The Magic of Connections

  

Something happened today that I never thought would happen to me; I got blocked from posting on Instagram and Threads. Why did I never think this would happen? Firstly, because I am deeply suspicious of social media in all its forms and, secondly, because I am not a troll.
I checked my account and, apparently, all is functioning normally. I haven’t breached any community standards, I haven’t harassed anyone and I haven’t posted anything offensive (I hope). It seems I’ve just been far too engaged with both platforms recently and my activity has been detected by the algorithms that control these platforms as being bot-like.
I have been Insta-banned.
I am appalled.
Not at Instagram and Threads for putting a hold on my activity, but on myself for having gone so far down the rabbit-hole!

  

How did this happen?
There’s an easy answer to this. Aside from my day-job, I’m an author who’s recently been picked-up by an indie publisher. The first book in my fae-fi series is due to be released (fingers crossed, touch wood, insert superstitious practice here) next year and so I’ve been trying to build the notorious ‘platform’ or ‘following’ that selling stuff to other people requires.
Let me be clear at the outset. I definitely don’t want to be famous.
Those of you who know me know that Ivy Lewis is my pen name. I’m a whole other person and have a whole other life outside of my writing. In that life I’ve been some places and done some things that made me temporarily interesting to the media. I’ve done the rounds of interviews, I’ve been in the national press, I was offered a non-fiction book deal, I was asked to go on BBC Women’s Hour.
None of it was for me.
I hated every second of the media attention I got. I like people, but I’m naturally an introvert. I found the attention to be overwhelming and it really stifled my creative impulses, to the extent that I no longer paint or draw for pleasure, can barely stand to pick up a pencil.
However, if you’re a creative person and you want to create for a living, then you have to ‘do’ media, because if you don’t promote you won’t make any money for yourself or for anyone else (the ‘anyone else’ often being the key ingredient in this recipe for success).
In this other life, I was being asked to market both myself and my work. I ended up hating what I was doing as a result.
I don’t want writing to ever feel like that. It’s been my passion and primary creative outlet since I was sixteen, when I write an epic fantasy duology that totalled 250,000 on pen and paper, before typing it up and self-publishing on Lulu (because that’s how it was done ‘back-in-the-day’).
I’ve been writing for twenty years.
In that time, I’ve written four full-length novels, a number of short-stories and a novella. I have three WIPs (works in progress) and my current ‘debut’ novel is in the editing stage before it’s released into the world next autumn.
If I sell a hundred copies of my books a year I’ll be delighted.
In fact, if I sell a hundred copies of my book full stop I’ll be over the moon (my publisher, perhaps, not so much).
Social media is, for me, a tool to connect to the reading and writing community, but also (hopefully) a way to ensure that my work reaches enough people to keep itself in print.
In this way, I am shameless, but, also, genuine. I’m not trying to connect with people just to sell books. I’m trying to connect with people who I hope will love my books and become as nerdily obsessed with my characters and my world as I am.
I’d rather be in Eamhain and I’d love to meet you there!

  

Anyone who writes knows that it’s primarily a solitary endeavour. If you write fiction you spend hours variously researching or inhabiting worlds that exist only in your head and talking to people who exist only in your imagination. It’s simultaneously an all-consuming and intensely isolating craft. While I’m here in the real world, I’m also there with my characters. Their hopes and dreams and desires are simultaneously mine, but also entirely their own.
For me, writing feels like channelling; setting ideas down on paper that belong to someone else from somewhere else.
In a practical sense, you write a first draft, you edit it, you edit it some more. You send that draft to alpha readers. You edit and revise. You send it to beta readers. You edit and revise. You might engage with a sensitivity reader and some people (I have no idea who these folks are) actually plan their novels before writing them. Before you even think about submitting your darling to prospective agents or publishers, there are hours, more than likely years of work.
Then, depending on that path you’ve chosen, you either go about seeking an agent to put your manuscript in front of the Big Five or you find a smaller, independent press to publish your work. You may choose to self-publish, but that adds a whole other level of stress and admin; finding and paying for a team of people to do the work that a traditional publisher would do for you.
And, once you’ve done all this, once you’ve spent years with your book and got it to a stage where it’s ready to go out into the world, you then have to consider how people will find it.
A Big Five publisher will have a huge marketing department that will deal with both trade sales (to bookshops etc.) and marketing directly to the general public. Smaller presses will have some variation of this, with resources becoming scarcer the smaller the operation is. In both scenarios, there is some expectation that the author will be involved in the marketing process to a greater or lesser degree.
You’re no longer just selling your book, you’re selling yourself.
You become a brand, whether you want to be one or not!

