The Tides of Content
The Ebbs and Flows of Putting Content Online
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Every time I hit send on a Substack post, I’m a bundle of nerves. Did I say everything I wanted to say? Does it make sense? Did I catch all the typos (spoiler alert: I will probably miss some)? Will anyone read what I wrote? Will it be read by anyone I know personally? That last one is always on my mind.
Substack is my second go-round with online content creation. In 2010, I felt like I was stuck in a rut and needed some kind of creative outlet. As a lover of books, starting a book blog was a natural fit. I had no plan, I just picked a template in Blogger and started As I Turn the Pages. I just read the books I owned and wrote what I thought about them. Before long, the marketing folks came knocking with opportunities for review copies. Then blog tours, author interviews, and several trips to BookExpo America (BEA) convention. BEA was like being a kid in a candy store, there’s so much to do and take in. My first year at BEA I made the rookie mistake of only bringing tote bags to carry my book swag. Yeah, I didn’t know a suitcase was the better option—there were also several baggage check areas, and you could put your books in throughout the day.
Over 10 years, I put up 817 posts. I even tried vlogging on YouTube but fizzled out after about 10 videos. I wasn’t totally comfortable on camera. Blogging overall was fun until it wasn’t. By the time the pandemic hit in 2020, blogging was starting to feel like a chore. My daily consumption of news wasn’t helping matters. I was also in a reading slump, so I hung up my blogging shoes.
Fast forward to the present, putting content online is still fun but I look at with a different perspective. With the old blog, I don’t think I ever had a plan/vision/direction for my writing. It was just a fun way to pass the time. Now I view it as a means of enjoyment and a platform to express my thoughts, refine my writing prowess, open doors to new opportunities, and acquire fresh skills along the way.
I'm still grappling with the balancing act of what to reveal and how much. Do I share more personal stories? I’ve been debating whether to write about my biological father, whom I haven’t seen or spoken to since I was six (I’m 41). I’ve written the words out but worry it’s too personal or that family members will read it. What about my struggles with loneliness? My financial struggles? How much does one put of themselves online without revealing too much? How much do you share without editing out your personality? For those of you who post content online, how do you manage the balancing act?
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Thursday: No Lost recaps this week. I have family in town.
Monday: Poll: Is it all Routine?
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