I feel this too. I’m in way too many discord chats and other things, not to mention the dozens of newsletters I follow. I think I’m going to cull both lists shortly. But I’m finding I really enjoy the Substack writer community and I’m learning a lot from folks like you, so some things will stay. 😊
I also want to figure out how to get in on some NFTs. I think the whole thing is ridiculous, but I could use some ridiculous cash.
One thing I have discovered with all the things that I do is that the more time I spend on Discord or reading newsletters, the less meaningful Facebook becomes and that makes me super happy, Because I’m really hating it over there. I mean, I love staying in touch with my friends, but the stupid algorithm buries most of their content, and just shows me ads, sponsored content, or content from companies in about 2/3 of my feed. There’s little value there.
I am currently riding the "too many projects" train. I am trying to decide which ones to cut. I can't even consider starting something with a huge learning curve like NFT and crypto. Even if I miss the gold rush.
This piece made me think of a conversation I heard between two of my favorite authors, Viet Thanh Nguyen and Walter Mosley. At one point, Nguyen asked Mosley how many books he had written. Mosley said he didn't know. That kind of blew Nguyen away because although he had won the Pulitzer and the Edgar, among other awards, for The Sympathizer, he was kind of stunned by how prolific Mosley was. So Nguyen, who was the younger of the two by two decades, asked Mosley how he managed to put out so many books. Mosley said all he really did was write and that he didn't do any social media. Nguyen, who is is very active on Twitter, grasped the point immediately. Mosley was able to push aside the distractions. But that's when the age difference really showed in the conversation. What seemed obvious and easy to Mosley (avoid social media, avoid distractions, mitigate FOMO), seemed inconceivable to Nguyen. Watching that talk left me with a melancholy feeling because I wondered if Nguyen's fans might've gotten to read more books from him if he had begun writing around the time Mosley began his career? No way to answer that, of course, but the question forced me to take a look at my own habits. I don't love social media, but I'm not sure writers of this era can avoid it either. Sort of a necessary evil, I guess. But when I checked the usage stats on my phone and compared them to the time stats in my word processor I didn't like what I saw. I quit Facebook (actually deleted my account, then came back about a year later), and I've tried to limit social media, although my results have been mixed. One thing that's really helped, however, is that by pulling away some distractions it really forced me articulate my priorities. I still get distracted, still use social media way too much, still succumb to FOMO, but when I do I hear a little voice in my head reminding me about my priorities, and that usually gets me back on course. Anyway, sorry for rambling here. This was a really great piece, Lyle. Thank you for sharing it!
I relate to this so much, Lyle! Thanks for voicing what so many of us feel.
Honest and insightful. It's reassuring and comforting to hear someone else's self-talk and find similarities with my own. Thanks Lyle!
Completely relate to this right now. I too am in the process of Marie Kondo-ing my internet life. So much of it I just don’t need anymore.
I feel this too. I’m in way too many discord chats and other things, not to mention the dozens of newsletters I follow. I think I’m going to cull both lists shortly. But I’m finding I really enjoy the Substack writer community and I’m learning a lot from folks like you, so some things will stay. 😊
I also want to figure out how to get in on some NFTs. I think the whole thing is ridiculous, but I could use some ridiculous cash.
One thing I have discovered with all the things that I do is that the more time I spend on Discord or reading newsletters, the less meaningful Facebook becomes and that makes me super happy, Because I’m really hating it over there. I mean, I love staying in touch with my friends, but the stupid algorithm buries most of their content, and just shows me ads, sponsored content, or content from companies in about 2/3 of my feed. There’s little value there.
I am currently riding the "too many projects" train. I am trying to decide which ones to cut. I can't even consider starting something with a huge learning curve like NFT and crypto. Even if I miss the gold rush.
#fu*kFOMO #doowhatchalike
I have a long sad story to share about crypto and NFTs as well. What a fuckshow.
This piece made me think of a conversation I heard between two of my favorite authors, Viet Thanh Nguyen and Walter Mosley. At one point, Nguyen asked Mosley how many books he had written. Mosley said he didn't know. That kind of blew Nguyen away because although he had won the Pulitzer and the Edgar, among other awards, for The Sympathizer, he was kind of stunned by how prolific Mosley was. So Nguyen, who was the younger of the two by two decades, asked Mosley how he managed to put out so many books. Mosley said all he really did was write and that he didn't do any social media. Nguyen, who is is very active on Twitter, grasped the point immediately. Mosley was able to push aside the distractions. But that's when the age difference really showed in the conversation. What seemed obvious and easy to Mosley (avoid social media, avoid distractions, mitigate FOMO), seemed inconceivable to Nguyen. Watching that talk left me with a melancholy feeling because I wondered if Nguyen's fans might've gotten to read more books from him if he had begun writing around the time Mosley began his career? No way to answer that, of course, but the question forced me to take a look at my own habits. I don't love social media, but I'm not sure writers of this era can avoid it either. Sort of a necessary evil, I guess. But when I checked the usage stats on my phone and compared them to the time stats in my word processor I didn't like what I saw. I quit Facebook (actually deleted my account, then came back about a year later), and I've tried to limit social media, although my results have been mixed. One thing that's really helped, however, is that by pulling away some distractions it really forced me articulate my priorities. I still get distracted, still use social media way too much, still succumb to FOMO, but when I do I hear a little voice in my head reminding me about my priorities, and that usually gets me back on course. Anyway, sorry for rambling here. This was a really great piece, Lyle. Thank you for sharing it!
I hate FOMO so much. Thanks for writing this relatable piece!