Wow! My post Is Social Media Sucking the Life from Your Writing? seemed to resonate with many of you. Several people left comments, and even more of you emailed me about your struggles. This constant tug-of-war between making time to write and building your platform overwhelms you, drains your creativity and robs you of your enthusiasm for either endeavor.
I’m a curious creature, so I began to search for answers. I decided…
To use myself as a guinea pig to find a solution, or at least to torture myself less.
4 Tricks to Creative Harmony
Before this experiment, I was subscribed to ten different writing blogs that sent at least three emails each week with new posts. I’m subscribed to several more, but I can handle ones that only come every once in a while. It’s the blogs inundating me with information almost daily. Even if they’re awesome, too much was still too much. I had to make a change.
Here are four steps I’m using to move from overwhelmed back to inspired:
1. Unsubscribe
Of the ten blogs sending me multiple posts each week, I unsubscribed from five. The sixth gave me the option to receive all its posts once per week, so I did that. I cut my commitments in half, but feel 100X better!
At first, I worried I’d miss some life-changing message, but those posts are still on their sites. I can always read them later, or even resubscribe at another time.
Side note: from someone who has received unkind messages as to why they unsubscribed from Mudpie Writing — just unsubscribe. The owners will probably never notice if you’re gone, but, if you feel compelled to give a reason for your departure, say something brief and upbeat: “Your blog is great, but I need to reduce my emails. Thanks.”
2. Delete
If you don’t want to unsubscribe, then give yourself permission to delete a post if the header doesn’t appeal or apply to you. I’ve become a Deleting Queen and feel my creativity returning in leaps and bounds. Again, posts stay on blogs forever, so you still have access to their content (sometimes, they make you subscribe first, but you can decide if you want to recommit).
3. Respond later
Just because a slew of blog posts hit your inbox at 8 am sharp everyday, does not mean you have to open and comment ASAP. In fact, you don’t have to comment at all.
Yes, commenting on blogs is an outstanding way to make a name for yourself, as well as meet new writers, but balance is the key. I’ve even created an email file folder called ‘Read Later‘ to move these posts. Out of sight, out of mind. Sometimes, I do read them at my convenience, but other times, I press delete.
4. Limit your Social Media Time
There are days when I’m not on Facebook or Twitter at all. My writing, concentration and enjoyment have improved so much. When I am online, I participate for about 10 minutes, then let it go.
I’m also reading less non-writing blogs, too. No more dancing babies videos, I’m already sick of the next U.S. presidential election, but I’ll always be a junkie for Buzzfeed quizzes. It cracks me up that my old lady name is Gertrude and how my greatest gift is optimism.
One Day at a Time
I wish managing social media was a ‘deal with it once, then forget it’ issue, but that’s not how life works. I’ve been reminded there’s a word to describe this process.
Priorities.
I’m being both deliberate and intentional about make my writing priority #1. Day after day, I’m choosing my craft over everything else.
My most popular quote from Is Social Media Sucking the Life from Your Writing? seems to be:
“If building your platform is consuming to much of your writing time or draining your creativity, then it’s okay to scale back and refocus your attention on your writing instead. In fact, it may be necessary for your sanity’s sake.”
It certainly was for me. I hope you’ll do the same. It’s worth the time and effort.
What’s one change you should make for more balance between your writing and building a platform?
Please leave a comment. I’d love to chat.
Pick up your FREE copy today of the mystery, The Moon Rises at Dawn (SkipJack Publishing). Read, enjoy, repeat.
This article is coming at a right time for me. I have been struggling to find a balance and have not gotten any single word down last week. (barring on my blog)
I will follow your advice and tune things down a little…
Do, Elissaveta. I won’t lie, it was HARD at first, but it’s gotten easier each day. Plus, I’ve SEEN how much calmer I feel and how much my writing has improved. It’ll be an ongoing process for me, but in just one month’s time, I’ve noticed such improvement.
Good luck to you!
Great minimalist solution, Marcy. My own method, if you could call it that, is Sifting (or filtering, for you purists). I guess it’s the procrastinator’s blend of #2 & #3. If the header Does Not Apply to my needs at that moment, I simply…make no decision about it at that moment. And sometimes I DO come back to it later.
As for Delete, I do that about once a week in a sort of scorched earth manner, with Select All then Unselect those posts I want to reconsider. A second chance when I’m not pressured to be doing something else…or napping.
Thanks for making me smile, Ms. Hanson. I like all your methods: sifting, scorched earth, and ESPECIALLY napping. A minimalist’s solution. Most of the time, less IS more. :0
Oh – how well can I relate to the slew of emails! It’s funny, Marcy, but I PHYSICALLY hurt if I don’t open and read and share 90% of my emails.
My restlessness stems from my deep-rooted fear of being forgotten. So I read and share articles for at least 2 hours every day – only to realize that my writing assignments are crying out my name.
The next thing I know a deadline is looming, my palms are sweating and tears are streaming down my cheeks.
I swear to ‘let go’ of this insane desire to share everything….
The next day, I am up to repeat this not-so-vicious-but-enervating cycle!
Lately, I have been feeling disgusted at the mere thought of opening another email! My heart plummets every time I think about all the articles that are just BEGGING to be shared!
