I hear you on this. I hate these social media companies y their owners.
I barely do social media- don’t have the physical or cognitive energy so in a way being sick & disabled simplifies this part of my life.
As a disabled person I ask writers to think about not using disability metaphors like this: “as though we were blind beggars..”
Writers, who are not disabled often use them with negative connotations & but disabled people don’t see their disabilities in that way. It is their life.
Thanks for the reminder, when you make your sole purpose trying to grow on a platform like this you probably need it… Now, time to go check on my engagement metrics.
I could have never said it so, well, “Shannan,” (but my own Tara-voice is ok, too, right? all of our voices are) — this piece is so now-needed-- read, hear, believe, feel-the-love. Thank you, Shannan
This was a brilliant read and came at the perfect time.
It’s so hard not to get wrapped up in it, especially at the beginning. What even is that, ego? The need to be seen and heard, that desire for freedom. Can creative expression be sacred if it’s a commodity?
Thank's for reading Alexandra. I’m so glad it found you at the right time. And yes, that tension is so real, especially early on when every share feels like a gamble between authenticity and visibility. I think that desire...to be seen, to be free, is deeply human, not just ego. Maybe the sacredness isn’t lost when art becomes a commodity, but it definitely needs protecting. From the noise, from ourselves, from the market’s endless appetite. That’s the work too, I guess: keeping a little flame lit inside while everything around you tries to package it...(which is kinda a disaster waiting to happen ha)
Yes...this! It’s wild how the loudest voices dictating how to “be creative” are often the ones not actually making anything. Just recycling templates and calling it strategy. Originality shouldn’t have to ask permission to exist, or perform for the algorithm to be worth reading.
Yet we are tangled in it all. I remember before starting to write this year that I was so afraid of accidentally copying someone else ideas… so much so that I never let my ideas breathe.
Now I know not many write like I do or have my ideas like I do—it was like an invisible barrier for no reason but my own misbelief on what is right or wrong.
Love your posts, shannon. Made me think of this quote I love: "Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art." -- Andy Warhol
"Don’t pick a niche. Write about whatever the hell you want. Make art. Knit fucking socks. I don’t care, BE YOUR CONFUSING COMPLICATED SELF, MOTHERFUCKER."
New here. Thanks for the warning. I've already been caught up in the "Do I have to make a note every day to get people to find me?" and fight the urge to put out more than one post a week when that's all I can happily muster. Let us rage against the dying of the light and keep the art creative!
It's so easy to get sucked in to chasing followers and only thinking that big numbers are what counts. I'm really hoping Substack is different. It seems to be. But even then I need to be reminded about what's important: real connection probably with just a handful of people. Thank you for reminding me not to get sucked in to chasing the numbers, to go for quality not quantity. I'm a bit ashamed that I need to be reminded.
I found this because I was scrolling through Substack looking for things to engage with because someone told me that's what I have to do to get anyone to read my Substack and I guess it was worth it because THANK YOU. It made me think of "Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front" by Wendell Berry. It's probably bad form to share the whole poem here, so: https://cales.arizona.edu/~steidl/Liberation.html
I hear you on this. I hate these social media companies y their owners.
I barely do social media- don’t have the physical or cognitive energy so in a way being sick & disabled simplifies this part of my life.
As a disabled person I ask writers to think about not using disability metaphors like this: “as though we were blind beggars..”
Writers, who are not disabled often use them with negative connotations & but disabled people don’t see their disabilities in that way. It is their life.
Thanks for sharing Lisa 💙
By chasing freedom we become the commodity.
Thanks for the reminder, when you make your sole purpose trying to grow on a platform like this you probably need it… Now, time to go check on my engagement metrics.
haha yes lets pump those metrics right into our veins!
Ah, this is so true.
1) "BE YOUR CONFUSING COMPLICATED SELF, MOTHERFUCKER" is the Shannan version of the end of this banger poem: https://cales.arizona.edu/~steidl/Liberation.html
2) AND, I wish Dylan Thomas could have let his father go without such drama!! Zen out, DT!
haha that's hilarious Dick (#2) and reading that poem now!!
