A Manifesto for Social Media, Writing, and Reaching My Audience (and more fun stuff!)
It’s Time for a Manifesto for Social Media, Writing, and Reaching My Audience
manifesto noun
man·i·fes·to | \ ˌma-nə-ˈfe-(ˌ)stō
plural manifestos or manifestoes
From the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
A written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer.
From the Oxford English Dictionary:
A public declaration or proclamation, written or spoken; esp. a printed declaration, explanation, or justification of policy issued by a head of state, government, or political party or candidate, or any other individual or body of individuals of public relevance, as a school or movement in the Arts.
My Success as a Writer Doesn’t Depend on How Many People Like My Instagram Posts
I’m so tired of being frustrated with social media and thinking my success as a writer is dependent on how many Instagram and Twitter followers I have and how many likes and comments my posts receive.
Platform matters. Publishers want to know if people want to read the books I write. They are trying to run a business. I get it. But having a huge following on social media isn’t the only way to have a platform. I don’t think we have to accept the overrated emphasis that’s placed on social media engagement numbers. There are more ways to connect with readers.
In fact, I believe there are better ways to connect with readers. Being a writer on social media is actually kind of boring. It’s another way to market yourself and your work. Most writers who are on social media are there because they want people to buy their books, or they want to write their first book, or they want an agent, or they want a contract for their next book. And that’s totally fine. Social media is one of many ways to connect with existing and potential readers.
I Want More For My Readers
It’s not enough for me, though. I want more than what social media offers me. And I want more for my readers, podcast audience, and spiritual direction clients.
After 10+ years of trying to navigate social media in ways that are healthy and conducive to my career as a writer, I’ve created A Manifesto for Social Media, Writing, and Reaching My Audience. I’m going to print it and keep it visible so I can see it while I’m writing. Maybe I’ll even share a photo of it in my writing space on Instagram one day soon.
You can read A Manifesto for Social Media, Writing, and Reaching My Audience below, and here are the other things included in this post:
Seventeen Additional Thoughts on Social Media, Writing, and Reaching My Audience
Another Manifesto: A Manifesto for My Readers
The Best Ways to Connect with Me That Have Nothing to Do with Social Media
The Best Ways to Support Me As a Writer That Have Nothing to Do with Social Media
Relevant Links for All of the Things Mentioned in This Post
A Manifesto for Social Media, Writing, and Reaching My Audience
I will always do my best writing in places that aren’t my social media posts.
I will always have the best conversations in places that aren’t the comments sections for my social media posts.
I will always offer the most meaningful and most helpful resources for the writing life and spiritual life in places that aren’t my social media posts.
I will always consider how to use my time in ways that will benefit my readers, listeners, and spiritual direction clients.
I will always consider how to use my time in ways that will benefit the greater common good.
I will usually use social media in ways that benefit my writing and other vocational goals, my spiritual and mental health, and my audience, but sometimes I won’t.
Seventeen Additional Thoughts on Social Media, Writing, and Reaching My Audience
1. Not playing the social media game the way writers are expected to play the social media game doesn’t mean I don’t care about my existing and potential readers, listeners, and clients.
2. I do care about my existing and potential readers, listeners, and clients. They are why I do what I do. And their support allows me to do what I do. I’m eternally grateful for everyone who reads my words, listens to my podcasts, and meets with me for spiritual direction. I receive so much from those who engage with my work and I will always consider it a gift and privilege to do the work I do. And I want to be available to connect with those who engage with and appreciate my work. Please see the sections below for the best ways to do so.
3. I’m a writer. It’s who I am. When I’m writing, I’m more of who God made me to be.
4. I want to get an agent and I want to write more books, but I am a better writer, wife, mom, friend, and spiritual director when I’m not worrying about social media.
5. I want to get an agent and I want to write more books, I’m a better writer, wife, mom, friend, and spiritual director when I have ample time to read, write, pray, and engage with other contemplative practices.
6. When I’m considering how to use my time in ways that benefit myself, my writing and other work, and my mental and spiritual health; scrolling, posting, and commenting on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook will never be at the top of that list.
7. When I’m considering how to use my time in ways that benefit my readers, listeners, and spiritual direction clients; scrolling, posting, and commenting on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook will never be at the top of that list.
8. When I’m considering how to use my time in ways that will benefit the common good; scrolling, posting, and commenting on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook will never be at the top of that list.
9. I enjoy being on social media and will continue to maintain my social media accounts. I may not check Twitter or Facebook or Instagram for several days at a time. I will return when I want to and scroll or post when I feel like it, like when I’m on an airplane because I hate flying and social media distracts me from thinking about the absurdity of being in a plane high in the sky.
10. Worrying about social media is not the best use of my time because I have hundreds of other things I’d rather ponder.
11. I know how to grow an audience on social media. I know how to play nice with the algorithms. I know how to make sure more people see what I post. But the hours I could allocate to those things can also be allocated to other things that have a greater impact on my contribution to the common good, my audience, and my own flourishing.
12. Many of the people who read the things I’ve written, listen to my podcasts, and meet with me for one-on-one spiritual direction are on Instagram. I understand that I need to be where the people are, and I will continue to have an Instagram presence. But anyone who enjoys reading my books and essays, likes my podcasts, and appreciates what I offer as a spiritual director can receive better things from me in other places.
