| Like the author of this Atlantic article, you might be lamenting the demise of Twitter as we knew it. What was once a haven for writers longing to connect has become a potential hellscape where followers drop you in droves, or worse, you’re a victim of the safety issues former employees are warning about. You might be wondering what to do—stay the course like Jane Friedman and Allison Williams, double down on the other platforms you participate in, join different ones, research the new (or lesser known) kids on the block like Mastodon, Hive, Chill Subs, or Discord, or throw your hands up and say who cares. My relationship with social media is complex. As a former mental health counselor, I know the damage it can cause and the isolation it can foster even when you have millions of followers. Yet, as a writer, I appreciate the need for free and easy ways to let people know who you are. At the moment, I’m meditating on what to do, so I don’t have any words of wisdom, other than you do you. Yet let me share a few things that are abundantly clear. Social media is fickle. Any algorithm changes its platform engineers concoct are designed to benefit the company and its advertisers, NOT you. Like your retirement portfolio, your platform should diversify, diversify, diversify. That might mean having a foot in multiple social media platforms that can amplify your message, but it also includes spending time fostering an authentic reach that’s not owned or controlled by someone else. This platform should be one that aligns with your values and talents. It could include your job, volunteer work you do, speaking engagements, classes you teach, newsletters, and things we’ve yet to talk about or imagine. For most writers, bylines are going to be your BFF. Articles and essays published in well-known places can create the kind of name recognition that leads to book deals. They can also boost other aspects of your platform, like newsletter followers, social media numbers, or speaking engagements. But how do you get these bylines? Number one, you need places to publish your work. If you’re an emerging writer, you also need places that can teach you how to write publishable pieces. Many writers learn these skills through nonprofit writing centers. So, if you’re going to put energy toward supporting something as we wrap up 2022, give some love to the organizations that have helped you hone your craft and the ones that publish your work. That leads to this week’s challenge. Last week, I asked you to support organizations in your community that do social good. This week, I’d like you to support the literary magazines and nonprofits you love by making a donation of $10 or more. If inflation has emptied your pockets, I’ve got you covered. You can participate by creating three social media posts about your favorite organization and then encouraging others to follow and donate to them. Be sure to tag the organization in your posts so they can amplify your message. I have a few favorites I recommend every year. Click on the items below to read posts I created in prior years about each one. Learn about Brevity Learn about Hippocampus Literary Magazine Learn about James River Writers Learn about Creative Nonfiction Magazine Donate to one of these organizations, and I’ll give you three tickets per donation into this week’s drawing. Everyone else will receive one ticket for every donation they make. You can easily donate to these organizations by clicking on the links below: Brevity Hippocampus Literary Magazine James River Writers Creative Nonfiction To enter this week’s drawing, send me a screen shot of your donation or your posts. Once I receive them, you’ll be entered into this week’s drawing for a one-hour coaching session with Amy Eaton. I’ll also donate $100 to the literary organization of the winner’s choice. You’ll also be entered into a grand-prize drawing for a 10-page manuscript review and one-hour coaching session with me. Participate in all three challenges, and you’ll earn a seat in my 2023 webinar, Start S.M.A.R.T. in 2023. If you missed last week’s challenge, but still want to participate, you can click here then send me screenshots of your donations or a list of your acts of kindness. Not into challenges, but want to take the class? You can buy it for $49. Fifty percent of all proceeds will be donated to Feeding America. The deadline for this week’s drawing is Monday December 12, 2022, at 7:00 PM ET. The final challenge will be announced in my December 13, 2022 newsletter. Thank you again for all you do to support your literary community. I’m so grateful to know that we’re working together to make sure everyone has what they need to always write on. |
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