The Art of Staying Quiet

How Social Media Can Steal Your Creative Fire

I was listening to an interview with happiness expert Dr. Laurie Santos when something hit me: our brains can be surprisingly unhelpful. She explained that when we imagine getting something we want, the mere thought of the reward can trick our minds into feeling as though we’ve already achieved it—making us less likely to actually pursue it.

That idea made me think about social media and the creative process. What if, by posting works-in-progress online, we’re giving ourselves the exact dopamine hit we’d get from finishing the work and sharing it with an audience—only without the finished work?

When I post online, I’m rewarded immediately: likes, follows, or, sometimes, the sting of silence. But that little rush—good or bad—can dull my drive to keep going. It’s like feeding on snacks instead of sitting down for the real meal. I’m starting to wonder if I’d create stronger, deeper work by keeping my projects in the dark until they’re truly ready to be seen.

It’s tempting to think constant sharing is necessary—especially in a world that tells us we have to “sell ourselves” online. But there was a time before likes, before algorithms, when artists built entire worlds in quiet, uninterrupted spaces. Maybe it’s time to reclaim a bit of that.

I still need to promote Book Worms Horror Zine, of course. But beyond that, I’m ready to take a step back from the social media treadmill. To go all in on the work itself, without chasing the tiny rewards that can steal the bigger one.

Because maybe the best way forward is to stop broadcasting for a while—and start creating in secret again.