Thanks for this, Shawn. This rings all the same bells for me. The system does feel broken. The priorities are skewed. I love Steve Martin’s advice and Matt Damon’s rings true too--here’s to growing our craft, and caring more about those skills and strengths than whatever the algorithm du jour says. Cheering you on as you keep honing your story telling technique. I’m grateful to learn from you, and alongside you.
Yes! So happy to be figuring all of this out alongside you and our online writing community...who I met on social media while trying to build a platform! :) Oh, my. Isn't John Blase the one who always says it's all necessary?
I’m sure that is John. He’s so wise . I’m currently on a social media break and every time I do this I debate the point of ever coming back to it. I’m trying to remind myself that there is good in it—it’s just a matter of prioritizing.
I love the examples you shared here, Shawn! And please don't discount 5 published novels in 5 years! That's absolutely incredible!
I think it is important to share our stories however we can. If we don't do it, our characters never get to share their story. I believe our characters are worth fighting for and as creators we need to stand up for them. That being said, none of this is one-size-fits-all. Figure out what works for you (keep it super simple) and do that.
And never hesitate to repurpose, repurpose, repurpose. Because unless you're paying to advertise, the reach is likely a bit of a joke.
Oof. Yeah, and sometimes the platform vanishes, which means all you have is the work.
Those two were pretty conflated for me for...a long time. It’s only been in the past couple years that I’ve been able to start to untangle it a bit. It’s still there, at least some, but ultimately, the more I just put in the reps writing, the more I am just having fun doing it again, and that was the point way back at the beginning.
Jun 23, 2023·edited Jun 23, 2023Liked by Shawn Smucker
Wow. Loved both those clips. I know stepping off the socials isnt for everyone but I haven’t been on since March. My soul is less cluttered and many words have been written. Be so good they can’t ignore you. That’s what I’m after. Thank you for the encouragement. 😊
I’m exceptionally curious about your Susan Pevensie story!! Keep going!!
This hit me right in the gut. I recently deleted my professional social media accounts because I got so tired of chasing the algorithm. That quote from Steve Martin nails it. Seems like there are a lot of us feeling the same platform fatigue and just wanting to do what we love...write.
It does seem like ten to fifteen years of this, and the lack of results, is leading many of us to question it. I wish you all the best in doing what you love to do!
Oh man. Such great thoughts and encouragements. I appreciated the clips. Let’s get better. From one who has been writing and not really working on platform, but always second guessing myself, I think I’ll just keep on.
Gosh Shawn, this is so good. Thank you for this. I have always hated the manufactured nature of platform building, and it’s always been something that made me never want to try and get published. The idea of being so good they can’t say no resonates really deeply. I recently had a zoom call with a book coach who is also a published author, and she told me that while my book premise is highly marketable, it’s success will depend on execution and the quality of my writing. She never even mentioned platform building or asked about the size of mine. As daunting as execution and writing quality may feel, they are something I know I can do something about; platform building is not. It is such a fickle endeavor and depends on the whims of other people at any given moment, and we are not made to cater like that. I want to be authentic and engaging in the world, but ultimately that means caring about what I do and making sure I do it well no matter who follows me on social media or not.
I also think that this issue of platform may very well shift dramatically in the near future as more and more people are starting to abandon social media, or at least severely limit their engagement. And that reinforces the idea that platform is an inauthentic way to gauge possible success because it’s simply too fickle and manufactured. Hopefully, we’ll see publishers shift back toward more moderate and authentic measures like story quality.
Spot on Shawn. I believe this is perfectly applicable to all work and what it means to do the our best work. Lao Tzu writes "Do your work, then step back" implying that our work sets something in motion that we can destroy by endless allurements, entanglements, and attachments to platforms of all kinds and even to the work itself. I hear that most politicians actually spend more time, energy, and money campaigning for their next election than actually doing the work of their office. Think of the vast amount of literature that had it's best sales long after the author was gone. Imagine how Pierre Teilhard de Chardin must have viewed his writing work -- he was silenced and censored by Rome so he secretly and subversively made plans to will his complete works to a publisher who would release all his works after he died. His writings are even more widely read and appreciated now than in 1955 when they were published after his death. Yes, the invitation and undertaking of inner work plays an undeniable role in setting us free to really craft and create lasting "works" of all kinds.
This is 100% true, Shawn, and I’m glad you’re pulling back the curtain here. Far, far too many of us writers have spent the past decade-plus focused on witty Instagram captions instead of well-crafted paragraphs that become part of a story. Sometimes I think of all the art we might be missing because that talent and energy is being directed at algorithm-mastery instead of sculptures and storytelling.