13. None of my Spiritual Direction for Writers clients come to me because they wish they could figure out how to make more time for social media. None of them come to me because they wish they could notice God’s presence in their social media feeds (although I believe God is definitely present on social media if you know how to notice God’s presence!).
14. Most of the writers I know want more time to read, write, and pray.
15. My primary goal as a spiritual director for writers is to make space for my clients to notice God’s presence in their lives and in their creative work. I don’t tell them how to engage with social media. I do point them to God. With regard to social media, I encourage them to be curious about how, why, and where they use social media. I ask them to be curious about how social media is helping or hindering their writing goals and their engagement with prayer and other contemplative practices that help them notice God’s presence in their lives and creative work.
16. To be the writer I want to be, I need to be the spiritual director and Our Faith in Writing host that I want to be. There’s a synergy running through all of my writing and other work.
17. To be the writer I want to be, I need to be someone who has the time and space to write books, essays, and more that will benefit and bless my readers. So, here’s another manifesto.
A Manifesto for My Readers
I want the books, essays, and other things I write to help readers:
Discover how they belong to themselves, others, the world, and the divine.
Feel less alone.
Be more comfortable with the uncomfortable things.
Be freer from constraints and others’ expectations.
Become more of who they were made to be.
The Best Ways for Readers to Connect with Me
I do care about my existing and potential readers, listeners, and clients. They are why I do what I do. Their support allows me to do what I do. I’m eternally grateful for everyone who reads my words, listens to my podcasts, and meets with me for spiritual direction. I receive so much from those who engage with my work and I will always consider it a gift and privilege to do the work I do.
I want to be available to connect with those who appreciate my work. Here are the best ways for people to connect with me:
Read my book, The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other. Then send me an email and let me know what you think!
Subscribe to my email newsletter (powered by Substack) and post comments on the Substack posts. I respond to every comment.
Visit charlottedonlon.com, read the posts, and comment on them.
Visit ourfaithinwriting.com.
The Best Ways to Support Me as a Writer
Most of my readers find out about me and my writing via word of mouth. Sales for The Great Belonging have been stronger than my publisher expected because people who read the book tell other people that they need to read it, too.
Because I want to write more books, it’s super important for the people who read and liked The Great Belonging to spread the word.
Because my next book explores themes related to art and belonging, it’s super important for the people who enjoy listening to Our Faith in Writing to spread the word.
Anyone who appreciates me and my writing can play a role in helping me secure an agent and get more book deals. (Y’all are going to love this next book!) Publishers and agents need to see if people care about my writing. So it’s important for my book sales to increase. It’s important to have a lot of email newsletter subscribers. And it’s important for people to follow me on social media. (I’m not stupid.)
Here’s how you can help:
Free Ways to Support Me as a Writer That Don’t Require Social Media
Tell your friends, family, neighbors, and enemies about my writing and work.
Because I want to write more books, be super-excited when you tell your friends, family, neighbors, and enemies about my first book, The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other.
Share links to resources, essays, and more from charlottedonlon.com and ourfaithinwriting.com with your friends, family, neighbors and enemies who might appreciate them.
Read a borrowed copy of The Great Belonging then tell your friends to borrow a copy from the library or a friend who has a copy.
Write a review for The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other for Amazon.
Write a review for The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other for Goodreads.
Ask your local library to order The Great Belonging for their patrons.
Listen to the Our Faith in Writing podcast.
Subscribe to the Our Faith in Writing podcast.
Rate and review Our Faith in Writing wherever you listen to podcasts.
Send me an email telling me how my writing and work have affected you.
Subscribe to my email newsletter.
More Ways to Support Me as a Writer that Don’t Require Social Media
Buy The Great Belonging and read it.
Buy a copy of The Great Belonging for a friend or two or three.
Meet with me for one-on-one spiritual direction.
Free Ways to Support Me as a Writer that Don’t Require ME to Be Active on Social Media
Recommend my book, podcast, and spiritual direction resources to your followers on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and everywhere else.
Share links to resources, essays, and more from charlottedonlon.com and ourfaithinwriting.com with your followers on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and everywhere else.
Follow me on Twitter and Instagram.
All of the Links for All of the Things
Subscribe to My Email Newsletter
Listen to the Our Faith in Writing Podcast
Thanks for reading all of my thoughts and suggestions and manifestos here. I’d love to hear what you think. Feel free to comment below!
Also, this may be a working document. I may add more items to my manifestos. I may add more thoughts to the 17 listed above. We’ll see.
Also, I’d love to see your social media manifesto. Let me know if you write one!
Charlotte Donlon helps her readers and clients notice how they belong to themselves, others, God, and the world. Charlotte is a writer, a spiritual director for writers, and the founder of Spiritual Direction for Writers™ and Parenting with Art™. She is also the founder and host of the Our Faith in Writing podcast and website. Her essays have appeared in The Washington Post, The Curator, The Christian Century, Christianity Today, Catapult, The Millions, Mockingbird, and elsewhere. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Seattle Pacific University where she studied creative nonfiction with Paula Huston and Lauren F. Winner. She holds a certificate in spiritual direction from Selah Center for Spiritual Formation. Her first book is The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other. To receive Charlotte’s latest updates, news, announcements, and other good things, subscribe to her email newsletter.