WAIT A MINUTE, BITCH! THAT'S ME!

WAIT A MINUTE, BITCH! THAT'S ME! The Unexpected TikTok Moment That Reminded Me Why I Love Being a Writer

There are moments in life when something happens so unexpectedly that you have to stop what you're doing and process what the hell just happened. For me, one of those moments happened while I was doing something I do practically every day: scrolling TikTok.

I wasn't looking for recognition. I wasn't searching my name. I wasn't checking to see whether somebody had shared my writing. I was simply scrolling, watching videos, discovering people, and doing what I normally do online.

And somehow, in the middle of all that scrolling, I ended up watching a young man talk about an article I had written about him.

The funny part? I didn't even know he was talking about me.

Before I get to that moment, though, let me explain something. I'm a writer. Not somebody who decided yesterday that writing sounded like a fun hobby. Writing has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I've been doing this professionally since 2017, and even before I started calling myself a professional writer, putting words together was something I naturally gravitated toward.

Writing is one of those things I genuinely enjoy. I don't always need a special occasion, an assignment, or somebody asking me to write something. Sometimes I see something that catches my attention, and my mind starts working.

I start thinking about the story. I wonder what other people might think about it. I consider what deserves to be said and how I can put it into words.

That's how I ended up writing about EJ.

Sometimes a Story Finds You While You're Scrolling

If you're anything like me, you probably understand that scrolling through social media can take you down some interesting rabbit holes.

One minute you're watching something funny, the next minute you're looking at somebody's story, and before you know it, you've spent half an hour watching videos you never intended to find.

TikTok is one of those places where I come across all kinds of people and subjects. I don't necessarily go there looking for an article idea, but I am constantly paying attention. Sometimes a person, a conversation, or a particular moment stands out enough to make me want to write about it.

That's what happened when I came across EJ, a young creator from Brooklyn who was using his platform to encourage young people to pay attention to voting and get involved.

Something about what he was doing caught my attention.

I thought it was worth talking about. I thought people should know about him and the work he was doing. So, being a writer, I did what writers do: I started putting the story together.

I wrote an article about EJ and published it on Vocal Media.

That was it.

I wasn't trying to get his attention. I wasn't trying to become part of his online community. I wasn't looking for a personal connection or expecting him to turn around and promote my work.

I saw something I thought deserved recognition, and I used my words to give it that recognition.

That's an important distinction because not everything a writer does has to come with an expectation attached to it.

Sometimes you write because you believe something is worth writing about.

And sometimes you publish the story, close the laptop, and move on to whatever else life has waiting for you.

That's exactly what I did.

WAIT A MINUTE! THAT'S MY DAMN ARTICLE!

Now, let me tell you how I actually discovered EJ had seen my article.

I'm scrolling TikTok, minding my own business, when his video pops up.

He's excited, talking about how somebody wrote a story about him. He says something along the lines of, "Oh my God, we hit the big leagues! Somebody wrote a story about me!"

Then he invites everybody to read it with him.

Now, I'm thinking, well, damn, let me see who wrote about this young man. I'm a writer. Of course I'm curious!

So I'm watching the video, waiting to see who this mystery writer is.

And then EJ puts my picture, my name, and my entire Vocal Media profile right there on the screen.

Hold on.

Wait a minute.

WHAT THE FUCK?

BITCH, THAT'S ME!

Y'ALL! THAT'S MY FACE! THAT'S MY NAME! THAT'S MY DAMN PROFILE!

I wasn't looking for my own article. I wasn't searching TikTok to see whether EJ had mentioned me. I genuinely had no idea he was talking about the article I had written.

I was watching his video just like everybody else, thinking I was about to find out who had written about him.

Surprise! It was me!

Can we talk about how funny that is for a second?

Imagine being a writer who casually comes across a video because you're interested in seeing who wrote about somebody you've already written about. Then, halfway through the video, you discover the person you're watching has your picture, your name, and your entire writing profile on the screen.

I wasn't prepared for that.

I wasn't sitting there waiting for somebody to recognize my work. I wasn't anticipating a shout-out. I was just scrolling TikTok!

And suddenly, there I was.

It was one of those moments that makes you appreciate the unpredictable nature of doing something you love. You never really know where your words might end up or who might come across something you've written.

I wrote an article and went on about my day. Meanwhile, the person I wrote about had found it, was sharing it with his audience, and was inviting people to read it with him.

I couldn't have planned that if I tried.

I'm a Writer. I Don't Need a Parade.

Here's where I want to make something clear.

I appreciate recognition. I'm not going to sit here and pretend it isn't nice when somebody reads something I've written and takes the time to acknowledge it.

Of course it feels good.

Writers put time, thought, research, and effort into their work. We spend time finding the right words, arranging our thoughts, making revisions, and trying to communicate something in a way that connects with another person.

When somebody takes the time to read that work, it matters.

But there's a difference between appreciating recognition and writing solely because you're hoping to receive it.

I don't need somebody to promise me something before I write about them. I don't need a shout-out. I don't need a favor. I don't need somebody to send people to my profile as payment for telling a story I wanted to tell.

