I can make a dozen posts about my writing and not get any views. But I make one post about Taylor Swift…
Getting over 125,000 views on Threads is as close to going viral as a small fry like me can get. While I’d rather get that kind of attention for my books, there are lessons from this experience that apply to all types of writing.
It doesn’t matter whether you write 28 words in a post or 80,000 words in a novel. Once those words go out into the world, they are no longer under your control. Look at the comments section of my post, and you’ll see what I mean. People will draw their own opinions based on their feelings about Taylor Swift, Juan Soto, and the New York Mets. People will applaud, curse you out, question your assumptions, challenge your facts, or miss the point. They will use your writing as a starting point for their own expression. And they will educate others on Bobby Bonilla Day.
This is why I agree with the statement, “Authors shouldn’t enter readers’ spaces.” Let readers have their opinions about your books, even if you don’t agree with them. And remember, if you don’t have any one-star reviews, you don’t have enough reviews.
Although you no longer control your words after you publish them, you’re still responsible for them.
I connected with a fellow author on TikTok who had a firm, but reasonable request: Your values and morals must align, and you can’t claim to be one thing and act the opposite.
What that means for us as writers is we have to own our words and accept the consequences for them. If you’re wrong, say you’re wrong and make things right. But if you believe in what you wrote, stand behind your words and let the audience respond as they choose.
This demands we craft our messages with care. We’ve done our homework, made ourselves as clear as we can, removed any egregious errors, and wrote something we’d be proud to share with others. That’s why I avoid responding out of impulse, check the facts before writing or reposting, and delete many more drafts than I post.
Whether you write for 25 people or 125,000, make sure your writing reflects your values, insights, and perspectives. Then let your readers respond as they will.
