Marie at 1 Write Way

To Tweet or Not to Tweet?

It’s no longer a question for me. I’ve deactivated my formerly-known-as-Twitter account. Although it was still easy for me to share posts via the formerly-known-as-Twitter site, I’ve just become so disenchanted with the formerly-known-as-Twitter experience that I’ve decided to just dump it.

I know many of you still use the site and are happy with your community there, but I’ve been spending less and less time on social media. It’s enough for me to check into WordPress on an irregular basis. Generally, I approach most social media sites these days with a Meh.

In and of itself, that’s not a bad thing. It means I’m busy doing other things. Frankly, I don’t know how anyone keeps up with all the sharing on the formerly-known-as-Twitter site and Facebook and Instagram and wherever else people are congregating.

Then there’s Substack. I do some reading over there, but Substack is kind of like a closed loop. The platform has it’s own Twitter-like function but, as far as I know, you can only share Substack posts on it. I have not tried to share other links. I can understand why Substack chose to direct their writers and readers away from the formerly-known-as-Twitter site, but there’s something a little creepy about it. Creepy as in, “We’re special. We don’t want people outside of Substack to come and hang out with us.”

Maybe I’m being hyper-sensitive because I write on WordPress and am only a reader on Substack. I’m not interested in being a writer there even if it’s free (for now). With WordPress, I feel like I can pretty much be myself. I don’t worry about whether readers sign up for emails or even just follow me. I’m not writing to make money or become famous.

Of course I want to be read. I want to make connections. I enjoy the community I’ve found here. Too often, though, on sites such as Substack and Medium, I find writers who start off just writing and sharing and seeming to have a good time and then somehow drift into writing about their stats, their efforts to increase subscribers, etc. Meh.

As you can see, I’ve changed my blog theme/template … again. The thing is, although I don’t want to be a writer on Substack, I like the layout, the simple style of the posts there. I guess I’m just trying to minimize how crazy the world looks to me at times, an explosion of links and photos and emojis and memes.

So, let’s see if this theme sticks. Meanwhile, I have two wool potholders ready to go to a special person.

 

These potholders were made with Hillcreek Fiber Studio‘s Solar Eclipse bundle of wool loops. While I love the colors with this pattern, I’m already imagining how I might weave them differently.

Thank you for reading. Here’s an oldish photo of Junior (RIP) (circa December 2020). Sometimes after dinner, Junior would insist on jumping up on the dining room table and snuggling. Good times.

Marie A Bailey

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42 responses to “To Tweet or Not to Tweet?”

  1. I avoid Twitter trending since it is hate filled rhetoric but other than that I am fine with it. Given your handle headline I can see why you may not want to be there. Pot holders look great and Junior had a super life with you.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. I bailed on Twitter and Instragram a year ago, and I don’t miss either one of them. I’m getting bored with Facebook. Substack seems to be THE place for writers these days. I’m afraid I might need to do something with it. What I don’t like about it is that so many of the Substacks reel you in, only to say that the “good stuff” is behind a paywall. I find that off-putting.

    Liked by 2 people

    • I’m still on IG and Facebook mainly because of familly and/or artist friends who post their artwork, but I’m checking into those sites less and less.

      I have been tempted to try Substack, maybe as a place to post my fiction, but the emphasis on paid subscriptions makes me hesitate.

      As a Substack writer, you don’t have to require readers to pay (see Jill Weatherholt who keeps her content free), but there are a lot of writers on there who want to make some $$ and so, yes, they put a lot of their content behind a paywall. I understand that, but, like you say, it’s off-putting. I have dropped subscriptions where the writer has too many “upgrade your subscription to read more” posts.

      The other thing that bugs me about Substack is how much writers write (or “chat”) about their stats. It was the same way with Medium. After awhile it seemed like all anyone wrote about was their stats.

      Finally, I see that Substack has been making changes to their interface. As a reader, I don’t like some of the changes, and writers have complained as well. At least with WordPress, I feel like I’m in control … even to the point of still avoiding the Block Editor ;-)

      Liked by 1 person

  3. I’m pretty close to losing Twitter, esp. if Musk requires a fee payment. That’s all she wrote. I’m always hesitant to jump to something like Substack because of the process of building a whole new readership. Sometimes I think I might as well just keep a journal!

    Alas. Everybody’s writing but there aren’t all that many readers, apparently. 🤔

    Long live Junior (in your hearts).