I write because I enjoy writing.

I have been professionally doing this since 2017, and I know that building a writing career takes patience. It takes consistency. It takes being willing to keep creating even when nobody is applauding.

Not every article is going to become a top story. Not every person you write about is going to see it. Not every piece of work is going to receive thousands of views.

You have to love the work itself, too.

And I do.

I enjoy discovering stories. I enjoy taking something that catches my attention and turning it into something other people can read. I enjoy having a platform where I can share my perspective and put my words out into the world.

That's what being a writer means to me.

It isn't about making every interaction an opportunity to get something for myself.

Sometimes it's simply about recognizing somebody else's effort.

The Reaction Was Bigger Than I Expected

After EJ shared the article, I started seeing the attention his video was receiving.

At the time I checked, the video had more than 120,000 views, over 36,000 likes, and more than 1,000 comments.

Let that sink in for a minute.

A story I had written because somebody caught my attention was now being discussed by people who were discovering my work through his video.

People were commenting about the article. Some were saying they appreciated the fact that somebody had taken the time to write about EJ. Others were recognizing the effort he was making and expressing support for what he was doing.

And there I was, watching this unfold.

As a writer, you don't always get to see what happens after somebody reads your work. You publish something, and you hope it reaches the people who need to see it. Sometimes you get feedback. Sometimes you don't.

This time, I got to watch the reaction happen in real time.

That was an interesting experience.

It reminded me that writing doesn't always travel in the direction you expect. You can publish something on one platform, and somebody can discover it somewhere completely different. They can share it with their audience, and suddenly people who had never heard of you are reading your words.

That's part of the beauty of publishing.

You put something out there, and you don't always know where it will go.

When Someone Asks How They Can Repay You

There was another part of this experience that I appreciated.

EJ responded to my comment and asked whether there was anything he could do to repay me. He offered to return the favor in whatever way he could.

And honestly, my response was simple.

I don't need anything.

I mean that.

I didn't write about him because I expected him to do something for me. I wasn't keeping score. I wasn't thinking about what I might get out of the situation.

I saw something I thought was worth recognizing, and I wrote about it.

That's all.

I can appreciate somebody acknowledging my work without feeling like they owe me something for it.

If anything, I would rather see him continue doing what caught my attention in the first place. Keep creating. Keep encouraging young people to pay attention. Keep using your platform in a way that you believe makes a difference.

You don't have to repay every person who says something positive about you.

Sometimes people recognize what you're doing simply because they think it deserves recognition.

And that's okay.

I'm good, honey. I don't need much.

A writer can appreciate a moment without turning it into a transaction.

The Part I Don't Want People to Miss

I know this story might sound like it's all about a TikTok video, a young creator, and an article getting attention.

But for me, there's something bigger underneath the funny moment.

It's about being a writer and continuing to do something you love.

I've been writing for years. I've worked on different subjects, explored different topics, and continued putting my work out there. My Vocal Media profile represents more than one article or one person I've written about. It represents time, effort, ideas, and a genuine love for storytelling.

I don't expect every article to create a moment like this.

I don't expect every person I write about to find my work.

And I certainly don't expect to be scrolling TikTok one day and unexpectedly see my own picture and writing profile displayed by somebody whose story I decided to tell.

But it happened.

And I got a pretty good laugh out of it.

More importantly, it reminded me why I continue writing. There are stories everywhere. There are people doing things worth talking about. There are moments that deserve to be documented, even when the person telling the story has no idea how far those words might travel.

I don't have to be the loudest person in the room to appreciate what I'm doing. I don't have to make every accomplishment into a production. And I don't have to pretend that I wrote something for one reason when I know exactly why I wrote it.

I wanted to recognize somebody.

So I did.

From One Writer to Another Moment

If there's one thing I hope people take away from this experience, it's that recognition doesn't always have to come with an agenda.

You can acknowledge somebody's work without expecting anything in return. You can use your platform to highlight another person without making the situation about what they can do for you afterward.

And you can be proud of your own work while still being humble enough to appreciate somebody else's.

That's where I am with this.

I'm proud that I wrote the article. I'm glad EJ came across it. I'm glad he wanted to share it. And I'm grateful that people took the time to read it and respond.

But I'm still the same writer who was scrolling TikTok, saw something interesting, and decided to write about it.

I didn't wake up that morning expecting a reaction video. I didn't know my picture would end up on somebody else's screen. I didn't know thousands of people would eventually watch him introduce my work.

I just wanted to write a story.

And apparently, that story found its way back to me in the funniest possible way.

So, EJ, keep doing what you're doing. I appreciate you taking the time to read my article and share it with your audience. You didn't owe me anything, and you certainly don't have to find a way to repay me.

The recognition was never a bill waiting to be paid.

And to everybody who came across my writing because of that video, welcome. There's plenty more where that came from.

I've been writing since I can remember, professionally since 2017, and I still enjoy finding something worth putting into words.

That's what I do.

I'm a writer.

And apparently, every now and then, I get to surprise the hell out of myself, too.

WAIT A MINUTE, BITCH! THAT'S ME! 💙🌊