My Instagram feed is filled with written posts from writers, thought leaders, and poets sharing their essays as images. Is it just my algorithm, or is yours like this too?
Recently, a post caught my attention—a lot of simple serif text on a plain background, like a page straight from a book. It was so compelling that I had to know more, so I clicked on her profile. The first thing I noticed was that she had published a book. As I scrolled, I saw her feed was filled with static posts showcasing her writing—not just a few words to glance at, but entire pages of text.
I thought.
Genius, a writer, sharing her writing.'
Amazing.
It seems obvious, but is it really?
She writes, she shares, she writes, she shares... and then she writes a book.
It's amazing, and clearly, it's working for her.
As I continued to scroll (way down), I noticed a shift in design over time, but her posts remained consistent: essays as images.
I believe she started posting in June 2020. Initially, she shared quotes from others, but it wasn't long before her own words became the focus of her posts. By the end of 2021, her posts were gaining significant traction.
Her writing is beautiful, and it's clear she is a talented writer. But could it be more than just talent? Could it be her dedication and consistency that allowed her to nurture her craft and evolve into this talented writer, now author?
From the outside looking in, it appears to be a linear path to becoming...
(Spoiler Alert: After reading her book—yes, I bought it—it was far from linear. It was difficult, terrifying, and hard! More on this in another letter.)
For the ambitiously creative…
If you're a painter, are you painting? If you're a writer, are you writing?
Photographers, filmmakers...
are you clicking that shutter, sharing your photos? Hitting record, making films?
Is it time to stop strategizing, thinking, planning, and simply make art?
