Thank you to everyone who’s already picked up a copy of my new book, Walking With the Muse. I’m thrilled to say it’s already surpassing my expectations. It's encouraged me to publish another book next year, which I'm working on now.
If you’ve purchased a copy of Walking With the Muse, I’d be so grateful if you’d consider leaving an Amazon review. Those reviews make a real difference in helping new readers find the book and in keeping it visible over time.
Algorithmic Roadblocks
Speaking of visibility, here's one example of the many challenges indie authors are up against. It's also why I feel such deep admiration and respect for any author who keeps creating and pushing on despite the roadblocks.
I've been on Twitter—now X—since 2012. I've never gained much traction in all those years—but over the past year I've really been putting the work in to grow my audience, to no avail. Today, my posts are lucky to get more than 10 engagements.
Just yesterday @carolkean (who is also connected with me on X) brought it to my attention that my X post announcing my new book was showing up as "sensitive content" for her.
Now, once in a great while, I've been notified on X that one of my posts have been tagged. When it happens I contest it with X customer support and the Sensitive Content labels have always been removed.
This time, I had no idea the post was flagged (and wouldn't have found out if Carol hadn't let me know). Since then I've asked around and people say some of my other posts on X are labeled this way.
Is it a glitch in the algo? Has someone falsely targeted my content?
Hopefully X's Customer Support will respond with an answer and correct the issue soon. For now, it's just another roadblock to sharing my work with the world.
Three Blooms, Four Bees
We were walking the trail the other night I stumbled upon this.
It was nearly sunset and the temperatures were dropping fast. I think these bees were stuck there for the night and planned on snoozing right there on those flowers.
The seasons are turning quickly. Soon all of this activity will grind to a halt and we'll be wishing for it to return, along with warmer temperatures that don't make your face hurt.
This Takes the Prize
I've put together quite a few pieces of furniture before in my life but this storage cabinet takes the prize as THE most tedious thing I've ever assembled. Here are the gruesome stats:
- The instruction manual was 56 pages;
- It took a total of about 7 hours over 2.5 days to complete;
- One vital tool was missing from the box (a Torx wrench);
- It had over 300 individual pieces; and
- Some of the predrilled holes were misalgined, too deep, or not deep enough.
Up until this point the worst thing I've put together was an IKEA armoire a few years ago. It was a massive wall unit, delivered in twelve different boxes but, at least, the IKEA wall unit required no modification and all needed tools were included. The IKEA piece felt like building a shed.
This storage unit drew from all my experience and DIY skills gathered across the last thirty years, a whole lot of patience, and even some Gorilla Glue.
However, as they say, all's well that ends well. I hope I can hang up my furniture-assembly hat for a very long time after this.
All for now. Make this a wonderful day.
Just followed you on X :) That storage cabinet doesn't look that bad to assemble when you put it together, but the 50+ page manual is something...
Thanks for the follow (I followed back)! Yeah, it totally shocked me as I dug in. The boxes seemed like a clown car they were so tightly packed with hundreds of parts and pieces. 😂
I bet they just want you to pay for the subscription and then they will remove the sensitive content thing. That would be kind of stupid if that was the case. That storage unit looks pretty cool. Luckily, most of the stuff I have bought lately has been from the furniture store, so it was premade. I am glad you book is doing well!
I’m not sure. It certainly appears to be an account-level flagging. Hopefully I can get to the bottom of it. So far no word from support. My wife picked it out. It looks really nice downstairs. It was only a couple hundred bucks so I doubt it would survive a move. Pre-assembled is the way to go if you have the option! As much as I grumble about it I don’t mind doing it though. Thanks! Hopefully I can keep the momentum going. I’ll have to get some reader reviews soon to accomplish that or else Amazon will bury the listing.
On X, I usually only read national news and follow a few writers and literary accounts in Spanish, so I’ve never come across a notification like that. As for the other matter, I admire anyone’s patience when it comes to assembling a piece of furniture that size or anything similar. I have put together smaller, simpler things, though. Oh, I’m glad the book is selling well and that you’re already motivated to write another one. The muses are still walking by your side. Best regards, my friend.
I've been trying to grow my audience on there ever since the platform was acquired but it's not been easy. I think I've just done so much of that kind of assembly that it's taught me patience. I definitely couldn't have done it when I was younger. I would've gotten too frustrated. Thank you Nancy! I hope to keep the momentum rolling. I think I have a few more books in me before I throw in the towel. I hope you have a wonderful week, my friend!
Brother, I read your post. It is very inspiring to hear about your new book, but facing algorithmic roadblocks and false sensitive content labels on social media is indeed frustrating for independent authors. Wishing you great success with your book
Thank you, I appreciate it!
Anytime! Always happy to support your great work
If the cover image of the book ( that's if it came with the post) contains erotic representation, then they may flag it, but then the flagging is mostly done by AI and not real humans which means it could be a flag that was wrongly done.
I've discovered since posting this that it's likely an account-level flagging that happened a while back (you're probably correct, a glitch with their AI.) I had no idea it had happened—aside from a few singular posts the platform told me had been flagged, I contested, then they removed the sensitive content warning. I'm stuck in this weird vortex now where none of X's standard customer support ticket options match my issue and Support isn't responding to my tag. I guess I'll keep limping along on that platform getting no visibility until the account-level flag is removed or I get frustrated and stop trying.
#hive #posh