Clap clap BRAVO. 🔥 I read the Vox article yesterday and loved your optimism. I then saw a writer on Threads vehemently disagree with your take and a lot of other writers chimed in. They said they wanted to be a writer to WRITE, not spend time sharing their ideas online/self promote. Which yes, of course AND if you want to get paid to write (which they all do) you’ve got to be online. You can pick your battles. I don’t have TikTok, I don’t find it interesting/it isn’t how I find the books that I read, AND I see how valuable it is for creators. I spend most of my online time on Substack with a little on Threads/Insta. I know my growth will be slower and I’m totally okay with that. Sure I could pop in front of a video and use my looks and personality to gain followers but that just isn’t fun for me. People are completely missing the point that they can do it their own way. I get being online isn’t enjoyable for some writers (a lot of us are introverted) but y’all it is 2024!! Please join us in the present. 😂
I have always loved your desire and passion to help writers become full time paid writers. Thank you, Leigh. ❤️
I basically found a back door into a writing career by making memes on instagram?? it took years to build an audience tho, the creator economy is precarious as hell, but as a disabled writer w/ no media connections it’s kinda been my best option. your tiktoks about booktok inspired me to try making some btw — I had one pop off, got 20K followers kinda overnight, and an editor saw it and reached out to me asking about book ideas. I am now convinced of TikTok’s power but also kinda fucking terrified of it lmaoo
You've done such a good job of positioning yourself as a creator who teaches others how to be creators in this new (and sometimes uncomfortable) economy. I love, too, how you skip right over the melodrama and get to the point. Like you said, welcome to the creator economy! Thank you for being here to guide us.
Thank you for providing some balance to the Vox article and for having a more optimistic view of branding. You are right that making a living as an artist has never been easy. Even Michaeangelo had a patron.
If it's any consolation to writers, professions like doctor, lawyer, CPA and even venture capitalists have to spend a LOT of time promoting themselves if they want to attract new clients or create a unique brand.
They can't just assume their satisfied clients will *also* be their sales team and run around singing their praises.
This can take the form of doing Youtube interviews, writing and submitting articles to Linkedin (FYI lawyers *hate* writing articles and would rather spend 6 months in Gitmo rather than cough up a 600 word article ) doing podcasts or haggling for speaking engagements.
totally! and I think that’s something Rebecca Jennings makes a point of, too—that this hustle is creeping up on all working professionals not just artists
Yes! That said, there is a huge benefit to being a professional who takes time to maintain a public profile: you're not tied to your employers profile and so its easier for you to leave.
If your reputation is only that you're a lawyer at Acme Law Firm, then you're shackled to the firm. You'll be treated much better if your employer knows you're an independent actor
I'm a reader first, Leigh Stein fanboy second, and writer third (I don't really have any ambitions beyond maybe being an above-average blogger), but I do think it's essential for authors today to market themselves. I keep thinking about going to AWP in Seattle in 2014 and it was a blast because there were so many authors I knew of and quite a few I had read, and then when AWP came back to Seattle in 2023, there were hundreds upon hundreds, if not thousands of authors, and I maybe heard of 2-3% of them. There are just so many people right now that are, or want to be, authors that breaking through based solely on how good your book is, is close to impossible.
I also think social media can be a bit of a double-edged sword, so I'm grateful most of the contemporary authors I revere had their break before Book Twitter was a thing. I'd be heartbroken if, say, Karen Russell or Rachel Kushner took part in the Sarah Dessen affair. Plus, it's pretty obvious when someone is writing to not get yelled at on Twitter, rather than telling a good story in the best way possible.
Leigh, all I can say is thank you for being so generous with your wisdom, your energy, and your guidance. Everything you write feels like an invitation. I am learning so much from your perspective.
I loved your quote in the Vox article because it offers nuance, showing multiple sides of the reality of author life. I remember taking a comedy writing class years ago when a teacher said she used Twitter to workshop jokes. I see TikTok/IG/and now even Substack as a similar tool to workshop upcoming articles/podcast ideas/speeches. I also loved how you broke down how you use each platform to promote different aspects of your work. You're a... girlgenius? girlbossgenius?? As always, thanks for being you.
Totally agree! And also with the comment of too many things to choose from , there are also an infinite number of fans, that is why things like the Eras tour, lore Olympus and so on break records, because people now know that if they find something they like and love they can be a part of bringing it to life and keep it going and Patreon’s and Kickstarter’s earnings show us that.
Your title is so spot on. AP Beswick pointed out that he makes 3 tiktoks a day because no one else is going to care as much as getting his books out there as he does. So now I try to make mine regularly as well. Because he was 100% correct.
