The Time has come the Walrus said …

… to talk of many things, of X/Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and the stress that this all brings! (With apologies to Lewis Carroll).

Like many writers, I am on social media. It is a necessity in a horrible way, forcing the introvert out into the world to become known, direct readers to their books. With X/Twitter becoming abysmal – I don’t see people I used to, apart from a few, and with the rampant hypocrisy, judgementalism and inflamed egos that has become more apparent in recent months, I’ve decided to leave and will be closing down my account in 2 weeks time. Why wait you may ask? Well, I’ve set up at blue sky (https://bsky.app/profile/stephellis.bsky.social) and have been searching people to follow and I know there are a number on X/Twitter I want to trawl for and see if they have a presence on this platform. The people I follow will be authors and poets – and not all of the dark stuff! – historians and folklorists and things that interest me. I am also attempting to follow back those who follow me. If I haven’t yet, let me know! I will not be one of those who builds up a huge following and then promptly cuts down the no. they follow to make themselves look ‘big’. (Can’t people grow up?). My following at the moment is a few hundred and I think I’m in the right frame of mind to start again. I only ever had a small following on X/Twitter so I don’t think it’s a drastic step.

Instagram and TikTok accounts will remain but I won’t be active there. If I go to TikTok at all, it’s to check out my son’s music. I will continue with FaceBook, dipping into a few writer groups there but that platform is one where my family are, hence remaining. I’ve just remembered LinkedIn, but my presence there is random, so that may go too

I will continue to create HorrorTree.com’s weekly Indie Bookshelf Releases post, it has been the main way that I have been able to support indie writers in recent times.

So, moving forwards – my focus will be a more up-to-date blog and Substack (famous last words, but I’ll try!) and blue sky.

I am hoping that shedding these apps will allow me to write more by cutting down the time spent on them all, and to engage in a more meaningful way.