Arguably, it’s easier now to become a published author than at any other point in history. There have been many turning points in the transmission of stories; the invention of writing itself (c.3400 BC) and the invention of the Gutenberg Press (1450) being two significant events for how we communicate thoughts and ideas.
Not only has human kind always thought in myths, but myths have always (and continue to) think in human kind [1]. Stories provide us with a way of understanding the world around us, a structure, but they also, in fact, in part create that structure. Stories are powerful and it’s a mistake to underestimate their potency. Transmission of stories is, then, one of the most significant forms of connection that we as human beings possess.
In the twenty first century there’s been so much technological revolution and innovation that it’s easier than ever to share your words; social media, blogs, newspapers, books, e-books and (significantly for self-published authors) platforms like Amazon, KDP and IngramSpark.
The current developments in AI will even soon mean that authors don’t actually have to write their own stories; they’ll be able to use robots to do the work for them [2]. Similarly, you don’t even need to pay someone to design a book cover or make character art anymore; you can use software like Midjourney to do it for you, as controversial and unethical as this is [3].
The world of writing and publishing is in a period of flux. It’s simultaneously easier than ever to get your ideas and work out into the world, but much harder than it has been to be discovered amidst the deluge of creative output, the flooded marketplace.
Accessibility is at once both a very good and a very bad thing for writers.
Talent is no longer (if, debatably, it’s ever been [4]) the single key ingredient required for success; you must also factor in a healthy sprinkle of trending topics, a smidge of timing and a great big dollop of luck.

Social media, then, is one way that an author can improve their discoverability, but it’s also a way to make securing a book deal more likely. After all, publishers want to make money; they aren’t in the business for the simple enjoyment of it or the purity of creative endeavour. Whilst having a large platform doesn’t guarantee you a publishing deal, it does make you a more appealing commodity.
Any of you who use social media platforms and have an interest in reading or writing will likely be aware of BookTok and Bookstagram; communities of readers and writers who seek to become influencers and can send a book ‘viral’ as a result of their engagement. Sometimes, this is because a book is genuinely good and has become popular because of its quality, at other times sheer social media saturation convinces people to buy it (more on this below).
If, like me, you both don’t enjoy and are no good at self-promotion, it’s now possible to engage with (pay) an influencer to do a virtual book tour for you and to run a social media campaign on your behalf.
Does this equate to more sales?
The answer is both yes and no.
Sometimes these communities of influencers and followers can lead to massive book sales (‘Fourth Wing’ and ‘Iron Flame’ by Rebecca Yarros are great examples of this [5]), but, at other times, it doesn’t matter how big an audience you have or how much promotion you do, your book can still fall disappointingly flat (Billie Eilish, for example, has 97 million followers on Instagram and yet only sold 64,000 hardcover copies of her book [6]).
Still, if you’re in the business of trying to get others to buy your stuff, some social media engagement is probably not only just worth a shot, but, arguably, an important part of your post-publication marketing strategy whether you’re an indie-author, traditionally published or just trying to get people to buy the little lollipop stick puppets you make and sell on Etsy.

