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The Hard Truth About Writers, Twitter, and Marketing

A successful poet told me something worrying about Twitter

By Sigmund CarlsonPublished 4 years ago 4 min read
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Twitter is a must for writers because you connect with other authors, and they help without asking for anything. But, all it’s not so bright. After two years of activity in the network, I discovered something that shocked me.

One of the writers I talk the most is a poet (an incredible talent), and with the pass of time, he wasn’t witting, either about poems or other stuff. I asked about his absences, and the answer was crystal clear: He didn’t write enough.

After one month, we have a similar talk and he showed me some pieces of work: the results were ten times more content than in the last whole year. He assured that was life-changing.

The secret revealed, my world put upside-down, is twitter legit? Yes, but writers need to write, and if there weren’t enough distractions add up a very active twitter account. The results are precise: you’ll be out and burnout in no time.

Burnout affects more and more workers every day. Writers aren’t an exception, and the principal cause is stress added. Twitter creates anxiety because unconsciously we are seeking for approval. In the blue-bird, a writer can get good ideas, meet partners, but also lost his focus and got frustrated.

Frustration is the first cause of a writer giving up. However, in most cases, it’s not the job itself; usually, the problems set up externally. For example, this is the case with academical-writers. They have added pressure. However, emotions are the first issue, especially anxiety and satisfaction, both in excess mess articles or novels.

Is there a solution?

Luckily there are two: the radical one is switching entirely off social media and putting yourself to write. Another is placing an alarm on the phone as a reminder not to twitter until completing 1000 words.

The 80/20 rule has worked miracles for writers. The idea is spending 80% of your time writing and 20% on quality marketing.

My poet friend didn’t quit social media altogether. But, right now, only post something of high value. He doesn’t seek approval and only asks technical doubts.

Marketing on Twitter is another issue troubling brilliant minds. The question arises, are you a writer or a marketer? If you write to earn a part-time or full-time income, social media should be taking in less consideration. Writing is the first option with reading at the same level, and the last one is marketing.

Do you remember pictures of writers with a quill? The archetype was a guy deep-focus in papers, distilling peace and harmony. Now, the image is a person multitasking, holding a tablet in one hand, and a phone in the other. So, the problem is now we are focusing on things we can’t control.

Now imagine a random guy twitting something about your job. You get frustrated and emotional. These things are out of control, but the time spending on perfecting your writing it’s on your hands. Don’t try to solve external obstacles all time.

By the way, working your internal issues is vital to avoid social-media anxiety. Now, we focus on all the things you have pending. As a consequence, stress drops off; even you feel extra-energy. Writing is not hell. It is smooth, even pleasurable.

By Florian Klauer on Unsplash

This picture illustrates my idea of a perfect environment to create. Minimalism.

Social Media obstructs your ability to concentrate while turning off provides high-quality time. A perfect illustration of this point is the book Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success In A Distracted World by Cal Newport, perhaps one of the best mind-blowing stuff ever written about getting the best of time.

Why you want Social-Networks and not Social Media?

Sometimes these concepts appear intertwined, but the reality of Social networks is different from Social Media. With a Social Network, you build up quality interactions with people sharing points and goals in common. However, using Social Media like Twitter can fulfill your purpose. The dilemma is massive social media has thousands of different interactions making the labor of creating a network more and more difficult.

Networking with writers only entitled to writing would be a win-win for any of us building a more efficient environment, boosting productivity, and when meeting your partners enough, even designing some marketing could have a good effect.

Solutions and improvements

During my career as a teacher, I’ve had some struggle regulating time on social media. With the thought of making something productive, the lie was behind curtains: time spending on social media is less time preparing my lessons, writing, or other activities.

Thanks to my friend and some blow-minded books, things came with a conclusion: an inverse correlation between high productivity and trash multitasking.

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About the Creator

Sigmund Carlson

History is the tragedy of life; poetry the epitome.

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