Today I feel more tired of social media than ever before and more thankful for Substack than ever before. Yesterday I deleted my Twitter account, having been briefly drawn back there for the usual reason: the desire to give books I’ve put every ounce of myself into the best chance possible of surviving in the world. But in fact what I repeatedly deduce is that I’d rather sell fewer books than voluntarily drink mind poison. I intend to keep my resolve this time. I hope I do, because the five weeks I had it deactivated for earlier this year is uncoincidentally the period in recent times when I have possessed my deepest powers of concentration and been at my least prodded by anxiety.
As an author, I also feel the pain of having to get rid of a potential outlet. But Twitter is trash now. It is a steaming pile of decomposing fish guts left in the sun. I'll never tweet again. Glad you said this.
This was a fairly average day until I read this wonderful piece. It's like a beacon of light. As I read through lots of little light bulbs were popping on in my mind. So thank you for this. I haven't had a mint club biscuit for years but I just tasted one in my mind. And of course I agree with all the other social media stuff. Never set your course by the empty vessels who really do make the most noise. Twats indeed. Love, love, love your writing.
As a painter/visual artist adding her love of writing to her feathered cap, this resonated so hard. I have spent years playing the numbers game on Insta and feeling more and more disparaged by it all, completely out of alignment with who I am, what I want to do, what I want to bring into this world. At the end of last week I scheduled the next months worth of posts over there after only showing up very sporadically there for months, all because I still seem to respond to the (highly inaccurate) notion that artists have to be on Insta. The whole time I was doing the scheduling, it felt so inauthentic, so disconnected, rather than celebratory. You have perfectly articulated the feeling in your writing. Thank you Tom
I am very new over here and am loving it already. I would probably never have found you if you hadn't been here, I don't do Twitter and very little on fb, I flit in and out of Instagram. I don't want to have to post every day at 7am, then follow people and comment just to stay in the algorithm of social media life. So far, I've felt like real people are on the other end of this and I hope it continues. I have a couple of your posts saved, I've some time planned next week to read them. I wish you well here and look forward to reading more. I shall go and check out your books too...
Thank you for writing this. I resonate so much with it! As a former teacher turned freelancer and writer, I wasn’t prepared for all this social media self promotion and I also hate it with a vengeance.
I decided this week that I’m going to delete Twitter and seeing this post feels like the universe giving me the thumbs up. You were one of the first accounts I followed over there and it seems fitting to go after reading this :)
I also need to get back to writing my own Substack!
I'm grateful to have been introduced to your brilliant writing through The Bear and @MySadCat... Roscoe, Ralph, and Shipley kept me coming back for more through your "Cat" books... but completely agree that your hard-fought independence doesn't need artificial boosters through social media.
Word of Mouth seems to be a far more authentic way to share your excellent writing, and your global community is the best source of support.
I'm looking forward to receiving my signed First Edition of 1983, and will be recommending to ALL of my friends and family, including the ones who live in Notts.
You really hit the nail on the head about the psychological difficulty of feeling forced to engage with social media platforms as a creative worker. I have no doubt your decision to cut back from the insanity and negativity of the likes of Twitter will feel better for you. Hope Substack continues to be a nourishing and supportive space. May your creativity flourish here and beyond :)
Thanks Tom. I tried Twitter once. It's a grubby little hole full of sad individuals with nothing better to do with their time than throw around bile and vitriol. Perhaps they could actually read some your work and improve their minds. I'm sure they would become much happier people. Your writing always brings a smile to my face and peace in my soul.
I used to love Twitter. I don't anymore. I've put my account on pause and will revisit in January. I want to give myself a rest from the endless scrolling. I'm pretty sure I'll delete the account then, just as you have done, Tom. It isn't an easy decision, especially when publishers encourage the use of Twitter to promote books. But I'm pretty sure it's not going to improve now... the writing is on the wall. Ditto your thoughts and thank goodness for this platform. Substack rocks!
ok now i'm REALLY curious about substack in general. thanks for bringing us here, Tom! glad we can support you here and now i'm off to find more writers and enjoy long, coherent, thought provoking words and discussions with the people that read them.
