On this writer's evolution
Feb. 20th, 2026 02:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
witchpoetdreamerOnce upon a time, I had a Medium account. Once upon a time, I had a Substack. The former actually brought in some money before I deleted my account (75$, definitely a really good amount for only 2 posts, like what??), the latter I deleted after an hour trying to figure it out to realize it's not for me (it's also weirdly fascist nowadays apparently).
The reason why I made those account was because, well, isn't being able to sell your writing any writers dream and desire? Isn't it the thing writers should do when they want to be known? Aren't writers supposed to be out there at all, growing their audience for their upcoming novel or collection of essay or something? Truth is, seeing that money appear in my account felt... off. Partly because I felt I didn't deserve that much for two posts I wrote in less than 3 hours (which, why am I like this? XD), partly because that money felt like it came with strings attached. Suddenly, I would need to post regularly to maintain and grow followers, I would need to keep writing things that would get people hooked and interested, I would need to play the social media game. But I don't like the social media game. I don't like feeling pressured to create following a specific schedule or in a way that is pleasing to the algorithm. I'm not opposed to eventually sell what I write, but I also want to do it in a way that feels organic to me. I don't really know yet what that's like, but I have images of an art convention booth, or something of the likes, in my late 40's, 50's, 60's, offering stories and poems and artworks and home made notebooks and possibly spells and tarot readings, and business cards that lead people to my own indie website and this space too if it still exists and just. The way I approach writing in general and art as a whole is something closer to an personal exchange between people rather than numbers on social media or on a paycheck. It definitely makes me feel like I'm not quite built for the way the world works nowadays, but I don't think it means I'll never find my audience because of it. I think quite the opposite in fact. Because one day, there will be people who enjoy what I make all the more for me not being online much, or online following my own rules. And I think that will make for a wonderful life experience.
The reason why I made those account was because, well, isn't being able to sell your writing any writers dream and desire? Isn't it the thing writers should do when they want to be known? Aren't writers supposed to be out there at all, growing their audience for their upcoming novel or collection of essay or something? Truth is, seeing that money appear in my account felt... off. Partly because I felt I didn't deserve that much for two posts I wrote in less than 3 hours (which, why am I like this? XD), partly because that money felt like it came with strings attached. Suddenly, I would need to post regularly to maintain and grow followers, I would need to keep writing things that would get people hooked and interested, I would need to play the social media game. But I don't like the social media game. I don't like feeling pressured to create following a specific schedule or in a way that is pleasing to the algorithm. I'm not opposed to eventually sell what I write, but I also want to do it in a way that feels organic to me. I don't really know yet what that's like, but I have images of an art convention booth, or something of the likes, in my late 40's, 50's, 60's, offering stories and poems and artworks and home made notebooks and possibly spells and tarot readings, and business cards that lead people to my own indie website and this space too if it still exists and just. The way I approach writing in general and art as a whole is something closer to an personal exchange between people rather than numbers on social media or on a paycheck. It definitely makes me feel like I'm not quite built for the way the world works nowadays, but I don't think it means I'll never find my audience because of it. I think quite the opposite in fact. Because one day, there will be people who enjoy what I make all the more for me not being online much, or online following my own rules. And I think that will make for a wonderful life experience.
