Okay, this is a lot of fun and something I am VERY excited to share with you because, in great part, YOU are why I’m doing this. But before I get any further along please allow me to thank Charlene and Flemming who are going to be working with me to make Shifter into something new. How does one survive outside of big tech and social media? Here’s how. You must know, however, several key things on the front end.
First, I have no stake in this game. I have zero interest in selling, building a huge following, or being known as a photographer. However, I KNOW that many of you do, so the plan is to use Shifter.media as an example of how you would do this. I’ve been blogging since 2002 and have a decent community, so I can show you want I did, but more importantly what I’m about to do.
The site will undergo a simplification, a few design changes, and will take much of what I post and consolidate things under ONE menu item. In addition, things like a newsletter, a Discord server, a photography tab, a transaction element, and a print arm will all become major pieces of the puzzle. Now, here is the hard part.
To do what I’m doing you must work hard enough and long enough to make something that is as unique to you as possible. Do you have something to say? If not, don’t try this yet. If so, go for it. This is about building ONE true connection at a time. No buying following or claiming bots as “friends.” I look forward to where this is going because I don’t actually know.
Comments 17
This will be fun to watch, but not necessarily applied to me. I have little to say it seems, and I have pretty much adopted your philosophy that “small is enough”. I have ten or so people who are fans of my zine, to whom I mail copies or deliver in person. The other copies get dumped in Little Free Library spots.
Author
Chuck,
You know, that is plenty. For me, peace of mind is key. Free to do and think what feels like me. Then bounce back to professional life, complex personal life. Do battle, but find little moments of peace to “get away” in my mind and work.
I’m lost in a fog; emotional, technical and physical – covid vaccine induced and failing brain mechanics reinforced. I was writing my first book, contingency for shuffling off through the pandemic. Halfway through, I had the first vaccine. I haven’t written a word since last February. My brain feels like it’s starting to come back online but the fog… self-publish, easy. Wrong, not easy. I’m now floundering amongst a half baked book, Indesign and Typography free courses and focusing on none of it. Now Magcloud! Insanely cheap you say – way to go, But, the formats, the layout, my skill plateau and the fog. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, I’m also skint and old just to set the bar at the right height. I also have a slight obstruction in that I have a notable lack of kit – an old tablet with no expansion options and memory full of the OS. I was going to use a blurb template, but should I? I then thought get a handle on Indesign and use it for a month hosted – really?? Backtrack… first craft the words and imagery for your book – but then?
Author
Jane,
Having spent five and a half years in a Lyme fog, I can relate. So, do this. Relax and focus on the first step. Forget the book for now. Write one paragraph, totally free of anything or anyone. Whatever comes to mind. Fiction, nonfiction. Or write a letter to someone you haven’t seen in ages. Letters are often how I get back on my feet. They don’t need to be perfect and will be a welcome surprise to the recipient.
Did you recommend https://www.typewolf.com/ – if you did, it’s a great site. If you didn’t, check it out, it’s a great site.
Author
Jane,
I did not but I will!
Dan, I truly appreciate you. Thank you very much!!
Author
Thanks Bobby!
I’m looking forward to what will come out of this reboot. Discord, especially, seems promising, but I haven’t seen it used well. In fact, I’m so excited that I actually signed up — again! — to subscribe to your…whatever it will be. And whatever it is, I’m sure it will be great.
Author
Tim,
I have so much to learn but am excited about that feature.
Dude – Lusting after your coat/jacket… who makes it?
Author
Cliff,
Most everything I wear is from Beyond Clothing out of Seattle. I have a dozen or more items from them. I’m wearing four items, long underwear, pants, hat and jacket, as I write this.
Hey for your new website I’d suggest an email address devoted to tips/urls/books and referrals in general. The idea is “I read all of these tips but I won’t respond. That gives you a conduit to ideas/things/books/etc that you might not have already but at a low overhead level that doesn’t consume a lot of time/effort.
Author
Jim,
GREAT idea. Thank you. Am sending to my team.
You inspired me to create a website. Your work and what you did on your website pushed me to create my own. Like yours, apart from photos or videos, I have descriptions of the books I read (although I don’t read as much as you do) and something like a blog, but I don’t really like that term. Another thing is that probably no one knows that I am posting something there, but somehow it does not bother me. I do it for myself. Fun fact, on December 8th, my son was born, his name is Daniel. I hope he will be more creative than me 😉
Author
Maciek,
Congrats on the baby boy! That is huge. And I don’t like blog either. It’s been ruined by folks who don’t know what to make of blogs and most often fear them.
Dan,
Thanks for the info on the reboot, for mentioning that MagCloud lets one learn buyer’s location, and for continuing to preach avoidance of IG and FB. The only reason I still have an IG is to keep track of some photographers in Paris who don’t blog and aren’t on Twitter. Best wishes for the reboot – am signing up for the Wire.