Breaking Free from the Social Media Treadmill, Part 2 of 2
The Middle (or Sane) Ground
Happening at my writing desk last week: My upcoming book, CHLOE: A Novel of Secrets and Lies, will be published on March 18 (Amistad|HarperCollins). So I updated my website—conniebriscoe.com—to add upcoming virtual tours and discussions about the novel as well as chapter reflection questions for book clubs. I’m most excited about a juicy Q&A discussion I had with Karin Slaughter, the international bestselling crime fiction author.
(For Part 1 of Breaking Free from the Social Media Treadmill, go here.)
Truth is, there's a middle ground between completely unplugging from social media and letting it consume our creative lives. I've learned—sometimes the hard way—that setting firm boundaries isn't just helpful, it's absolutely essential for our creativity, productivity, and well-being. Now I schedule my social media time around my writing hours, not the reverse. Instagram, Facebook, and all the rest get their designated slots, but they do not get to interrupt my writing.
More importantly, this has allowed me to focus on the joy of connecting with readers in ways that actually feed my creative spirit. This blog/newsletter, Behind the Chapters, for instance, lets me share deeper thoughts about writing and life without the pressure of maintaining a perfectly curated feed. It allows me to focus on authenticity more than aesthetics and substance more than style.
So the key, at least for me, is to approach promotion as an extension of storytelling rather than a whole separate time-consuming thing. When I share insights about my writing process or discuss the pastimes that drive my work, it doesn't feel like a departure from my creative life—it feels like a natural extension of it. This approach not only preserves my energy but also attracts readers who are genuinely interested in the stories I want to share and how I share them, rather than my ability to follow the latest social media trends.
Story First, Always
I'll say this as plainly as possible: without a compelling story, all the clever hashtags and perfectly timed posts in the world won't matter. This has become my mantra, written on a Post-it note stuck to my laptop so I see it first thing in the morning: "Write the damn book first." No amount of social media skills can compensate for a rushed manuscript or half-formed characters.
A brilliant marketing campaign can fizzle if the book itself doesn't deliver on the promises made in those gorgeous Instagram posts. Conversely, a modestly promoted novel can soar because readers can't help but share their enthusiasm. Word of mouth remains the most powerful marketing tool we have—and that begins with writing something worth talking about.
It's like going to a restaurant that has incredible photos of mouth-watering dishes on social media, only to discover the food is mediocre. You might go once, but you won't return—and you certainly won't recommend it to friends. Books work the same way. The packaging might get someone to pick it up, but it's the substance that creates loyal readers.
When I feel the tug of social media anxiety—that nagging worry that I'm not posting enough, engaging enough or present enough—I remind myself that my primary job isn't being an influencer. It's being a novelist. The former is optional; the latter is essential. If I have to choose between perfecting a scene or a social media post (and often, I do), the choice is clear.
Tools to Keep Writers Writing
Of course, knowing you should limit social media time and actually doing it are two different things. Some of us need more than strict guidelines. Several apps are available to help you stay on task. Following are a couple of the more popular ones.
The Focus app for Apple users is like a digital bodyguard. It can be set to block social media sites during your designated writing hours. You could set it to allow access only during specific times—say, 4:00 pm to midnight—after your creative work is done for the day. The satisfaction of seeing how much more writing you get done can be surprisingly motivating.
If you're an Android user, the Stay Focused app lets you set time limits for specific applications. When you've reached your allotted Instagram time for the day, for example, it locks you out until the next day. No negotiations, no "just five more minutes"—just a digital door closing firmly until the following day.
For the truly committed, consider using a timed lockbox for your phone during writing sessions. This will physically remove the temptation altogether. Extreme? Perhaps. Effective? Definitely.
Your Authentic Voice—Online and Offline
As we navigate this increasingly digital landscape, perhaps it's time to redefine what an author platform really means. Social media can be a powerful tool for connecting with readers, but it shouldn't come at the cost of our creative souls. After all, the best promotion for a book is writing one that's worth reading—one crafted with the full attention of its author.
For me, this means continuing to engage with readers online, but on terms that honor both their time and mine. It means being present without being consumed, sharing without performing, and always putting the writing first. Because that's what matters most—not the number of likes on our latest post. And if that means my Instagram grid looks a little chaotic or my Facebook page goes quiet while facing a deadline, so be it.
Think of social media as a cocktail party. You make an appearance, have some engaging conversations, and then leave before things get messy. Stay too long, and you risk a hangover that will affect your real work the next day. The trick is knowing when to arrive, how long to stay, and when to exit gracefully.
In the end, the most valuable currency we have as writers isn't our follower count—it's our ability to tell good stories. To create worlds in which readers want to immerse themselves. To craft characters that linger in the imagination long after the last page is turned. Everything else—the carousels, the reels, the carefully crafted images—is just window dressing. Lovely to look at, perhaps, but ultimately meaningless without some substance behind it.
So first, write. Then connect. The best promotion strategy is, and has always been, to create something unforgettable.
(For Part 1 of Breaking Free from the Social Media Treadmill, go here.)