Social Media FAQ: The Hermit in the Town Square

Yes, I’m online. No, I’m not built for this.

Social media is one of the most challenging parts of being a writer today. I don’t come by the label “hermit” by chance. I prefer quiet, depth, solitude—and yet, here I am, in the digital town square, trying to be heard over the fire jugglers and brand mascots.

This FAQ exists to answer the questions I get most often, and maybe a few I haven’t been asked but wish I had. It’s honest, occasionally cranky, and (hopefully) helpful.

Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/facebook-application-icon-147413/

What social media platforms are you on?

The list shifts like tectonic plates. As of now, I’m on Threads, Mastodon, Bluesky, and Skylight. I also have a TikTok account, along with a few others quietly gathering dust. I’m still searching for my homestead in the social media sprawl—somewhere functional, semi-peaceful, and not owned by a billionaire with a god complex.

What do you post about?

Books. Writing. Creative process. And, more often than I’d like, politics—because the world keeps tapping me on the shoulder and saying, “Excuse me, have you seen this?” I try to post things that are thoughtful, useful, or at the very least, not disposable.

Do you respond to DMs?

Rarely. Most of my DMs are spam, sales pitches, or digital drive-bys. If you’re a real person with something kind or meaningful to say, thank you—and I might see it. But no promises. If you want to engage, public comments are a better option. I try to respond when the reply adds something worthwhile.

Can I tag you in a post?

Sure, go ahead. Just know I might not respond. It’s not personal—I just live in a state of low-grade digital overwhelm. If it’s kind, I appreciate it. If I don’t reply, I’m probably in my metaphorical hermit cave, whispering thanks into the shadows.

Why didn’t you like or comment on my post?

Probably because I didn’t see it. Or I saw it during my half-awake doomscroll and forgot. Or I was trying to protect my attention from being shredded by the feed. That said, I make a real effort to like all the indie author promo posts that show up on my daily threads. Not because I’ve read your book, but because I respect the hustle. And that deserves acknowledgment.

Will you share my project/book/thing?

Maybe. I run regular threads where indie authors can promote their work—please feel free to join in. Outside of that, I may share things if they fit my vibe and I have the bandwidth. Just don’t assume. This is not a marketing hotline. It’s a small, slightly dusty lighthouse with a view.

Why are you even on social media if it’s this much of a struggle?

Because this is the town square, and like it or not, we’re all trying to be heard over the band and the fire jugglers. Chris Hayes coined the term the attention economy, and if I want my books, podcasts, or films to be found, then I have to compete in that economy. There’s a well-worn idiom in commerce—location, location, location—and social media is the location. I want my words (and maybe my name) to reach people, to stimulate thought, maybe even spark change. But I have no interest in performing myself to death. Social media is a tool. I use it with gloves.

Will you argue with people online?

Argue? No. But I’ll occasionally engage in a legitimate, informed, respectful debate. I’m an opinionated bastard on occasion, but I’m also open to change—if your tools are facts and sincerity, not just dogma and ideology. I have a limited daily capacity for nonsense and prefer to spend it writing things that matter. If you want to debate, the internet is full of willing gladiators. I’m off in the woods, communing with raccoons and metaphor.

What’s your follow-back/block/mute policy?

I follow people who make my feed better. I also play the algorithm game, keeping my follower count lower than my follows, and choosing voices in echo chambers where I’d like to be heard. I’d love to follow more of you, but social media doesn’t work that way anymore—following someone doesn’t guarantee I’ll see their posts.

I rarely block or mute. If I blocked you, it was likely because of how you treated others in my space. I do mute when someone’s made it their mission to tear others down for not aligning with their personal ideology. I believe in diversity—of thought, identity, expression. I curate my space to reflect that.

If I unfollowed or didn’t follow back, it’s probably not personal. Unless you’re being weird. Then it’s entirely personal.

Are you actually a hermit?

Not in the literal sense (though remote cabins have an undeniable allure). But I’m drawn to solitude, quiet, and deep thinking. My work is what I want out in the world. My self prefers the stillness of the woods and the echoes of the mountains. Both are doing their best to coexist in this very noisy age.

Credit where credit is due: The idea for this FAQ was inspired by John Scalzi’s excellent Social Media FAQ. Highly recommended.

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Independent vs Traditional Publishing: How to Win Without a Budget

With more than twenty years behind me as an indie author ( read about that here ), I can confidently say: the more things change, the more they stay the same. Why bring this up now? Because lately there’s been a renewed wave of conversation about the challenges of marketing indie books in a publishing ecosystem still shaped—if not dominated—by traditional models. Every so often, we see a localized seismic shift—like BookTok, before monetization restored the old order and perhaps even pushed us further back. But the broader landscape remains unchanged: we live in an attention economy, and its gatekeepers have made one thing clear—it’s pay to play. Once, platforms offered organic reach. Content mattered. Effort could sometimes compensate for budget. But those days are vanishing. Social platforms have entered their late-capitalism phase: squeeze creators for every drop of value, extract revenue, and wait for the next migration wave. For many—likely most—indie authors, money is tight. Time...

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