Clap clap BRAVO. 🔥 I read the Vox article yesterday and loved your optimism. I then saw a writer on Threads vehemently disagree with your take and a lot of other writers chimed in. They said they wanted to be a writer to WRITE, not spend time sharing their ideas online/self promote. Which yes, of course AND if you want to get paid to write (which they all do) you’ve got to be online. You can pick your battles. I don’t have TikTok, I don’t find it interesting/it isn’t how I find the books that I read, AND I see how valuable it is for creators. I spend most of my online time on Substack with a little on Threads/Insta. I know my growth will be slower and I’m totally okay with that. Sure I could pop in front of a video and use my looks and personality to gain followers but that just isn’t fun for me. People are completely missing the point that they can do it their own way. I get being online isn’t enjoyable for some writers (a lot of us are introverted) but y’all it is 2024!! Please join us in the present. 😂
I have always loved your desire and passion to help writers become full time paid writers. Thank you, Leigh. ❤️
Agreed. This optimism and enthusiasm is what I needed today.
I weighed in on that pileup and gently defended Leigh and also pushed back. It’s easier to suck up to Instagram than a Medici.❤️
😂
I basically found a back door into a writing career by making memes on instagram?? it took years to build an audience tho, the creator economy is precarious as hell, but as a disabled writer w/ no media connections it’s kinda been my best option. your tiktoks about booktok inspired me to try making some btw — I had one pop off, got 20K followers kinda overnight, and an editor saw it and reached out to me asking about book ideas. I am now convinced of TikTok’s power but also kinda fucking terrified of it lmaoo
thanks for sharing this!
You've done such a good job of positioning yourself as a creator who teaches others how to be creators in this new (and sometimes uncomfortable) economy. I love, too, how you skip right over the melodrama and get to the point. Like you said, welcome to the creator economy! Thank you for being here to guide us.
LOVE this perspective. So pragmatic, straightforward, and real. We need to hear more of this kind of message. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for providing some balance to the Vox article and for having a more optimistic view of branding. You are right that making a living as an artist has never been easy. Even Michaeangelo had a patron.
If it's any consolation to writers, professions like doctor, lawyer, CPA and even venture capitalists have to spend a LOT of time promoting themselves if they want to attract new clients or create a unique brand.
They can't just assume their satisfied clients will *also* be their sales team and run around singing their praises.
This can take the form of doing Youtube interviews, writing and submitting articles to Linkedin (FYI lawyers *hate* writing articles and would rather spend 6 months in Gitmo rather than cough up a 600 word article ) doing podcasts or haggling for speaking engagements.
So there's really no escaping it
totally! and I think that’s something Rebecca Jennings makes a point of, too—that this hustle is creeping up on all working professionals not just artists
Yes! That said, there is a huge benefit to being a professional who takes time to maintain a public profile: you're not tied to your employers profile and so its easier for you to leave.
If your reputation is only that you're a lawyer at Acme Law Firm, then you're shackled to the firm. You'll be treated much better if your employer knows you're an independent actor
I'm a reader first, Leigh Stein fanboy second, and writer third (I don't really have any ambitions beyond maybe being an above-average blogger), but I do think it's essential for authors today to market themselves. I keep thinking about going to AWP in Seattle in 2014 and it was a blast because there were so many authors I knew of and quite a few I had read, and then when AWP came back to Seattle in 2023, there were hundreds upon hundreds, if not thousands of authors, and I maybe heard of 2-3% of them. There are just so many people right now that are, or want to be, authors that breaking through based solely on how good your book is, is close to impossible.
I also think social media can be a bit of a double-edged sword, so I'm grateful most of the contemporary authors I revere had their break before Book Twitter was a thing. I'd be heartbroken if, say, Karen Russell or Rachel Kushner took part in the Sarah Dessen affair. Plus, it's pretty obvious when someone is writing to not get yelled at on Twitter, rather than telling a good story in the best way possible.
Change is hard. You make it look easy, all while shepherding so many of us forward. 💛
Leigh, all I can say is thank you for being so generous with your wisdom, your energy, and your guidance. Everything you write feels like an invitation. I am learning so much from your perspective.
I loved your quote in the Vox article because it offers nuance, showing multiple sides of the reality of author life. I remember taking a comedy writing class years ago when a teacher said she used Twitter to workshop jokes. I see TikTok/IG/and now even Substack as a similar tool to workshop upcoming articles/podcast ideas/speeches. I also loved how you broke down how you use each platform to promote different aspects of your work. You're a... girlgenius? girlbossgenius?? As always, thanks for being you.
Thanks for your transparency, as always. Guess I need to get back on the Tok after a very long hiatus
Love the balance you brought to the Vox piece.
Totally agree! And also with the comment of too many things to choose from , there are also an infinite number of fans, that is why things like the Eras tour, lore Olympus and so on break records, because people now know that if they find something they like and love they can be a part of bringing it to life and keep it going and Patreon’s and Kickstarter’s earnings show us that.
great
I’m not a marketer. And every instant I spent selling my work is time taken away from making my work.
Your title is so spot on. AP Beswick pointed out that he makes 3 tiktoks a day because no one else is going to care as much as getting his books out there as he does. So now I try to make mine regularly as well. Because he was 100% correct.