    Liked by 2 people

  4. I’ve been off of Twitter for a while, FB even longer. I’ve lost connection with some folks and, while I really enjoy the writing community on Mastodon, I know exactly one of those folks in real life (and I’m only kind of sure how I know where.) Lately, I’ve been so busy writing, I’m not even posting on my blog….and my newsletter is a season behind. Cycles, I think, and hope I will get back to it soon. ps I love those woven potholders–they are my favorite potholders. And I love woven/knitted (I’m too ignorant to say) washrags too (do only Southerners say washrags?)

    Liked by 2 people

    • Washrags … what a great word! I haven’t heard it in a long time. I’m not sure if it’s just Southerners who say washrags. I want to say I heard the word in my youth in the North.

      That you’re busy writing is a good thing :-)

      I do worry about losing connection with some folk if I were to leave Facebook, but it would be mostly family I’d miss. Still, I don’t have to be on it everyday so there’s that ;-)

      Like

  5. I’m still on Twitter nominally. I do Instagram because it’s fun and easy. I joined Threads and if you liked how Twitter used to be when it was new you’ll like Threads. It has the same friendly vibe.

    I’ve tried to get involved with Substack and Medium, but I’m not paying for a “newsletter” that was previously free in blogland. Get real. That kind of greed turns me off.

    And as for Mastodon, I tried but it was impossible. There’s no way to connect with people, everyone is stuck in their little federations. It was a disappointment.

    Liked by 2 people

    • I tried Mastodon too and was disappointed as well, for the same reasons as you.

      I was on Threads but I couldn’t seem to get any “traction.” Now I didn’t go out of my way to follow other people so that’s on me, but I did get discouraged by a couple of people I was following. My interactions with them got weird quickly so I just bailed out.

      Medium annoyed me because they limit non-subscribers to only 3 articles a month. So even if a writer doesn’t have their newsletter behind a paywall, you still couldn’t read it if you weren’t a subscriber and you had already read 3 articles. Ugh.

      On Substack, I do pay for a couple of subscriptions, but the quality of writing from those writers is high. The kind of stuff I’d paid to read in Harper’s or the Atlantic Monthly or Orion. At least with Substack, more of the $ goes directly to the writer.

      However, there are lots of writers on Substack who are, frankly, just blogging. I read and share what they offer for free, but that’s it. I am a woman of limited means ;-)

      Liked by 2 people

      • For what it’s worth early on in Threads I had some disingenuous interactions with some former bloggers who condescended to acknowledge me BUT after that everyone has been fun. No attitude at all.

        Liked by 1 person

        • Fun is the key word! Yeah, I was discouraged by some folk who did the “I’ll follow you if you follow me” scam. I followed, commented, shared, and got crickets in return. I’m not normally a transactional kind of gal, but I felt rebuffed and embarrassed.

          The final straw was when I made a comment on a knitter’s post about some technique she “invented,” saying that I had done something similar. I was trying to find common ground with her, not question her technique. So, of course, she took it the wrong way, and we had a seemingly endless back-and-forth about her unique technique, with me doing several mea culpas for misunderstanding her technique. She just wouldn’t let it go. That’s when I bailed on Threads.

          But you’re piquing my interest. What I would really like is for WP to have a link to Threads, like they used to have for Twitter. But that’s because I’m really lazy ;-)

          Liked by 1 person

          • I don’t do the transactional stuff either. If I like you, find you interesting, I’ll follow you, if not I won’t. I expect others to do the same regardless of if I follow them or not.

            How weird about the knitter. I mean that’s wacko behavior over something that isn’t worth turning into a hill to die on. I can see why you left Threads. All it takes is one nutter to ruin social media.

            I agree with you about WP needing an easy link to Threads. I don’t know why there isn’t one, considering WP made one for Mastodon which is a mess of federations while Threads is one solid place. You’re not lazy, WP is. 🤨

            Liked by 1 person

  6. I totally understand. I’m on Twitter, FB, Instagram, and now Blue Sky, as well as WP. It’s impossible to keep up. I’m staying on Twitter for now because of poetry connections. That’s pretty much all I read there, except for checking on Heather Cox Richardson’s posts. I have to make sure I go on Instagram to block the trolls.

    The pot holders are lovely–and sweet memories of Junior. 💙
    (I have your email if you leave everything else.) 😉

    Liked by 2 people

  7. I deleted my (almost never used) Twitter account a year or so ago. I never looked at it anyway and it sounded like it had turned into a hell hole. I used to post pictures on IG, but don’t anymore since it also has devolved into Facebook-like medium. Facebook is kind of a necessary evil so I can keep in touch with certain people.

    I’ve read some of the comments about Substack. It’s totally new to me so I may check it out.

