How Important is Social Media for Writers?

I don’t know. I’m seriously asking.

Hey.

I know that’s a weird way to start an article, but I’ve always been told to write in the tone I’d speak to my friends.

So, now that we are friends — or at least speaking in a friendlike tone, I need your help.

I know articles are supposed to inform, entertain or persuade. This will accomplish none of the above. Just a heads up. You can totally leave now.

But, if you are in a generous mood and have the time to stick around to help a sister-friend out, please read and HELP ME.

Brief History

I’ve been doing this writing thing for a few months now, after an imposter syndrome sabbatical. I’m back in the game and doing quite well.

Don’t be fooled. Most of that loot is being made off of one really successful article.

But, I am exceeding my weekly targets and hitting my monthly goals.

But here’s the thing: I think I could be doing better.

I am currently not on any social media — and I’m finally starting to think that might be obstructing my potential success.

Why I Don’t Have Socials

I quit Facebook cold turkey at the start of the year. Back when the year 2020 was filled with promise, hopes and all sorts of optimistic memes.

Ah, remember when 2020 was going to be our year? Sigh.

I tore that blue lowercase f (acebook)Band-Aid off with a tight pinch and swift pull.

I was spending too much time on it. Like, way too much time.

Plain and simple.

I spent more time reading articles by writers I admired than on writing my own stuff.
I spent more time looking at pictures of other people’s kids than looking at my own actual children.
I spent more time watching people live their lives than actually living my own.

If I was going to take writing seriously, I knew I had to eliminate distractions.

The day before my birthday in January — or the day before my profile wall would be filled up with messages, cheesy GIFs, and lazy “HBDs,” I deleted my account.

Buh-bye.

I never turned back, and I’ve never felt better.

My screen time has morphed into writing time.
My connection with my friends has become deeper.
I learn news from conversation, not an online post.
My phone is no longer a magnet of my attention.

My phone is. . . well, just that. My phone is a phone. Ding-a-ling-a-ling.

Oh, and a clock. ;) Tick tock.

What About Other Socials?

I manage the social media account for a local small business. So, I do have Instagram on my phone. It’s linked to Facebook, so I don’t have to physically go on Facebook, ever.

Through this Instagram account, I respectfully follow other local businesses, large corporations, and our very loyal customers — none of whom I know personally.

I follow nobody/nothing that could suck my attention away from writing.

I don’t really care about what’s new with Boar’s Head meats.
I don’t really care about the BOGO large pie at the local pizzeria.
I don’t really care about Suzy Smith’s vacation pictures.

If I want to get sucked down the vortex of mindlessness, I do have my work’s Instagram on my phone. I’ll quickly search a hashtag I’m curious about or an exotic place for a quick escape.

Take me away.

Sorry, I Lied. I Do Have Twitter. My Bad.

Just now, I went on Twitter as research for this piece. I lied. I do have Twitter. I completely forgot.

I never go on it, obviously. I don’t really understand it, nor does it ping on my phone when something happens on my account.

So it’s pretty much been forgotten.

As I logged on, I clicked on the notification bell thing. Here’s what I saw:

Many of my Medium articles have been shared. Huh.
Some of my lines have been pulled, analyzed and retweeted. Huh.
I am active on Twitter without even knowing it. Huh?

Jessica Lovejoy made my words into a meme-y thing. So rad. Snapshot by author.

I am stunned, flattered — but overwhelmed. Does anyone else feel like there’s just too much? Can’t we just write?

What I’m Learning from Other Writers

Everyone has heard of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The Big Three. (They are not really referred to as that, and I’m not even sure they are the biggest three, but. . .)

As I read more from other writers who seem to be crushing it, I hear frequent mentions of other social media channels:

Quora (Pretty word to say aloud, right?)
Reddit (Is this like “I read it? Reddit. I can’t help but say it really fast. Reddit.)
Sub-Reddit (Or is that the same thing as a regular Reddit?)
LinkedIn (This one feels pretty major, amirite?)
Tumblr (Why no e? I feel like there should be an e.)
Pinterest (I thought this was just for moms who are a little extra. No?)
TikTok (Just checked it out. . .what is happening?)
Sub-Stack (I’m just picturing a pile of sandwiches.)
YouTube (This is more than make-up and beach wave tutorials?)

So. Many. Questions.

Does anyone seriously have all of these?
If so, when do you have time to write?
What is your writing time/ social media time ratio?
Which are the most important for writers?
Can you be successful without social media?

Final Thoughts

I want to write. I realize that freelancing is a business and it’s not all creativity and wordsmithing.

I realize that we are living in 2020 and social media is just a fact of life.

Am I a detriment to my own success by not engaging in these channels?

My Plea to You

If you’ve lasted this long and are still here with me, thank you.

If you have any knowledge on social media, or anecdotes on how it’s benefitted you, please share it with me.

Have you written a piece, or stumbled upon a helpful article about social media and writers? Share it in the comments.

Thank you.

And, if you convince me to return to Facebook, I’ll add you as a friend. xo

Emme Beckett is a former non-profit speech/grant writer turned mommy blogger, turned essayist — and occasional humorist. She has been featured in The Bad Influence, Fearless She Wrote, The Ascent, The Post-Grad Survival Guide, Live Your Life on Purpose and The Haven.