Processing Part Two

            Oh, where do I begin with this one?? I could tell you about the thirty something stories sitting behind me waiting for me to add something to each one. Or I could tell you about the business side of things and how hard it is to write something technical and formatted, like a synopsis. Instead, I’m going to express something to you that I find very infuriating.

During this past week, I had to give the audiobook people some information. Among the information they wanted was my platform numbers. For those of you who don’t know, they were asking for my social media numbers. As I realized this was yet another area of the author world where those stupid numbers mattered, I proceeded to do what I do best. I flipped out in pure red-headed-I’m-going-nowhere fashion because I just don’t have the numbers the “big people” of the author world want.

So, I went to my Facebook and begged for numbers. Thanks to my sister sharing my post and begging along with me, I got a few more numbers there. Yay! But, it still wasn’t enough. So, for today’s blog, I’m choosing to express to you how much I hate those numbers and the reliance of success placed upon them.

There is a show called The Black Mirror, I’ve heard a few different people speak about one episode where everything a person got to do was based on how many stars they had. As people spoke with a slight tone of fear in their voice about how real this could one day be, they didn’t seem to realize it already exists in the world of artists. Any artist be they writer, painter, or musician need those numbers to take an enormous step forward in their career.

To give you another example of what I’m trying so hard to express, there is a local band here where I live that I enjoy listening to. Whenever I get the chance to attend one of their performances, I put it on social media and tag them because I want them to get the numbers. Their goals may be different than mine, but the numbers help them to have an opportunity of more people listening to their music, attending their shows, and buying their “swag”.

I don’t just do this for the band. I do it for anyone whose craft I believe in because I understand the importance of it and maybe if I help just a little, they won’t have to beg for their numbers like I have found myself doing for mine.

Now, let’s get this clear. While I would love for you to actually sign up on my website to receive my blog, because yes that number matters too, I’m not asking you to do so. I’m done asking. I can’t make anyone click the button. I want the clicks because my work is enjoyed, not because I forced it. That’s also why I won’t “buy” followers. I just don’t believe there is any kind of right to doing that.

What I will say as I end this is this…If you have a favorite author, band, painter, whatever, give them a like somehow somewhere on their social media. Every individual click is a giant step forward.

Okay, I’ll get off my soapbox now and say goodnight. Please understand that ultimately, I really hate the numbers and wish we could go back to when talent mattered.