Let’s talk about Instagram.

Oh, Instagram… what a journey it’s been.

If you’re reading this, you probably know that I’m an indie author, but what you might not know is that I’ve had a wild, sometimes awkward, but ultimately fun ride on Instagram. This is the story of how I found my way on Instagram.

The Nostalgia

I was a youth when Instagram first came out. We’re talking way back when it was all about posting low-quality photos with heavy filters (remember those?) and… that’s it. No DMs, no Stories, no Reels—just filters. It was revolutionary at the time, okay?

Then, somewhere along the way, I stopped using it entirely, went on with life, and left Instagram behind in its filter-filled past.

Fast forward to earlier this year, and suddenly, I find myself staring at Instagram again. Why? Well, because apparently every indie author resource says you need to have at least one social media presence. Naturally, I groaned and said, “Fine. Instagram it is.”

Instagram, Round Two

Here’s the thing—I knew nothing. Absolutely nothing. When I say nothing, I mean I had to watch YouTube tutorials to figure out the difference between a Story and a Reel. Yes, it was that bad. My Instagram knowledge was still stuck in 2012.

So, there I was, fumbling through the app, thinking, “What have I gotten myself into?” For weeks, it felt like I was just throwing content at the wall, hoping something would stick. I experimented, tried different posts, and yes, some were extremely cringey (let’s not talk about those early reels…). I was completely uninvolved, out of the loop, and questioning my life choices.

But here’s the surprising part: over time, something clicked. I actually started enjoying it. Who knew?! The process of creating content—posts, reels, stories—became fun. There’s so much creativity involved, and I found myself experimenting and getting excited about it.

Now, don’t get me wrong, it took a while to get here. I stumbled, I cringed, and I laughed at myself—a lot. But eventually, it became something I genuinely look forward to.

And then there’s the Bookish Community.

One of the best things that came out of my Instagram revival was connecting with the author and reader community. I’ve made some awesome author and bookstagrammer friends along the way. The bookish community is a bit overwhelming at first (seriously, the amount of content and recommendations will blow your mind), but once you start engaging, it’s kind of amazing.

There’s so much positivity, support, and book love in this corner of Instagram. And yes, it can be noisy, but if you dive in and start interacting, you’ll find your people.

So, Why Am I Telling You All This?

Because if you’re reading this and haven’t given Instagram a shot yet, or if you’ve been putting off social media because it seems intimidating—trust me, if I can figure it out, you can too. There’s a bit of a learning curve, but it’s also a place where you can really get creative, experiment, and connect with others in the process.

So, if you’re a creative person, whether you’re an author, artist, or just someone who likes to share your passions, give content creation a go. It might surprise you how much you enjoy it. And hey, while you’re at it, follow me on Instagram if you haven’t already! And please share your adventures with social media 🙂

https://www.instagram.com/eddyroseauthor/