So, social media is, essentially, another form of advertising. It can work well. It’s worth the investment for some.
I, personally, have spent a fair bit on purchases I’ve made from companies or people I’ve discovered on Instagram. In no particular order, I’ve bought; a ring, a hoodie, two books on pre-order and engaged the services of a paid sensitivity reader (more below).
I’m a fairly strong-willed and self-aware human being, but I still made those purchases. I still bought things from people I probably wouldn’t have done, had I not found them on Instagram. I don’t regret any of the purchases that I’ve made, but it is testimony to the subtlety and power of social media marketing (and the marketing that isn’t so subtle).

  

As well as serving as a form of advertising, the people who design social media platforms do so with the conscious intention of creating addiction and dependency [7]. They know that users will engage with these platforms in a way that may become detrimental to their mental health. You may have heard the story of Jessy Taylor, who believed the loss of her Instagram account was tantamount to ‘murder’[8]. It’s both concerning and unsurprising that a person can identify with their online profile so strongly that they feel as though they’ve died when it’s removed.
I’ve actually quite enjoyed my enforced ‘time-out’ and have been more productive and more creative in this last week than I have been for a while. This is a good learning; a reminder to myself that, whilst I don’t have an addictive personality, I do have OCD and checking traits that make social media platforms particularly tricky for me. I can spend a lot of time going back and checking things (door locks, light-switches, my online bank accounts, social media accounts) and this can occupy a lot of space in my head during a flare-up. The digital detox has been useful for me and has offered a lot of clarity and space for deep concentration [9]. I’ve planned out the third book in my forthcoming series and I’ve begun writing notes for the fourth. I’ve also tapped out this article and realised that I definitely need to move forwards with more awareness around my social media engagement.
Technology is evolving at an alarming rate and the human brain cannot possibly hope to keep pace. When you’re stressed or anxious, your brain will revert to processing through the amygdala, the reptilian brain, triggering your fight-flight-freeze-appease response. This part of the brain doesn’t recognise the difference between the stress caused by being late to work and the very real stress caused by being chased by a hungry tiger. It will respond (in terms of how you feel and, perhaps also, how you act) the same way to both perceived threats [10]. If your social media account is deleted, it may well feel like murder to that ancient and basic part of the brain.
We have no idea how the internet, social media, 24/7 news feeds and, more worryingly, AI will impact both the behavioural patterns of humans and, also, the evolution of the species [11].
What is clear, and has been known for some time, is that prolonged exposure to social media has the potential to negatively impact mental health [12]
However, there is also a chance that, when used properly, with focus on quality rather than quantity of engagements, social media can also contribute to improved feelings of wellbeing [13]. This is achieved by something essential to the human race; connection.

I like to think of social media as a type of mycorrhizal network or, at least, I imagine that this could be a possibility if the technology were used in a safe and healthy way [14].
I’ve made some positive connections through engaging with people on social media.
The first, as mentioned above, was linking up with my sensitivity reader, Stephanie Francis [15]. In my forthcoming book series, the male main character is black. I am a white female writer. There are all sorts of issues around this that I won’t go into in this article (it requires more time and space to explore the subtleties of this debate), but it was important to me that I work with a sensitivity reader both to pick up on my own biases and to ensure (as far as possible) that I wouldn’t be offending and isolating people with my work. I’m really looking forward to working with Stephanie across the rest of the series and am incredibly grateful that I was able to connect with her through social media, when I probably would never have found her any other way.
The second connection I’ve enjoyed making is with Andy Darcy Theo [16] a young writer who has fully utilised social media platforms to his advantage and secured a book deal with a big traditional publisher. He also seems to be a genuinely nice guy, with an interest and specialism in mental health (his debut novel exploring both psychosis and friendship) and he’s been gracious enough to connect on a personal level (when I’m sure he has plenty of far more interesting people to chat to). I’ve appreciated that grace. Real connections foster good will and genuine support and, I strongly believe, we need more of this on both virtual platforms and in real life. I wish him every success with both his writing career and his forthcoming book ‘The Light That Blinds Us’, which is due out in April 2024 (and is one of the books I have on pre-order).
Other connections I’ve made are with followers who consistently like and comment on my posts. These are people, I believe, who’ve followed me because they’re genuinely interested in sharing ideas and dialogue. I appreciate these engagements a lot, particularly those I have with fellow spoonies and folklorists.
Finally, I’ve linked up with some bookish folks and communities on Threads. I’ve engaged in conversations around writing and the publishing process and it’s been lovely to share ideas and experiences. Writing is, largely, a solitary profession. I’m also naturally (as many writers are) an introvert, so the idea of going to a face-to-face writing circle really doesn’t appeal to me. Provided Threads stays the positive space that it currently seems to be, I can see how valuable the platform could be for linking up with like-minded creatives.
All of these connections are important and they seem to be genuine (you can probably tell that I prefer to view the world with optimism rather than cynicism where I can).
At this point in history, we, as a species, are simultaneously more connected and more fragmented than we’ve ever been. I can chat to someone on the other side of the world with a few presses on the tiny computer I carry around with me in my pocket and, at the same time, I can watch as someone in another country murders children and bombs innocent civilians. These same bombs can even be sent, remotely, via drones, to indiscriminately maim and kill [17]
I can see history unfolding in front of me 24/7, but I can do very little to stop the atrocities that continue to be perpetuated even as they populate my newsfeed.
I do believe that connection and understanding are the keys to us moving past conflict and that we should seek to understand, rather than to destroy that which we fear.

