An author’s belly-crawl through the treacherous obstacle course that is social media.

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… 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 gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high

I feel like I’m never gonna be able to grasp the intricacies involved in applying the perfect hashtag. Yeah, the little voice in my head instructs me sternly to give it up. “You’ll NEVER ‘get’ social media, Mia—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-sort-of-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- for your psychic 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 books 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 (actually 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…” And she gives me the help I need. (Thank you, Susan Mac Nicol, You’re my 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—”I’m not gonna 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.

❤ Mia