So much of it (for me, anyway) comes from this desire to be widely read. But I've found so many wonderful examples recently of people who are creating for their own little community. So much beauty and care in that kind of a creative life.
I can't help but feel a little self-conscious about this post, having just spoken to you along similar lines! I totally want to "grow my fanbase" (i.e. "build a platform") and that is definitely taking priority over my craft right now. There is certainly the possibility that someone is an undiscovered genius out there, creating brilliant stories that no one is reading because the poor fool isn't tied in to social media.
BUT...
What are we writing for? Our temporary fame? Or to express something essential and timeless? There's a place for both solitary work and social connecting, but I agree with you that the work comes first. People scour the world daily, looking for greatness. If you're good enough, you can't possibly get overlooked forever.
There's definitely nothing wrong with connecting with the wider world and trying to find your audience. It's goes along with the work these days. But I guess what I'm talking about is this dedication to platform-building to the extent that it becomes the most important thing and the time spent on it takes away from our pursuit of craft. It's so easy to put your work into the world, and while there's more work out there than ever before, I still believe that we'll tell our friends about the really good stuff we come across.
It’s encouraging to hear this from someone who’s been working for much longer than I have. I want to stay faithful to the work I’ve been given to do, and do it with excellence. But it’s so hard to not be checking numbers and metrics and then even harder when you are waiting for someone to notice hard work in a system that often seems like it rewards flashy vs. thoughtful.
So thankful for this post, Shawn. I'm away leading a small Christian writers gathering in Maine this weekend, talking about how to write and publish stories across a variety of genres. And this level of excellence is mandatory if you want to break into traditional publishing today. But I also appreciate what you say about making your own path, something I've admired about Matt Damon and other creatives who've succeeded by following a similar path. There are so many ways to get published and share your words.
Thanks for this, Shawn. This rings all the same bells for me. The system does feel broken. The priorities are skewed. I love Steve Martin’s advice and Matt Damon’s rings true too--here’s to growing our craft, and caring more about those skills and strengths than whatever the algorithm du jour says. Cheering you on as you keep honing your story telling technique. I’m grateful to learn from you, and alongside you.
Yes! So happy to be figuring all of this out alongside you and our online writing community...who I met on social media while trying to build a platform! :) Oh, my. Isn't John Blase the one who always says it's all necessary?
I’m sure that is John. He’s so wise . I’m currently on a social media break and every time I do this I debate the point of ever coming back to it. I’m trying to remind myself that there is good in it—it’s just a matter of prioritizing.
I love the examples you shared here, Shawn! And please don't discount 5 published novels in 5 years! That's absolutely incredible!
I think it is important to share our stories however we can. If we don't do it, our characters never get to share their story. I believe our characters are worth fighting for and as creators we need to stand up for them. That being said, none of this is one-size-fits-all. Figure out what works for you (keep it super simple) and do that.
And never hesitate to repurpose, repurpose, repurpose. Because unless you're paying to advertise, the reach is likely a bit of a joke.
Oof. Yeah, and sometimes the platform vanishes, which means all you have is the work.
Those two were pretty conflated for me for...a long time. It’s only been in the past couple years that I’ve been able to start to untangle it a bit. It’s still there, at least some, but ultimately, the more I just put in the reps writing, the more I am just having fun doing it again, and that was the point way back at the beginning.
I love reading your current stuff, Alise. Seems like you're really finding your niche. Keep going and keep having fun.
Good stuff (as usual), Shawn. I think Martin's straight on. Look at Wendell Berry -- what's his "platform". :) He's just a great writer and thinker.
Wow. Loved both those clips. I know stepping off the socials isnt for everyone but I haven’t been on since March. My soul is less cluttered and many words have been written. Be so good they can’t ignore you. That’s what I’m after. Thank you for the encouragement. 😊
I’m exceptionally curious about your Susan Pevensie story!! Keep going!!
This hit me right in the gut. I recently deleted my professional social media accounts because I got so tired of chasing the algorithm. That quote from Steve Martin nails it. Seems like there are a lot of us feeling the same platform fatigue and just wanting to do what we love...write.
It does seem like ten to fifteen years of this, and the lack of results, is leading many of us to question it. I wish you all the best in doing what you love to do!
Thanks! Same to you!
Oh man. Such great thoughts and encouragements. I appreciated the clips. Let’s get better. From one who has been writing and not really working on platform, but always second guessing myself, I think I’ll just keep on.
