After the Twitter deal with Elon Musk was announced I had to sit with myself. What is social media and is it making my life better? I do love connecting with other writers and makers online. In sheep farming, Instagram has actually proven to be quite helpful for sharing tools and ideas and even buying a new ram. Facebook still feels weird, but it has been a successful way to promote literary events and share publications. I am newish to Twitter, but have discovered journals and authors through that platform as well as urgent calls for submissions. I see the helpfulness in all of it, while also wondering about the quality of my life and art.
What could I be doing instead of looking at my phone?
I don’t have any answers yet and I haven’t officially signed off any social media sites. My memoir comes out in August and without these platforms I am not sure how I am going to promote it and share upcoming events (ideas welcome!). However, posting at times feels akin to addiction and so I need to continue to think about what I am doing online and why.
Enter Substack! I have enjoyed reading and receiving newsletters on this platform and I want to see what this online world can offer in terms of creativity and community. Thank you to all that read my last post. I hope it was helpful. In this weekly framework I plan to share books, art, and ideas and I would also like to amplify the work of others related to ecological grief and/or mothering. Let’s create together!
Here are my two primary questions:
How do we care for ourselves and each other?
How do we nurture the Earth?
If you have projects in the works or established bodies of work around these questions I want to hear from you! Send me a note at jessicagigot@gmail.com and tell me about yourself. I look forward to the chance to interview you and feature your work here.
As National Poetry Month comes to a close I will leave you with a timely poem I adore and that speaks to my goals with this newsletter.
(Image from Poetry Daily)