Thank you so much, Ingrid!! I'm kind of loving substack as a place where I can just be brutally honest and most of the time people will be like "yeah i get it" rather than make fun of me, lol. appreciate you reading and commenting <3
social media is such an interesting thing — i find myself both deeply grateful for it and deeply resentful of it, almost in equal parts. i’m trying to get past the idea that i’m shy and awkward and real life, as i’m finding out that it may not be true, but either way i do think i’m better online. i’ve always expressed myself better in writing than i do speaking, which is probably why i’m a writer and not, like, a professional ted talk giver or whatever. i’ve made a LOT of friends on social media, many of whom became ‘real life’ friends, and to make friends/connections on sites like that, you do have to post!! and it is true to you — you’re showing your life, the books you read, the places you go, etc.
i think it’s easy to focus on the negative effects of social media — there are many, particularly on instagram, which feels so image-focused to me. people are being their best, most perfect selves on instagram, and somehow knowing that doesn’t stop us from falling prey to it. and it’s stressful! it’s stressful to put yourself out there amongst all that and post and feel like maybe you’re not measuring up, especially when you can quite literally see the metrics. but then sometimes you do get the comment or dm or whatever that starts the conversation you want/need to have, and that feels pretty special. idk. i wish it felt less icky to check the likes on my ig stories. but also, where would i be without some of the people i met online, all because of my stupid little posts?
I always love your takes on social media because you remind me that it's not so black and white. I have some friends who aren't chronically online and sometimes when they over-explain something to me, like a kamala harris meme from 4 months ago or a charli xcx music video that's already burned into my brain im like... i actually kinda feel bad for you LOL. they should probably feel bad for ME, whose mind is bursting with internet bullshit, but also like...it's fun! and it's fun to feel included in this online community made up of people all over the world, all different ages and lives etc! it definitely is connecting, while also being disconnecting. & I appreciate you admitting that you too fall prey to the "other people have it so easy" thing, which I especially have when I see other writers getting accepted to conferences or getting great pubs etc. I completely don't think about all the hard work that went into that. And it feels so silly because like of COURSE i'm smarter than that...yet here i am, over and over. i appreciate your understanding me and expressing it all so wonderfully, as always <3
I love how honest you are about wanting to impress the book seller! I really enjoyed reading this!
Thank you so much, Ingrid!! I'm kind of loving substack as a place where I can just be brutally honest and most of the time people will be like "yeah i get it" rather than make fun of me, lol. appreciate you reading and commenting <3
the fall video with Video Games playing.... thank you for your service
thank u for making the void feel just slightly smaller <3
social media is such an interesting thing — i find myself both deeply grateful for it and deeply resentful of it, almost in equal parts. i’m trying to get past the idea that i’m shy and awkward and real life, as i’m finding out that it may not be true, but either way i do think i’m better online. i’ve always expressed myself better in writing than i do speaking, which is probably why i’m a writer and not, like, a professional ted talk giver or whatever. i’ve made a LOT of friends on social media, many of whom became ‘real life’ friends, and to make friends/connections on sites like that, you do have to post!! and it is true to you — you’re showing your life, the books you read, the places you go, etc.
i think it’s easy to focus on the negative effects of social media — there are many, particularly on instagram, which feels so image-focused to me. people are being their best, most perfect selves on instagram, and somehow knowing that doesn’t stop us from falling prey to it. and it’s stressful! it’s stressful to put yourself out there amongst all that and post and feel like maybe you’re not measuring up, especially when you can quite literally see the metrics. but then sometimes you do get the comment or dm or whatever that starts the conversation you want/need to have, and that feels pretty special. idk. i wish it felt less icky to check the likes on my ig stories. but also, where would i be without some of the people i met online, all because of my stupid little posts?
I always love your takes on social media because you remind me that it's not so black and white. I have some friends who aren't chronically online and sometimes when they over-explain something to me, like a kamala harris meme from 4 months ago or a charli xcx music video that's already burned into my brain im like... i actually kinda feel bad for you LOL. they should probably feel bad for ME, whose mind is bursting with internet bullshit, but also like...it's fun! and it's fun to feel included in this online community made up of people all over the world, all different ages and lives etc! it definitely is connecting, while also being disconnecting. & I appreciate you admitting that you too fall prey to the "other people have it so easy" thing, which I especially have when I see other writers getting accepted to conferences or getting great pubs etc. I completely don't think about all the hard work that went into that. And it feels so silly because like of COURSE i'm smarter than that...yet here i am, over and over. i appreciate your understanding me and expressing it all so wonderfully, as always <3