Humans get tired, content machines don't
Acceleration vs. Stillness. Who wins?
Things have changed whilst I was busy attending other things. And I fell. I fell out of consistency and discipline. What happened to the work we, writers, used to do? More precisely, what happened to the way we used to do it? In the rush to monetise every aspect of our creative work, I've noticed a subtle shift that feels a lot less sustainable, perhaps a lot less creative and personal.
Content creators today are managing complex businesses, juggling algorithms that constantly change and put pressure on us; we are in an eternal fight always combatting constant burnout. Yet, we not always succeed.
It’s clear to me, as a writer, that we weren’t made to be relentless content machines. If we were, we were not human with the limitations which are normal to being human. We get tired, normally. There is only so much content we can produce. There is a limit and after that limit the brain needs to rest. I need to rest. This is what I've found to be true: There’s a yearning for slower, more meaningful engagement, yet the economy and the algorithms push us toward acceleration. Do you truly enjoy that acceleration? I don't.
Perhaps my current frustration isn’t just about the system; I believe my frustration comes from losing touch with why we started creating in the first place.
Meanwhile, here I am. On a Saturday morning drinking my already cold tea, looking through the window to the stillness I see in nature, outside. It feels calming. Yet, I can't stop for a long contemplation as I would like to do. There is work to do. The algorithms are waiting.
Related:
About the Creator
Susan Fourtané
Susan Fourtané is a Science and Technology Journalist, a professional writer with over 18 years experience writing for global media and industry publications. She's a member of the ABSW, WFSJ, Society of Authors, and London Press Club.
Enjoyed the story? Support the Creator.
Subscribe for free to receive all their stories in your feed.

Comments
There are no comments for this story
Be the first to respond and start the conversation.