I consider myself first and foremost, above all things, a yogi. The way that I move through the world and interact with others is guided by the principles that I’ve learned through yoga; union and kindness, connectivity and empathy.
I can imagine a world in which our connections serve to unite us, as a global community, rather than fracture us into tribal groups, warring with one another through words in social media spaces or with weapons in the real world.
When I communicate with others I consider Rumi’s ‘Three Gates of Speech’; is it true, is it necessary, is it kind?
What if all of our interactions were considered in this way, both online and in the real world?
What if we began using the miracle of technology and connectivity to build a global sangha, where we could share resources and compassion? Where the mycorrhizal network of social media platforms supported and sustained rather than harmed and drained?
I’m a writer, which means that I’m a dreamer.
I think that this future is possible, but only if we, as a species, make a conscious decision to improve the quality of our engagements with one another, to focus on this quality rather than quantity.
I value time alone. I value time to process and to think, but the counter to this solitary existence, this living in splendid isolation, will always be to interact and engage with others.
To give up on this engagement, is, I believe, to simultaneously give up our humanity; what it means to be a warm-blooded, gregarious creature, with a soft-underbelly and fragile heart.
So, I implore you, pay attention to your screen time, to the way that social media makes you feel. Post, like and comment. Share, but be kind; consider the soft underbellies and fragile hearts of others.
And, if you think you’d like to connect, to talk about writing or reading or yoga or life, come find me on the socials. I promise plenty of pictures of trees and an homage to the world’s cutest dog (mine, obviously). I might also talk about my books from time to time.
I’ll see you on the Gram Thriends; if I’m back from my Meta enforced time-out that is!
I consider myself first and foremost, above all things, a yogi. The way that I move through the world and interact with others is guided by the principles that I’ve learned through yoga; union and kindness, connectivity and empathy.
I can imagine a world in which our connections serve to unite us, as a global community, rather than fracture us into tribal groups, warring with one another through words in social media spaces or with weapons in the real world.
When I communicate with others I consider Rumi’s ‘Three Gates of Speech’; is it true, is it necessary, is it kind?
What if all of our interactions were considered in this way, both online and in the real world?
What if we began using the miracle of technology and connectivity to build a global sangha, where we could share resources and compassion? Where the mycorrhizal network of social media platforms supported and sustained rather than harmed and drained?
I’m a writer, which means that I’m a dreamer.
I think that this future is possible, but only if we, as a species, make a conscious decision to improve the quality of our engagements with one another, to focus on this quality rather than quantity.
I value time alone. I value time to process and to think, but the counter to this solitary existence, this living in splendid isolation, will always be to interact and engage with others.
To give up on this engagement, is, I believe, to simultaneously give up our humanity; what it means to be a warm-blooded, gregarious creature, with a soft-underbelly and fragile heart.
So, I implore you, pay attention to your screen time, to the way that social media makes you feel. Post, like and comment. Share, but be kind; consider the soft underbellies and fragile hearts of others.
And, if you think you’d like to connect, to talk about writing or reading or yoga or life, come find me on the socials. I promise plenty of pictures of trees and an homage to the world’s cutest dog (mine, obviously). I might also talk about my books from time to time.
I’ll see you on the Gram Thriends; if I’m back from my Meta enforced time-out that is!

