There is just one, and it’s not the one I saw when I opened Substack for the first time in months. The home page feed looked more cluttered than ever. More algorithmically curated than ever. Front and center, I saw note after note with thousands of likes, all “inspo” and feel-good vibes in one form or another.
One proclaimed, with a big picture of simple black text on a white background, to know all the “signs you’re nailing it as an artist.” The joke being, of course, that there was just one: “No one understands what you’re doing with your life.” Haha. Great! Another one! One more cheap chuckle for the road.
Looking at the page, at all the accounts of people posting about writing, competing for likes and attention, it appeared the answer to the implied question was a different one: Apparently, what people really believe to be the #1 sign you’re nailing it as an artist is that you’re popular on social media. That seems to be the part everyone’s trying their hardest at—not the actual writing.
It’s easier, too, you know? Post lots of short, fluffy bits, grow an audience, and ask them for money. Then, send them two to three mediocre, perhaps AI-written pieces each week to allow them to justify their subscription cost, and voilà, you’ve got a writing empire! How hollow it’ll feel once you get there, however, that’s a different story. Good luck crafting funny notes about that.
For a moment, I was tempted to respond to the note. To take a big red marker, cross out the glib nonsense, and furnish the same note with the truth. But that’s exactly what they want you to do, isn’t it? To take the bait and start playing the same game. I took a breath, then logged out.
That’s okay. You and I will always know. There really is just one sign you’re nailing it as an artist. It requires zero popularity or social media presence, and even how you feel doesn’t matter. It’s the first, last, and only part that matters. The one aspect no one can take away from you but yourself: You create every day.
