I’m going Simple
Have you noticed how cluttered the internet is with programs, bots, downloads-all to make your writing live faster, more streamline and make money?
Ok, I’ll admit, I’ve gotten taken in by more than my fair share of these ads, forked over my money, spent hours learning their systems and then wondering why.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure many of them are great and used consistently could really be an asset to any writer. But like much in my life I go over board (You know; you fall in love with a top and then buy it in every color available!). Instead of mastering one until it has a chance to do its work the way it’s intended, I grow impatient and buy the next program and start all over again, full of high hopes.
I’m probably most guilty over scheduling programs. And the harsh reality is if I would only have patients with the fundamentals and really discovered how to use them, I honestly won’t need to buy the extras.
Canva has always been my go-to for creating simple stuff, but with all the new additions that have just been added, I’m seeing where to eliminate the extra programs (not to mention the extra time).
For instance; Canva can now do scheduling for you to the three major social medias (instagram, facebook, Pinterest) that I use. So no more creating my images, downloading to my computer and then reloading to social media. I do it all from Canva.
You can now use Canva for short simple videos (at least that’s what I’m doing, it has the potential to much more).
And then there is POE. This is like an aggravation or AI programs. True it is not as robust as having a subscription to each of them (Chat, Claude, Gemini, NanaBanna, etc.) but for me it works perfectly. I have access to many AI tools that I haven’t even used yet. But the best part is I can create my own BOT to work with me for my specific needs. For example, I have created one that works on my dictation, creating a transcription in a clear format, edited and time-stamps removed. You have now idea how much I use this one!
So, what I think I’m saying is that I’m going back to doing things simply. Without having to learn so many new programs, I should have more time for writing. And spending time enjoying my retirement. That’s what’s is all about, right?
I encourage you to take a look at your systems. Where can you find more time: using them or eliminating them? And what are you going to do with the time you gain?
I completely agree on simplifying! I've tried various webinars and programs that weren't helpful to me. A few were, and I'm sure others worked well for many authors.
I use Canva often--personally and professionally. It's an incredible tool. I love being able to tweak photos to use in marketing. Working on that today! (BTW--The photo of you and your furbabies is gorgeous.) I need to revise my next release, too, but I am digging into how Canva can help me schedule on social media! Thanks for the tip.
Thank you for posting this. I'd love to know how canva can put out posts about books to social media.