Social Media: @andwherewillyougo on Instagram
Website: www.ivylewisauthor.co.uk
Publisher: www.scorpiusbooks.com

References:

1 ‘The Structural Study of Myth’, Claude Lévi-Strauss, https://www.jstor.org/stable/536768

2 ‘The Author Using AI to Help Him Write Novels’, https://news.sky.com/story/the-author-embracing-ai-to-help-write-novels-and-why-hes-not-worried-about-it-taking-his-job-12940641

3 ‘Artists Are Suing Artificial Intelligence Companies’, https://www.artnews.com/art-in-america/features/midjourney-ai-art-image-generators-lawsuit-1234665579/ and ‘New US Copyright Rules Protect Only Art With Human Authorship’, https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/05/04/us-copyright-office-artificial-intelligence-art-regulation

4 For discussions on the lack of diversity in publishing, see, for instance: ‘Booksellers Working Class Survey Three Years On’, https://www.thebookseller.com/spotlight/booksellers-working-class-survey-three-years-on and ‘Publihsing Needs to Be More Diverse, But How?’, https://thecritic.co.uk/publishing-needs-to-be-more-diverse-but-how/

5 ‘Tik Tok is turning the publishing world into fast fashion’, https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-11-08/fourth-wing-and-iron-flame-author-rebecca-yarros-needs-a-reality-check?leadSource=uverify%20wall and ‘How Rebecca Yarros’ Novels Became a Booktok Phenomenon’, https://time.com/6332608/iron-flame-rebecca-yarros/

6 ‘Millions of Follows? For Book Sales, ‘It’s Unreliable’, Elizabeth A. Harris, Dec 2021, The New York Times

7 ‘Social media apps are ‘deliberately addictive to users’, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-44640959 and ‘Trapped, The Secret Way Social Media is built to be Addictive’, https://www.sciencefocus.com/future-technology/trapped-the-secret-ways-social-media-is-built-to-be-addictive-and-what-you-can-do-to-fight-back

8 ‘Instagram influencer whose account was deleted said she called the police, because it felt like ‘murder’, https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/instagram-influencer-jessy-taylor-cry-call-police-job-a8868016.html

9 ‘Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World’, Cal Newport, 2016 is a useful read around this topic.

10 ‘Yoga, PTSD and Me’, Sara Waymont, 2018 for more in-depth discussion of how yoga can be used to support our nervous systems in a busy and stressful world

11 ‘The Internet: A Global Socialcultural Experiment’, https://gilescrouch.medium.com/the-internet-a-global-sociocultural-experiment-99b67a469a8e and ‘AI should be licensed like medicines and nuclear power’, https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/jun/05/ai-could-outwit-humans-in-two-years-says-uk-government-adviser and ‘Humans with AI will Replace Humans without AI’, https://hbr.org/2023/08/ai-wont-replace-humans-but-humans-with-ai-will-replace-humans-without-ai

12 ‘Pros and cons: impact of social media on mental health’, https://bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40359-023-01243-x

13 ‘Pros and cons: impact of social media on mental health’, https://bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40359-023-01243-x

14 ‘Do trees really stay in touch via a wood-wide-web?’, https://theconversation.com/do-trees-really-stay-in-touch-via-a-wood-wide-web-heres-what-the-evidence-says-199806

15 www.theabundantword.com

16 www.andydarcytheo.com

17 No reference required, simply choose your theatre of operation and hit-up Google.