An author’s belly-crawl through the treacherous obstacle course that is social media. (SOMETHING NEW FROM MIA KERICK)

Featuring Miley Cyrus’s “The Climb”

 

I can almost see it

That dream I'm dreaming

But, there's a voice inside my head saying

You'll never reach it

 

How do they do it? You know, those genius authors who seem to intrinsically grasp how to do it all—Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok, Book Bub, Goodreads, MeWe, Wattpad… and more. To me, they seem glib, as if they have all the winning cards tucked up their shirtsleeves, and my sweaty palms are clinging to the world’s worst poker hand. This could be my envy talking...

 

Every step I'm taking

Every move I make feels

Lost with no direction

My faith is shaking

But I, I gotta keep trying

Gotta keep my head held high

 

"Mia, you're never gonna be able to grasp the intricacies involved in applying the perfect hashtag." Yeah, the little voice inside my head instructs me sternly to give it up. “You’ll NEVER ‘get’ social media—all you’ll ‘get’ is frustrated.”

 

There's always gonna be another mountain

I'm always gonna wanna make it move

Always gonna be an uphill battle

Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side

It's the climb

 

Take my old-but-still-new-to-me Instagram account--it’s an impossible dream that I’ll ever conquer it. After all, Instagram is on my phone… and all of my files are on my computer. How on earth do I get my promos and reviews and links from one to the other? My daughters (thank you, Demi, I owe you one, and Sisi, I appreciate your psychic password-guessing abilities) took pity on me and taught me how to post on Instagram. And now, Instagram is more than merely a tool to virtually stalk Sam Heughan (you know, hot Jamie from Outlander). I can use Instagram to promote and make friends… and I have…for several days now. 

 

The struggles I'm facing

The chances I'm taking

Sometimes might knock me down, but

No, I'm not breaking

I may not know it

But these are the moments, that

I'm gonna remember most, yeah

Just gotta keep going

 

My new publisher uses MeWe for their author chat. Talk about another mountain…two hours in and all I managed to do was send my brand spanking new publisher four private messages. “Hi everybody! I’m Mia Kerick, and I’m so happy to join you here!” Yeah—four times. (Wiping the perspiration of embarrassment from my forehead.)

 

And I, I gotta be strong

Just keep pushing on, 'cause

There's always gonna be another mountain

I'm always gonna wanna make it move

Always gonna be an uphill battle

Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side

It's the climb

Yeah

 

And just when I’m ready to quit (who needs to write romance novels, anyway?) a friendly voice, or more accurately a private message from a concerned author on Facebook, reaches out to ask if I’m doing okay with my new challenges in social media. “No, I’m not!!! I need help…Aaaahhh!!” And she offers the help I need, which I gladly accept. In fact, I grab her worse of encouragement and run. (Thank you, Susan Mac Nicol, You’re my social media hero.)

 

There's always gonna be another mountain

I'm always gonna wanna make it move

Always gonna be an uphill battle

Sometimes you're gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side

It's the climb

Yeah, yeah

 

It’s not pretty, but I’m down on my belly in the mud, army-crawling through the obstacles. In other words, I’m “doing” Instagram. I have a recommendation to the perfect master-Goodreads-in-one-hour class. BookBub is next. Pray for me.

 

Keep on moving, keep climbing

Keep the faith, baby

It's all about, it's all about the climb

Keep your faith, keep your faith

Whoa

 

Miley Cyrus is right—I just have to keep the faith. I’m not gonna lie: I’ve shifted into passive-aggressive "they can’t make me do this!” mode…Twice since Tuesday, to be specific, and it’s only Wednesday, as I write this. 

 

I’ll keep on trying. I’ll give it my best shot.

 

Back to the belly-crawl.

 

<3 Mia Kerick