Virtual communities, real life grief, and doing less.
Plus: Luscious Black Friday bargains for my writing community!
The Clothesline is written by a real person: Me! I’m Vanessa Chiasson, a writer and business coach based in Ottawa, Canada. I write travel and human interest narratives and I love reading, birds, beach glass, lattes, and nachos.
This week, I said farewell to an old friend.
Please don’t feel sad. No one has died. The old friend in question is the social media network, Twitter – though, upon reflection, you could argue that it has indeed experienced death by a thousand paper cuts over the past few years.
I’m certainly not alone in saying goodbye to this once-powerful network. The exodus has been especially swift following the recent American election results, knowing that Twitter’s new owner (Elon Musk) will gain even greater levels of influence thanks to his alliance with the upcoming administration. This has certainly weighed into my decision but there has also been, on a much more selfish level, the realization that Twitter simply isn’t serving me any more. Sometimes you just wake up and you know that the day has come to draw a line in the sand.
The grief I feel for this once vibrant community is real. I rarely saw the negativity that social media has become famous for, thanks in large part to the community I curated there. It was a beautiful mix of travellers, academics, writers, and regular folks with interesting jobs, hobbies, and things to say. My Twitter feed was whimsical, charming, and thought-provoking. Twitter was the platform that elevated my presence as a blogger to new heights and helped me build a career. I know the network has played a pivotal role in some of the most important social movements of the past 15 or so years. Those relationships I built, that social change I witnessed unfold in real time, have very much shaped who I am. Alas, in doing so, it’s also made me into the kind of person who knows when to call a spade a spade.
Where will I take my digital presence next? The answer may surprise you. It’s nowhere. I don’t have an alternative network lined up and that’s okay. I’ve thought a lot about Cal Newport’s book, Digital Minimalism, lately. This was the work that convinced me to put a social media blocker on my computer during my work day. Newport speaks of choosing a focused life in a noisy world, something that often feels impossible when you’re a writer and all that noise is the subject of your work! But for now I’m going to try to follow his advice and choose a more quiet path.
I’m still active on Instagram and LinkedIn and, if we haven’t already connected there, I hope we will soon.
Don’t forget my luscious Black Friday deals! First up: save 45% on pro-subscriptions to this newsletter.
Pro-newsletter subscribers enjoy extended content, a monthly co-working session (aka the Pitching Power Hour), and discounts for my workshops and planning days. For Black Friday week only, the annual membership is on sale for 45% off.
(Want to switch from being a monthly member to an annual member so you can enjoy these savings? Here’s how you can do so).
Join my year-end planning workshop and get this bonus $99 program for FREE
One week from today is my annual year-end planning day workshop. I can’t wait to see your gorgeous faces as we map out our business goals for 2025.
For Black Friday week only, this workshop comes with a special bonus. You’ll get the entire Illuminate Your Biz course for FREE – a $99 value!
Illuminate Your Biz is a self-directed video-based course for anyone eager to bring clarity and confidence to their online communications and gain visibility with your ideal audience. If you struggle with writing an About Me page, are unsure what kind of content to post on LinkedIn, and wish you had something interesting to say at networking opportunities, you will LOVE this content.
Just want access to Illuminate Your Biz? Grab it for half price!
If you can’t make the December 6 planning day but still want to be part of Illuminate Your Biz, we’ve got an amazing deal for you! For Black Friday week only, this incredible course is just $49. This is the lowest price we’ve ever offered and we can’t wait for you to explore all the incredible content we’ve prepared for you!
PS: Don’t forget, all subscribers have access to these great freebies.
12 Ways To Repurpose Old Content (awesome for bloggers, if I do say so myself!)
FREE travel budget template: You can download it free by clicking here. If you love travel lists like me, this is your resource.