Why I Am Here And Not There
As an author, I also feel the pain of having to get rid of a potential outlet. But Twitter is trash now. It is a steaming pile of decomposing fish guts left in the sun. I'll never tweet again. Glad you said this.
Good riddance to antisocial media!
This was a fairly average day until I read this wonderful piece. It's like a beacon of light. As I read through lots of little light bulbs were popping on in my mind. So thank you for this. I haven't had a mint club biscuit for years but I just tasted one in my mind. And of course I agree with all the other social media stuff. Never set your course by the empty vessels who really do make the most noise. Twats indeed. Love, love, love your writing.
As a painter/visual artist adding her love of writing to her feathered cap, this resonated so hard. I have spent years playing the numbers game on Insta and feeling more and more disparaged by it all, completely out of alignment with who I am, what I want to do, what I want to bring into this world. At the end of last week I scheduled the next months worth of posts over there after only showing up very sporadically there for months, all because I still seem to respond to the (highly inaccurate) notion that artists have to be on Insta. The whole time I was doing the scheduling, it felt so inauthentic, so disconnected, rather than celebratory. You have perfectly articulated the feeling in your writing. Thank you Tom
I am very new over here and am loving it already. I would probably never have found you if you hadn't been here, I don't do Twitter and very little on fb, I flit in and out of Instagram. I don't want to have to post every day at 7am, then follow people and comment just to stay in the algorithm of social media life. So far, I've felt like real people are on the other end of this and I hope it continues. I have a couple of your posts saved, I've some time planned next week to read them. I wish you well here and look forward to reading more. I shall go and check out your books too...
High bloody five to that!
Bravo you Tom.
So brilliant I want to share it with every single person I know.
So sorry you get so much grief. Just remember those of us that support you and wish you the best. We are always there!
Right on, Tom
Thank you for writing this. I resonate so much with it! As a former teacher turned freelancer and writer, I wasn’t prepared for all this social media self promotion and I also hate it with a vengeance.
I decided this week that I’m going to delete Twitter and seeing this post feels like the universe giving me the thumbs up. You were one of the first accounts I followed over there and it seems fitting to go after reading this :)
I also need to get back to writing my own Substack!
Thanks Tom. All the best x
I'm grateful to have been introduced to your brilliant writing through The Bear and @MySadCat... Roscoe, Ralph, and Shipley kept me coming back for more through your "Cat" books... but completely agree that your hard-fought independence doesn't need artificial boosters through social media.
Word of Mouth seems to be a far more authentic way to share your excellent writing, and your global community is the best source of support.
I'm looking forward to receiving my signed First Edition of 1983, and will be recommending to ALL of my friends and family, including the ones who live in Notts.
You really hit the nail on the head about the psychological difficulty of feeling forced to engage with social media platforms as a creative worker. I have no doubt your decision to cut back from the insanity and negativity of the likes of Twitter will feel better for you. Hope Substack continues to be a nourishing and supportive space. May your creativity flourish here and beyond :)
Thanks Tom. I tried Twitter once. It's a grubby little hole full of sad individuals with nothing better to do with their time than throw around bile and vitriol. Perhaps they could actually read some your work and improve their minds. I'm sure they would become much happier people. Your writing always brings a smile to my face and peace in my soul.
I used to love Twitter. I don't anymore. I've put my account on pause and will revisit in January. I want to give myself a rest from the endless scrolling. I'm pretty sure I'll delete the account then, just as you have done, Tom. It isn't an easy decision, especially when publishers encourage the use of Twitter to promote books. But I'm pretty sure it's not going to improve now... the writing is on the wall. Ditto your thoughts and thank goodness for this platform. Substack rocks!
ok now i'm REALLY curious about substack in general. thanks for bringing us here, Tom! glad we can support you here and now i'm off to find more writers and enjoy long, coherent, thought provoking words and discussions with the people that read them.