    Social media has lost a lot of its luster. Oh my gosh, I may have to go outside and get some exercise! :)

    Liked by 2 people

    • I have found good writers on Substack and, generally, they seem happy. But I’ve been on WP for so long, just the idea of making such a change fatigues me ;-) I’ve seen where some Substack writers say they also have a blog elsewhere. Ugh. I tried that with Medium: writing essays, poems, etc. there and then writing newsy posts here. Maintaining the two overwhelmed me.

      I wanted to choose either IG or Facebook, but I have friends who only use one or the other, not both. Lately, I’ve been on Facebook more but mainly for family matters (I have a lot of cousins and a lot of them use Facebook to keep in touch.)

      Indeed, social media has lost a lot of its luster.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. That is Zoe’s favorite place to cuddle, too. Junior was snuggled in love.

    As for Twitter – it’s the only place you could get a response on a complaint to FedEx. I tried to log in recently, I forget why now, and I can’t seem to log in. Perhaps Elon Musk doesn’t want people who only use Twitter to complain to FedEx.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Oh, my goodness, Zazzy, that is so funny. I have seen people using Twitter to complain to and about FedEx, airlines, etc. It surprises me that companies would even encourage it. In my humble opinion, it’s not a smart business move, but what do I know?

      That’s true that Junior was snuggled in love. My husband has been feeling the loss of both Junior and Maxine (Dec. 2021) more acutely since temperatures are starting to cool. Both of them were lap cats. Many a cold morning, my husband would recline on the couch to read, and both Junior and Maxine would take their places on his lap and legs. (Maxine usually got his lap because she was the oldest.) We’re eager to see if our remaining two–Raji and Wendy–might become heat-seeking kitties this winter. Time will tell :-)

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Your potholders are gorgeous, Marie. They colors are wonderful. It’s so freeing to cancel a social media account, isn’t it? When I left Facebook, it was a great feeling. I have too many book friends and readers on Twitter to leave. Since that’s all I follow, I don’t see the other crap out there. Substack has been good to me. Not only is it simple to use, it’s increased book sales and visibility. I would never charge someone a fee to read my newsletter/blog. I’m still surprised people pay money for my books. :) I hope you’re doing well, Marie. xo

    Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you for your kind words about my potholders, Jill xo

      It’s possible I might return to Twitter, maybe start over with a cleaner, clearer list of those I prefer to follow. But right now I don’t miss it. I’ve tried leaving Facebook but, for too many of my family members, it’s the only way to keep in touch.

      I’m glad to hear you’re having success through Substack. The few other writers I follow are also happy with it. You shouldn’t be surprised that people pay to read your books :-) They are so uplifting and good for the soul. xo

      Liked by 1 person

  12. I could hardly understand what to tweet! I left it long ago. Just few words to capture all you want to say. It’s never enough for me. I can just go on and on and on. That’s why I love blogging. – “Lol, just randomly I am thinking on the comment section” But your musings made me think too, 😃

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Such a sweet pic :(.
    Love the potholders!
    So I am frustrated right now with Twitter because it’s suddenly overrun with anti-Semitism. I joined Bluesky. If you want to try it, I have a code for you. Let me know if you’re interested. Mostly only following and being followed by writers.

    Liked by 3 people

    • That was my last straw with that site, when I read about Musk himself spreading disinformation about the Hamas attack. I’ll give Bluesky a try if you send me a code. 🙂

      Thank you for your sweet words about the potholders and the pic ❤️

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Ah, Marie! Once more our minds and heart are running along the same rails. Left Twitter as soon as a certain person took over. I did not and still don’t like the feel of it. Many of my followers there I barely knew and others were Facebook friends. So, I’m still on Facebook and don’t do much there. As you said in a comment, many family contacts only use Facebook so I will stay there.

    I too just want to write unless health gets in my way as it has done the last couple of weeks. Then I can pull a poem I like or quote or image and get by with that as a post. I still feel a bit guilty that I didn’t write something of my own, but there are days I can barely walk, much less think well enough to write.

    Loved seeing you and your beloved at the table. Our Maggie has been sick and under the vet’s instructions for about three weeks. She has changed in many ways, and one of those was attending the table when we had our meals. Up she’d pop and get as close to me as possible. She no longer does so, but is appearing to improve.

    Love visiting your blog and love the new theme. I can’t help but change my theme from time to time. It’s like repainting a room — everything is fresh and new!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Sherrey, I am so sorry you haven’t been well. I hope seeing you here means you’re feeling better. And, hey, it’s your blog so you post whatever you want. The poem by Yeats was lovely, and I appreciate that you shared it.

      I hope Maggie gets better too. Goodness, it’s so hard (and disheartening) when you and your loved ones aren’t well. Take care xo

      Like