For this post, social media is defined as Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), Threads, Pinterest. Not blogging, as it was excluded as social media at my conference.

I mentioned several months ago that I had attended a writing conference. I went having no idea what to expect, but the information advertised promised it was helpful for people at all stages of writing their Great American Novel (ok, they didn’t use that phrasing, but the sentiment is the same).

I have also shared here in the past that I have finished writing a children’s chapter book and have no idea what to do with it now. So, attending this conference was something I was doing with the hopes of knowing what my next step is.

In the first twenty-four hours of the conference, I cried a lot.

That first day focused on marketing. And, apparently, in today’s world marketing is an individual’s job and is largely based in social media. It was presented something like this: don’t use your social media to sell your book–for example, don’t ask your followers to buy your stuff, BUT you can’t sell yourself to an agent without a substantial social media following. And when I say substantial, I mean BIG—two thousand followers on two separate platforms not run by the same company (so, not Facebook and Instagram). You have to prove to the agent that you have enough following that your product will sell.

I struggle with this on several levels. First, I find it paradoxical. And when I tried to point this out to one of the conference instructors, her response was also frustrating. She pointed out that I wouldn’t make friends to sell them something. . .of course not. . .and social media is the same thing. But she’s wrong. I am trying to get 2000 followers to sell them something. I would never make 2000 friends in real life. Having five can be exhausting. And when I tried to have this conversation, her response was “I’m going to pray for you.” Um, ok, but that’s a little condescending. Feel free to pray for me, I take all the prayer I can get. But your delivery of the statement indicates that you’re unwilling to engage in this conversation and want to shut it down.

Another instructor used the phrase that social media is “necessary evil.” Perhaps I should mention here that the conference was a Christian based conference. I’m really not trying to call out the conference. There were many things about craft shared after the first 24 hours that were very helpful. My issue lies with the idea that Christians are embracing a “necessary evil.” The only reason that this concept of social media is necessary is because the people in charge of publishing have allowed it. And if they are claiming a Christian worldview then perhaps they should reevaluate that phrase. Evil isn’t necessary. It’s here. It exists. But it isn’t necessary. Christian businesses could choose to not require social media craziness. And if they do, are they subscribing to the ways of the world?

Page 1 of a 25 year project.

And, finally, I don’t want social media in that form. Me, personally. I left the Facebook world in 2018 for very specific reasons. And I haven’t missed it.

So, will Paper Wrappers be seen in a published format without engaging in “necessary evil.” I have no idea. I do know that the vast majority of the books I read aren’t because of what I see on my limited social media interaction.

And that gives me hope for Paper Wrappers and her heroine, Milly.

Footnote: even though I excluded blogs as social media at the beginning of this post, I want to thank all of you who read my thoughts. Those I have met in real life and those I only know in this format. I appreciate everyone’s input and encouragement over the years.