Thank you for this.
Yes! Let's get better.
Gosh Shawn, this is so good. Thank you for this. I have always hated the manufactured nature of platform building, and it’s always been something that made me never want to try and get published. The idea of being so good they can’t say no resonates really deeply. I recently had a zoom call with a book coach who is also a published author, and she told me that while my book premise is highly marketable, it’s success will depend on execution and the quality of my writing. She never even mentioned platform building or asked about the size of mine. As daunting as execution and writing quality may feel, they are something I know I can do something about; platform building is not. It is such a fickle endeavor and depends on the whims of other people at any given moment, and we are not made to cater like that. I want to be authentic and engaging in the world, but ultimately that means caring about what I do and making sure I do it well no matter who follows me on social media or not.
I also think that this issue of platform may very well shift dramatically in the near future as more and more people are starting to abandon social media, or at least severely limit their engagement. And that reinforces the idea that platform is an inauthentic way to gauge possible success because it’s simply too fickle and manufactured. Hopefully, we’ll see publishers shift back toward more moderate and authentic measures like story quality.
I love this. I'm actually sick of social media and deciding whether to quit altogether.
It's a real consideration these days.
Spot on Shawn. I believe this is perfectly applicable to all work and what it means to do the our best work. Lao Tzu writes "Do your work, then step back" implying that our work sets something in motion that we can destroy by endless allurements, entanglements, and attachments to platforms of all kinds and even to the work itself. I hear that most politicians actually spend more time, energy, and money campaigning for their next election than actually doing the work of their office. Think of the vast amount of literature that had it's best sales long after the author was gone. Imagine how Pierre Teilhard de Chardin must have viewed his writing work -- he was silenced and censored by Rome so he secretly and subversively made plans to will his complete works to a publisher who would release all his works after he died. His writings are even more widely read and appreciated now than in 1955 when they were published after his death. Yes, the invitation and undertaking of inner work plays an undeniable role in setting us free to really craft and create lasting "works" of all kinds.
Beautifully said, Clair.
This is 100% true, Shawn, and I’m glad you’re pulling back the curtain here. Far, far too many of us writers have spent the past decade-plus focused on witty Instagram captions instead of well-crafted paragraphs that become part of a story. Sometimes I think of all the art we might be missing because that talent and energy is being directed at algorithm-mastery instead of sculptures and storytelling.
So much of it (for me, anyway) comes from this desire to be widely read. But I've found so many wonderful examples recently of people who are creating for their own little community. So much beauty and care in that kind of a creative life.
Appreciate these timely words. Platform chasing is a trap. Be so good they can’t ignore is wisdom for the ages. Thanks again!
I can't help but feel a little self-conscious about this post, having just spoken to you along similar lines! I totally want to "grow my fanbase" (i.e. "build a platform") and that is definitely taking priority over my craft right now. There is certainly the possibility that someone is an undiscovered genius out there, creating brilliant stories that no one is reading because the poor fool isn't tied in to social media.
BUT...
What are we writing for? Our temporary fame? Or to express something essential and timeless? There's a place for both solitary work and social connecting, but I agree with you that the work comes first. People scour the world daily, looking for greatness. If you're good enough, you can't possibly get overlooked forever.
There's definitely nothing wrong with connecting with the wider world and trying to find your audience. It's goes along with the work these days. But I guess what I'm talking about is this dedication to platform-building to the extent that it becomes the most important thing and the time spent on it takes away from our pursuit of craft. It's so easy to put your work into the world, and while there's more work out there than ever before, I still believe that we'll tell our friends about the really good stuff we come across.
Wow, this one hit hard, but in all the best ways. “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” I actually know a writer who this is happening to right now.
But being that good is really the hardest part of all, which is why it can be tempting to divert to other things -like platform building.
Yes! Especially when platform-building is so easily measured, and you can see it tangibly when you make progress.
It’s encouraging to hear this from someone who’s been working for much longer than I have. I want to stay faithful to the work I’ve been given to do, and do it with excellence. But it’s so hard to not be checking numbers and metrics and then even harder when you are waiting for someone to notice hard work in a system that often seems like it rewards flashy vs. thoughtful.
So thankful for this post, Shawn. I'm away leading a small Christian writers gathering in Maine this weekend, talking about how to write and publish stories across a variety of genres. And this level of excellence is mandatory if you want to break into traditional publishing today. But I also appreciate what you say about making your own path, something I've admired about Matt Damon and other creatives who've succeeded by following a similar path. There are so many ways to get published and share your words.