In the lead-up to publishing my book, I started making TikTok videos. It’s just part of the game, I thought, as I fashioned a plant into a tripod and repositioned the cheap selfie light I bought on Amazon.
Inevitably on the third or fourth take, I’d have a brief existential crisis. What the hell am I doing? I wanted to be an author so I could think deeply, not create 45-second soundbites set to lo-fi beats. Then I’d suppress my angst, smile for the camera, and press record.
I imagine this is a familiar loop for anyone whose livelihood depends on capturing a slice of the attention economy. It’s not just authors and artists—it’s job seekers, freelancers, and small business owners, too. Everyone has to self-promote, and yet no one wants to.
This week’s article is the best kind of trend piece. It puts into words something we’re all feeling and argues for a better way. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be nodding all the way through.
Here’s the piece: Everyone’s a sellout now
Warmly,
Simo
P.S. About an hour ago, one of my best friends—Peter Fenn—won a Grammy! The song of the week is a track he produced on Fred Again’s electronic album of the year. The songs of the week playlist is here.