I know this my subconscious way of tell me to stop being such a control-freak, but O-M-G, it is driving me insane! LOL
Rest assured, a Marcy McKay article always delights me though – that ubver-gorgeous profile picture of yours is an added incentive! 😉
LOVE YOUUU
Kitto
PS: Congratulations for having the self-control to discipline your social media and ‘blog commenting’ time!
I LOVE your honesty, Kitto. Your vulnerability is one of your best traits. I do understand about the emails sitting in your inbox. For me, it’s like a physical knock at my brain RIGHT NOW seeing I have SIX unopened emails in my inbox. I want to stop typing your comment to check who they are, respond accordingly, then get back to work.
Problem is…that wastes time. My WRITING time. That’s why my TO READ LATER file has helped so much. Out of sight, out of mind. The knock at my brain goes away.
I honestly hadn’t thought how a deleted email belittles the author, but I’ve seen how much happier I am and I’ve never felt compulsive about sharing. I love the progress I’ve made so much, I have to keep going.
If you’re DISGUSTED at the mere thought of opening another email…you need a break. Why not try a 24-hour Kitto experiment?
Make a TO READ LATER file (or call it whatever), then tomorrow, put all your writing emails in there and wait until after you’ve done some of your writing, your assignments, etc. Give yourself some breathing room for a few hours. If you still want to read, comment or share later, then do.
What I had to remind myself when this all STOPS being fun, it’s time to make a change. Good luck and keep me posted on your progress..
You are right! #HUGSSSSS
You are so precious, Jane. We sound very much alike. I’m delighted to have people in my home, but I don’t wait on folks hand-and-foot on folks. I’m like, “The kitchen is yours, eat whatever you like.”
I’m also the same way that NOT writing drains me. I’m grumpy and out-of-sorts. I think it’s fascinating that you couldn’t get your characters to speak to you. It’s like you ignored them, so now they’re ignoring you.
I’m glad you enjoy MPW and I can’t wait to share Pennies from Burger Heaven with the world!
Oh Marcy, it’s like you sneak right into my brain! I am in need of some serious reprioritizing when it comes to social media and writing. I’m addicted to FB now after weaning off Twitter. I know it’s just bc its new and shiny, but I also get a buzz from comments and likes which I know is dumb, but it reels me back in. Also, as a stay at home mom to my young son, I get lonely and being online makes me feel like I’m engaged in the adult world.
But I can’t seem to just pop on once, I keep going back, and it’s a disservice to my son and to my work.
What I need to do, what I’m going to do, is get off. I will allow myself 10 minutes in the evening when my work and mom time is complete for the day. It’s draining to read SO many articles and hear about so many other people’s work.
So thank you for this reminder 🙂
Hey, Dana,
First let me say it’s very REASONABLE that as a stay-at-home mom, you miss the interaction of adults and want to connect with other writers. I LOVE your idea to use Facebook as a reward after your writing + mommy-ing are done.
This way, you’re not trying to go cold turkey. You’re using it as delayed gratification. Work now, enjoy FB later. Good luck!
And here I am trying to learn how to be more efficiently effective at social media. I like your idea better. Less is better. Course, you have to keep in mind a saying from a few years back: Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.
That’s the KEY, Peter. We all should be ENJOYING our time spent writing…leaving comments…sharing posts on Facebook…tweeting, etc. It’s when we get overwhelmed that we lose our enjoyment.
Social media seems to be like real life in some ways. You make the deepest, most lasting connections one person at a time. Good luck to you in NOT wasting your time and enjoying yourself.
My latest challenge: commenting. Yes, here I am, making a comment. But seriously, I’m developing a small addiction to it. I know bloggers like to receive them (I LOVE getting them), and I like connecting and sharing thoughts and ideas.
It’s like having a short conversation without getting as involved as email, while being a little more personal than twitter or facebook. But it’s starting to take a lot of my time!
I know I’m one of the people that quoted you and I have to thank you, Marcy, for being courageously honest about your challenges and your process. Every reminder that we’re not alone on the path is a boost that will help us all move forward.
See, T.O.? You (and many of the other commenters here today) are what I LOVE about social media. I didn’t know you before we connected through another blog…read your comments and thought…I think I’d like her. We became friends and that’s been a joyful thing.
I’m enjoying leaving comments on other blogs SO MUCH MORE since I cut waaaay back to the number of blogs I’m following. As we keep reminding each other, it’s all about BALANCE. 🙂
YOWZA: Here’s a KICKASS post by book-launching expert, Tim Grahl talking about prioritizing your time with GREAT tips how to do it: http://timgrahl.com/the-myth-of-too-busy/
Very good advice. I have already begun unsubscribing from blogs. I have a favorites bookmark folder in my web browser with blogs of a certain type in there. Like cooking for instance, I have a folder that is just for websites offering cooking recipes and tips. For me, being organized makes my life much more sane.
Good for you, Susan. You’re ahead of the rest of us. Keep up the good work!
Awesome advice. Sometimes you just need to hit delete, dammit! Keep rocking, Marcy Mudpie! 🙂
Why is it you can say in three words, what takes me 800? Hit delete, dammit! xo – m3
Right on. I just posted my decision to stop trying to post in so many different places. I post from WordPress about my writing and post from Blogger about my art updates. These posts are then sent to FB and Twitter. ‘Nuf said. Thanks. 🙂
Streamlining is a great time saver. Good for you and best of luck to you on this quest of balance! 🙂