The internal struggle with where to post what content.

First off I have to say I've come to a sort of peace with the term “content”. It's been a struggle. So many things have actually been a struggle for quite a while now. I think burnout may be involved.

As an artist of a certain age with several Health limitations as well as care-giving responsibilities, I have been resistant to showing up online for quite a while. And now I'm trying to figure out how to keep these online shenanigans easy for myself.

For instance the general wisdom has been to keep your blog on your website however it seems that unless you're an SEO Wizard and have a fabulous funnel for drawing people to your website then your little home on the web sits in the doldrums. I am not entertaining and I do not have the energy to come up with an endless line of video and still photo content for the social media cycle. Have you noticed that the demands of this cycle are becoming ridiculously similar to a hamster wheel?

However if I view content as a method of opening up a conversation with potentially new friends well then it might be doable. As long as I am not on a hamster wheel which bears no resemblance to authentically showing up as myself.

And then there's the fact that writing itself can be very difficult for me since my head injury. Words disappear out of my mind in the middle of typing them or I simply cannot find the word at all. Sentences wander off into meaningless drivel. It's hard. Reading is hard. It never used to be hard. I was an Avid Reader and I loved to write.

What I have discovered that is making a difference for me now, is voice-to-text. Without this app I on my phone I don't think that I could write. It would be agony.


I have to say I really love the ease and simplicity and straightforwardness of writing on Substack. Writing a Blog there feels a little bit connected rather than writing on my website which feels really disconnected. Heck even writing short little blog type posts on Instagram or Facebook feels very disconnected. So I am inclined to pursue writing on Substack. Writing and posting on other platforms feels so very exposed, so performance based and invasive at this time. It really creates a lot of dissonance and distraction that I can ill afford.

I would like to find more ways to use my creative writing background and my love of story I just don't know what that will look like. I also want to continue to write about creativity and my work in the studio, my work en plein aire.

The experts talk about building a community and I honestly feel rather overwhelmed by this idea. I have a lot on my plate. I'm a chronic illness "warrior" who is primary caregiver for my mobility challenged daughter as well as managing a household of five adults, two dogs (one of whom is also disabled) and two cats with a husband who travels for work quite a lot.

I cannot imagine trying to serve the needs of an group of people beyond my family responsibilities though I love the idea of connecting with like minded folks.

Thus the questions of where and how to show up is even more important. I can’t show up everywhere nor can I show up at the frantic pace of algorithm appeasement (complete with randomly shifting goal posts).

I’m honestly most interested in a slow, steady pace. I'm planning to get some work into live exhibitions and in-person venues. My nervous system is on a hair trigger for flares so its become essential to reduce exposure to catalysts. Working in a peaceful, cozy studio to develop a body of work feels expansive and rich with possibility.

Progress = process (studio) + visibility in the right places at the right time.

Is Substack the right place for now? I’m willing to try again since I’ve found nothing else is working with my particular set of limitations and goals.

Thank you to those who have already become Studio Friends and let me offer a warm welcome to those who want to become Studio Friends and join my journey. I look forward to hearing from you too.

~ Renée

Summary:

1. Need easy to do for me

2. Need connection

3. Need freedom