I read a tweet today that captured the ongoing disappointment with my twitter experience.
“Twitter is its own skill. … Originality isn’t rewarded. … Trying to be different is often a fool’s errand.”
In March, I signed up for Ship 30 for 30. Dickie & Cole had captured my imagination with the idea of digital writing. It was exciting to feel that initial surge of momentum. I was tired of the slog that comes with selling my services to large organisations and wanted to move online. You see, the potential and the possibilities of how the team could improve. Then you and the potential client are faced with the reality of navigating the procurement, finance, and human resource.
The fact that there was an algorithm that would boost content to people who are already interested in a specific topic sounded enticing.
I had hoped I would find a like-minded community.
At the start of this journey, I wanted to explore ideas I had been researching and applying for the last 23 years. There was this transformational technology of behavioural science. A way to understand why people do what they do and how to influence it. No longer would I have to be arguing with corporate gatekeepers, and frustrated employees who wanted their boss to change before they’d make a move. I was going to be freed of tired conversation.
I underestimated how long it would take me to figure out how to write in a way that created community.
The effort of the last 8 months hasn’t moved the needle.
The ideas I have are a unique blend of what I’ve been studying for 23 years, and I’ve been unable to figure out how to translate that in a way that fits into proven templates.
Templates are the bane of my existence. There is something about them that feels inauthentic. This is my own hang-up. It’s just a matter of practice. Algorithms aren’t neither smart nor intelligent, they’re a dull blunt instrument that have been trained to work in very specific ways.
Trying to go against them is “A fool’s errand.” After 8 months, 226 atomic essays, and an additional 1427 tweets, I can confirm that statement to be true.
For those who aren’t talented writers, writing without templates is a dead end activity.
My task now, train myself to use proven templates. Oh, if I’d only faced this obstacle back at the start. This templated Atomic Essay, is the start of doing the very thing I’ve been avoiding.
If I had to go back, I’d concentrate on figuring out how to adapt my writing to work with templates.