The app for independent voices
Stop Being the Best Kept Secret Among Writers
The only person more invisible than a ghostwriter is a writer who avoids social media.
If you’ve been hiding from social media like it’s an ex at a party, you’re doing it wrong.
Social media isn’t just a nice-to-have…it’s a ticket out of obscurity and into the hands of readers who actually care.
Let’s talk about why ditching it is like setting your writing career on fire (but not in the cool, “viral” way).
Social Media Isn’t the Devil, You Just Need Boundaries
We’ve all seen the chaos…doomscrolling, bad memes, Oxford’s word of the year 2024 (‘brain rot’…yes I am aware it is 2 words), and the occasional existential crisis courtesy of Twitter/X (Xitter).
But, social media isn’t inherently evil. It’s a tool. And like any tool, it’s only dangerous if you’re an idiot with it.
Use it wisely, and it’s a direct line to the people who could fall in love with your work.
Sure, staying off social media feels pure. But let me ask you this: if Michelangelo had Instagram, do you think he’d have spent years waiting for someone to stumble into the Sistine Chapel? No, he’d be live-streaming that ceiling.
Your Readers Are Not at the Sales Convention
Let’s clear up a very common mistake: staying in writers' groups and niche platforms like Substack is great for camaraderie but terrible for sales.
Why? Writers selling to writers is the equivalent of fish in a pond trying to sell water to each other. It’s redundant.
Your actual readers are out there…scrolling, commenting, and double-tapping their way through life.
If you’re not showing up in their feeds, you might as well not exist. And if you only show up to sell? Congratulations, you’re now that annoying guy at the party who only talks about his startup. Don’t be that guy.
Want Creative Inspiration? Dive Into the Chaos
Writing in a vacuum is a death sentence for originality.
Social media, for all its flaws, is a 24/7 carnival of ideas. Trends, conversations, debates…they’re all fertile ground for creativity (both fiction and nonfiction).
Need proof? Look at how the #BookTok community on TikTok has resuscitated forgotten genres and authors.
Take a look at Keila Shaheen. She self-published a book that went on to outsell releases from Oprah and Elon Musk…all because of TikTok! Check out her story linked below from Forbes 30 under 30 2025:
You think that’s happening in a quiet writer’s forum? Hell no.
Social media is the pulse of what readers crave, hate, and obsess over. Ignore it, and you risk pouring three months into a project that flops harder than a Kardashian album.
Your Voice Matters, but So Does Your Audience
Nobody’s saying you should sell your soul to the algorithm.
Your unique voice is what sets you apart. However, even the best voices need an audience, and social media helps you find yours.
Think of it like this: Hemingway would’ve hated Twitter, but you bet your ass he’d have dominated it. “Write drunk, edit sober”? That’s 100,000 likes right there. He knew the power of being seen, even if his era’s version of “platform-building” was hanging out with Gertrude Stein in a smoky Parisian café.
Use Social Media Without Losing Your Sanity
Engage, Don’t Preach: Share snippets of your process, funny observations, or your dog doing something ridiculous. Build a relationship.
Set Boundaries: Allocate time to post and engage…then log the hell off before you spiral into a rabbit hole of conspiracy theories.
Learn from Your Audience: What are they sharing? Commenting on? Complaining about? That’s your free cheat sheet for relevance.
Do You Follow?
Social media can be hell, but it’s where your readers are. If you want to stay the best-kept secret among writers, by all means, keep avoiding it.
If you’re ready to break out, start showing up. Start engaging. Start being seen.
The only thing worse for a writer than being bad at social media? Being invisible.
