I'm trying to build a writing career without losing my damn mind
I’d like to be famous… privately, from under my blanket, thanks.
So, I had a thought today.
I fucking hate being online. Like, hate it. I put my phone on airplane mode every chance I get. I’ve stopped replying to WhatsApp messages at all hours. I’ve deleted most social media apps from my iPhone. I haven’t used Facebook since I found a fake account using my name, followed by 300+ creepy-looking men. (Facebook said it didn’t go against community guidelines, of course.)
Yet, for some bizarre reason, I still sort of desperately want to be a public figure—whatever that means. And at the same time, I feel weird and kind of ashamed about it… WHY?
I think the desire mainly comes from wanting to build my writing career beyond the content marketing I do for tech companies. It’s fine. It pays the bills. But let’s be honest—it sometimes gets a bit dry and boring. (Read: most of the time.)
Since last May (can’t believe it’s been almost a year!), I’ve been on a mission to create something of my own. Anything. I still don’t know what it is, and yeah, I know a year isn’t that long—but I’m impatient as hell.
And I keep wondering: how the fuck am I supposed to put myself out there, grow an audience, and maybe (just maybe) attract a publisher or someone—anyone—who might want to pay me for my personal writing? Not the kind that’s optimized for search and written to sell, but real, raw, honest (and hopefully fun) life stuff.
And how do I do that without going insane?
Because apparently, if you ever want to publish a book these days, you need your own platform. Cool, cool, cool. But how do you build a platform without being chronically online? Please, if you’ve figured this out, I’m begging—TELL ME NOW.
Okay, rant over.
See you next time (hopefully I’ll be less frustrated),
Alexis
P.S. I know I can’t be the only one spiraling about this. Please tell me I’m not.
So relatable!!
You are, in fact, NOT the only one spiraling about this. I just wrote a post about sales and marketing strategies that go against the grain. Namely, how to not be chronically online as a means of "promoting" your business. I came to a few solutions: connecting with people in your proximity (even if they're not your ideal client/reader/follower, etc., they might know someone who is), promoting yourself in physical places (flyers, posted business cards, snail mail), and treating your own website as your social homebase.