I could have never said it so, well, “Shannan,” (but my own Tara-voice is ok, too, right? all of our voices are) — this piece is so now-needed-- read, hear, believe, feel-the-love. Thank you, Shannan
As ever, thank you so much Tara 💙✨
But, I came here to write about one very specific thing 🤣
haha write that! write whatever your heart desires, Liz!!
This was a brilliant read and came at the perfect time.
It’s so hard not to get wrapped up in it, especially at the beginning. What even is that, ego? The need to be seen and heard, that desire for freedom. Can creative expression be sacred if it’s a commodity?
Thank's for reading Alexandra. I’m so glad it found you at the right time. And yes, that tension is so real, especially early on when every share feels like a gamble between authenticity and visibility. I think that desire...to be seen, to be free, is deeply human, not just ego. Maybe the sacredness isn’t lost when art becomes a commodity, but it definitely needs protecting. From the noise, from ourselves, from the market’s endless appetite. That’s the work too, I guess: keeping a little flame lit inside while everything around you tries to package it...(which is kinda a disaster waiting to happen ha)
What happened to inspiration?
Now we being feed rules and idea on how to express ourselves from others who are not actually, or activity expressing themselves.
Those are the spams that clog our substack systems, where originality is told to conform to thrive.
Thank you for naming this for me Shannan Mann.
Yes...this! It’s wild how the loudest voices dictating how to “be creative” are often the ones not actually making anything. Just recycling templates and calling it strategy. Originality shouldn’t have to ask permission to exist, or perform for the algorithm to be worth reading.
Yet we are tangled in it all. I remember before starting to write this year that I was so afraid of accidentally copying someone else ideas… so much so that I never let my ideas breathe.
Now I know not many write like I do or have my ideas like I do—it was like an invisible barrier for no reason but my own misbelief on what is right or wrong.
Onward.
& upwards!
Hear, hear!
💙
Love your posts, shannon. Made me think of this quote I love: "Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art." -- Andy Warhol
I had heard remnants of this quote here and there (on social media ofc) but thank you so much Peter for sharing it in full here!
Easy to say, of course, when they're paying you a million dollars for a painting of a soup can...
"Don’t pick a niche. Write about whatever the hell you want. Make art. Knit fucking socks. I don’t care, BE YOUR CONFUSING COMPLICATED SELF, MOTHERFUCKER."
Mic drop!
haha thank you John!
How ironic would it be if I start to subscribe because of this post?
I am mostly offline but it's like hovering over the edge of a blackhole. Hard not to fall in.
I'll take that irony no problem! Thank you Colleen
New here. Thanks for the warning. I've already been caught up in the "Do I have to make a note every day to get people to find me?" and fight the urge to put out more than one post a week when that's all I can happily muster. Let us rage against the dying of the light and keep the art creative!
absolutely!!
It's so easy to get sucked in to chasing followers and only thinking that big numbers are what counts. I'm really hoping Substack is different. It seems to be. But even then I need to be reminded about what's important: real connection probably with just a handful of people. Thank you for reminding me not to get sucked in to chasing the numbers, to go for quality not quantity. I'm a bit ashamed that I need to be reminded.
Thank you for reading and sharing Tina!
I found this because I was scrolling through Substack looking for things to engage with because someone told me that's what I have to do to get anyone to read my Substack and I guess it was worth it because THANK YOU. It made me think of "Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front" by Wendell Berry. It's probably bad form to share the whole poem here, so: https://cales.arizona.edu/~steidl/Liberation.html
So happy it popped up for you (damn you and also not damn you I guess algorithim ugh ha). But genuinely thank you for reading!
Maybe ranting your niche ;-)
And don't forget: they're writing too, because it's all 'writing online' isn't it?
Readers are 'customers' now.
If only Substack had a block button for the lot of em!
Ranting may well be my niche lol