writers

  1. The Algorithm = Frenemy #1
    Oh, the elusive, ever-changing algorithm. Instagram doesn’t just let you share writing; it expects you to be a part-time social media strategist. Posting at the right time? Check. Engaging with followers? Check. Making Reels? Triple check (seriously, Reels are in). And sometimes you’ll pour your soul into a post only for it to be seen by three people, two of whom are your mom and your bestfriend (love ya girl!).
  2. Perfection Pressure: For When Words Aren’t Enough
    Being on Instagram as a writer is kind of like being told you have to paint a picture every time you write a sentence. A good line of poetry is no longer enough—you have to make it look Pinterest-worthy. This can be draining, especially when all you want to do is, you know, write. But you have to! Because this isn’t the time nor the space to share a novel. You MUST stick to the witty one-liners. That’s all people have time for. Instagram content is made to feed an audience in bite-sized portions. And so you must trim the fat.
  3. Time: Instagram Will Eat It All, Trust Me
    Let’s be real—if there’s a way to waste time online, Instagram will help you find it. Between scrolling through your feed, obsessively checking your notifications, and looking for the perfect font for that post, it’s easy to lose hours. And while we could be writing, we’re often scrolling for “inspiration”—or at least that’s what we tell ourselves.

The Verdict: Is It Worth It?
If you genuinely enjoy sharing your work visually and don’t mind the hustle of keeping up with the algorithm, Instagram can be a useful space for writers. But if it’s taking more time than it’s giving back, maybe dial it back. Remember: your worth as a writer isn’t measured by the number of likes.

Happy posting (or happy ignoring the algorithm entirely)!

An Honest Review of Substack: Is it worth your time?

~ Brooke F. ~ 3 Comments

Here recently I’ve been hearing a lot about Substack from the greater writing community. Many of my writing professors recommend it, a few of my writing friends have mentioned it, and so I joined to see what the hub-bub was about. After all, monetizing your writing content and having access to your favorite author’s newsletter sounds amazing, right? And a new writing community to interact with? Count me in!

If you’re like me three week ago, then you probably don’t know that is, that’s okay! I’m going to enlighten you with a quick rundown of what Substack is and why I’m on it along with my thoughts on the site as a whole (the good, the bad, and the meh). The most important thing for you to know upfront however is that, in short, it’s a writing community type platform. So if any of that sounds interesting to you, then please, I implore you to keep reading.

What is Substack anyways?

Substack is a platform that lets writers do what they do best: write. But here’s the twist – instead of shouting into the void of social media or hoping for a lucky break with traditional publishing, writers on Substack can build their own audience and connect directly with readers who appreciate their unique voice and perspective via newsletters sent into their feeds. It very similar to wordpress in a way and allows one to consolidate their writer newsletter subscriptions.

Think of it as a DIY publishing empire, minus the stuffy boardroom meetings and corporate red tape. Writers can set up their own newsletter, penning anything from personal essays to political commentary to niche hobby guides, and deliver it straight to their subscribers’ inboxes like a literary love letter.

But wait, there’s more! Substack isn’t just about writing – it’s about building a community. Readers can engage with writers through comments, discussions, and even exclusive Q&A sessions or virtual book clubs. It’s like joining a book club where the author is always present and the snacks are unlimited (well, metaphorical snacks, but you get the idea).  This I think is my favorite potential draw of Substack.

Monetizing Your Writing Content

Additionally, Substack gives writers the freedom to monetize their work on their own terms. Whether it’s through paid subscriptions, one-time donations, or exclusive content for loyal supporters, writers have the power to turn their passion into profit without sacrificing their creative integrity. I mean, I know writing makes a ton of money already but just in case you wanted to make a few more meager coins for your hard writing work.

There are some Potential drawbacks…

I will add that Substack isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. I think it’s a potentially a great platform for writers, of course, but I can already see some potential issues with the site even after just recently signing up. It’s still a somewhat new site having been launched in 2017 (sheesh maybe not that young. That was 6 years ago!) so that is something to keep in mind as it hasn’t had as much time to evolve yet when compared to other popular social medias like Instagram, facebook, or twitter.

Newsletter clutter

With so much content vying for attention, it’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack or, more accurately, like trying to find that one specific paper you’re looking for in a cluttered desk. How’s a reader supposed to keep up with it all? It’s a veritable digital avalanche of words, and if your newsletter isn’t captivating enough, it might just get lost in the shuffle. Only after a few subscriptions, I found my feed cluttered and hard to navigate. With so many options out there, readers might suffer from subscription fatigue and start treating their inbox like a junk drawer – full of forgotten treasures and abandoned dreams.

The Fun of Monetization

While Substack offers writers the tantalizing promise of monetization, turning a profit isn’t always a walk in the park. From setting subscription prices to convincing readers to open their wallets, it’s like trying to sell ice to an Eskimo – or, in this case, selling newsletters to subscribers who’ve already got a full inbox.

How to Even Stand Out?

It is very unclear how to even start building on audience in Substack or how to stand out. Beyond advertising your content on other social medias where you are already assumed to have a following, I haven’t seen much of a way to create a writing community from scratch. Tags don’t really seem to be used though there are separated topic categories that contain a lot of other content creators- an overwhelming amount actually. I find it hard to believe that amongst the many pushed and popular news letters that it would be easy for a starting writer to even be noticed.

Many of Your Favorite Authors are Not to Be found

Substack, being launched in 2017 as I have previously mentioned, could still be classified as a relatively new site. So, as a result, many of your favorite authors probably don’t have one yet or at least aren’t active. As a reader, I would think this would be the biggest draw but I don’t think Substack is popular enough yet to quite offer this as a draw.

Still might be worth it maybe perhaps??

But everything has its ups and downs. Who knows? Maybe Substack really is the future of monetizing your writing content? As a writer myself, I do hope so but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. I’m just here for the ride. And if you decide that you want to be along for the ride too, here’s my Substack handle: click here!

Take care and Thanks for reading!