The Middle
everything (everything) will be all right (all right)
Join the Open Book subscriber chat to get simple, actionable tips inspired by my philosophy that less is more when it comes to brand and book marketing.
“Don’t overthink it—just post.” That’s what they say, right? It’s what I tell my clients all the time. “Share from your real life instead of staging content.” Easy enough. I’ve been doing this long enough to know that while it may look good on paper, when it comes time to actually hit post, the overwhelm kicks in for many authors.
I get it. Your job (writing) is often a solitary one, and pressing post on something simple—something you’re doing during the day—can feel like the hardest thing when you’re not used to putting yourself out there. And so you don’t, and this is what happens:
Each update you don’t share because you didn’t dedicate time to find the right angle sits in your camera roll. Then another moment happens, and you skip that too, because you didn’t share the first, so there’s no storyline. Now we’re up to what could have been the fourth update, but if you start on update four, you’ll have to backfill the whole thing—and that’s too much effort. So update four stays in the camera roll too.
Now the overthinking shifts from what to say, to the fact that nothing was said. How will anyone know to participate if they don’t even know it exists?
I know this cycle well. I see it played out time and time again. Are you chuckling and nodding your head at the reality of it?! Let’s end this madness once and for all!
I always knew I liked Jimmy Eat World. They were onto something with their song The Middle. Because you know what? It does just take some time, and everything (everything) will be alright (alright). A deeply relatable chorus for so many phases of life, and for your content plan.
That’s what this post is about: deciding to commit to that real-time share, even if you’re in the middle of a story with no context.
If you work with me or participate in my Instagram broadcast channel/Substack subscribers chat, you know I strongly recommend three daily platform-related tasks for all authors:
Clear notifications respond to all comments and DMs
Stay informed catch up on industry news and updates
Book chatter share a quick update about your book
I want to encourage you to jump into that third bullet point, and share one Instagram story and/or Substack note about your latest book, your work in progress, your backlist. The narrative should be your real-time update; don’t overdo the storytelling or over-explain the context.
Take a deep breath: this is starting in the middle. And once you get in the habit of doing this every single day, your story begins to tell itself.
Additional benefits of sharing daily updates:
Comfortability. As you share more frequently, you’ll start to feel more comfortable sharing, and may even realize you look forward to connecting. You’ll also hone in on your style and voice, because practice makes perfect!
Evolution. There’s a sweet spot with planning ahead and posting off the cuff. If you plan too far in advance, by the time you get to the scheduled content, you may have a fresh idea or new outlook to share. If you rely too heavily on posting off the cuff, you may forget or overthink what you’re sharing to the point where it feels unnatural again.
I recommend keeping a running list of content concepts in your phone for more intentional shares (on your feed, etc.), and keep your story conversational and in the moment. A snap of your morning coffee—or anything from your Personal Dailies list—paired with your to do list will do!
This balance provides the permission for you to be where you’re at and focus on moving forward, versus backtracking and getting stuck in the past, all while maintaining consistency.
Convenience. When we’re doing these real-time shares, there’s no need to create content; you simply get to share your life in the moment, which is much easier than going out of your way for a staged vignette!
Connection. We know that people connect more to people than they do to product or idea. We talked about how these daily posts will help you find your groove in your narrative, which will ultimately provide the ability to connect with your audience, and bring them on your journey. Emotional connection is the key to success in building a loyal following.
Soon, you’ll start to receive questions about your process and support for your progress as you share your daily update.
And then maybe you add another daily update, but this one is more personal, about your day outside of work. Once you start connecting with your audience, you’ll understand what you all have in common, and you can cater your narrative to building those relationships.
As with any new habit, you have to be consistent. Finding that comfort in showing up as you are today, in the middle of whatever it is you’re experiencing, opens the door to start new stories at the beginning, down the line.
So, today is a good day. It’s August 1 and the beginning of the month is a great time to try something new! Just remember: appreciating the art of living—experiencing happiness, joy, and creative energy—is just as valid a reason to share, as offering a teachable moment or an incentive to buy.
Can you start in the middle of your story, and share what you’re working on? Tag me @jessicasorentino if you do. We’ll all be in this together!
Jessica Sorentino specializes in branding and marketing for authors, helping them connect with readers and position their work for agents and publishers. With over a decade in publishing, she transforms stories into lasting brands through strategy, connection, and visibility.
