Social Media: A Self-Published Author's Circus

Be yourself. Unless you can be a trending hashtag, then be that.

Ah, social media… those shiny digital windows where you can share everything and anything, connect with strangers who share your passions, watch bizarre videos, or simply scroll mindlessly to pass the time. These instant blogs barged into our lives years ago and refuse to leave.

For us self-published authors, these social media platforms are more than just a time-killer. They’re like a giant lab where we experiment with promotional strategies, balancing between a carefully crafted post and a reel that flops spectacularly (thanks, algorithm!).

"When your post reaches 20 people but a cat video gets 2 million views. #ThanksAlgorithm"

The Social Media algorithm: Friend or Foe?

Being an author on social media means spending hours preparing posts. You obsess over every word, every image, and every hashtag (#StrugglingAuthor, #ThanksAlgorithm), because let’s face it, all that effort isn’t just to beautify your feed—it’s to get noticed.

And then, surprise! The algorithm. That fickle beast decides that your carefully thought-out post, the one that truly reflects your personality and your work, deserves to reach… 20 of your followers. Thank you, Instagram, for this incredible reach. Meanwhile, a video of someone slicing a cake shaped like a shoe hits 2 million views. Make it make sense.

Follow Trains and Phantom Audiences

You think, “Maybe I should join a follow train! It’ll boost my followers!”

Spoiler alert: bad idea. You end up with a ghost audience that never engages with your content, except maybe to like your birthday post out of politeness...

The DM Scammers

And then come the vultures. The so-called “marketing experts” sliding into your DMs with irresistible offers: “Boost your visibility for only €399!” You look at your bank account, your content, and their message, and think, “Do I look like someone who can afford this?” (Spoiler: nope.)

The Great Trailer Debacle

Let me tell you about one of the highlights of my social media journey: the Mythomania trailer. I poured my heart (and my limited video editing skills) into it.

Funny story—when I applied to business school, the recruitment topic was, “Find a marketing solution with a limited budget.” 

Bingo! I showcased my trailer as a creative low-cost campaign, and the faculty loved it. Applause, validation… victory!

Instagram, however, had a different reaction. A few views, lukewarm likes, and a reach comparable to a goldfish’s memory. Go figure, right?

Reels, Stories, and Eternal Optimism

My stories reach 15 people, my posts twenty, and my reels… let’s not go there. At this rate, I’ll probably hit kitten-sneeze levels of reach by 2040. Realistically speaking.

The Viral Temptation

Sometimes, I imagine dancing in a thong, feather in hand, holding Mythomania. But let’s be honest—even then, I doubt the algorithm would care. I’d probably just end up as a meme, which isn’t exactly the kind of viral marketing I’m aiming for.

Why I Keep Going

Here’s the thing: I don’t really care about the algorithm. What I value most is the human connection. I may not have a massive audience, but I’ve met some incredible people on Instagram whose content I genuinely love and who inspire me every day. Isn’t that what social media was supposed to be about before trends took over?

Staying True to Myself

At the end of the day, I’d rather post content that feels authentic, even if it only reaches twenty people. I’m not here to play TikTok trends or chase fleeting trends. I’m here to talk about Mythomania, to share the world I’ve built with my own hands, and maybe, just maybe, to connect with a few readers who see themselves in its pages.