Bookfluencers, the Sagging Middle, and Flopping

Today, I’m getting candid about book influencers. Is my rant a little petty? Maybe. Is it valid? That’s for you to decide.

I’m also addressing the dreaded “sagging middle” of writing a novel. Plus, I explain why you’re NOT a flop, contrary to what the propaganda wants you to believe.

It all started with watching a video from a popular book influencer. For context…this particular influencer is affluent. She recently bought a nice house, frequently vacations, and seems to be stocked with a never ending supply of bougie products that adorn her perfectly curated living space.

That’s not what I’m mad about. It’s all par for the course on social media. And honestly, good for her. I love to see a woman thriving. However, what annoyed me is this: in a new video, she announced that she got her first ever library card.

I felt torn. I’m all for promoting the public library, and she has a large audience to push this message to. But the way the message was framed made me uncomfortable. It was tone deaf. It’s like the idea of having a library card seemed quaint and cutesy to this fully grown woman. A new aesthetic for her to try on.

I’ve been on TikTok for two-ish months now, and seeing videos like these is one of several reasons the initial charm has worn off. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve met genuine people and have started to feel a sense of community within the space. That part has been amazing.

But there are still some things I’d like to get off my chest. Below are the main reasons I’m feeling disenchanted with BookTook at the moment:

These are first world problems, and I should probably just build a bridge and get over it (and spend less time online). Also, I’m not trying to be an influencer at the end of the day.

I want to create from a place of joy, without all the noise. I guess we’ll see what happens from there.

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Are you familiar with “the sagging middle”? It may sound like a skin condition (speaking of, my eczema has been flaring lately…eczema girlies rise up) but it actually has to do with writing.

It’s a well-documented phenomenon that occurs when writing a novel, when the story is beginning to “sag” or lose traction in the middle.

I’m starting to feel it. The first 10,000 words or so were all about getting the story off the ground. Introducing the protagonist, meeting her inner circle, and establishing the setting and initial conflict.

At 20,000 words, the plot was really starting to thicken, and the stakes were raised. Once I hit the 30,000 word count, I introduced a steamy subplot. What comes next will play a large part in informing the rest of the story, and I’m a little stuck.

Regardless, I keep reminding myself that this is the rough draft. Emphasis on rough. The best thing I can do is rip off the bandaid and leap into the void.

Have you been feeling the pressure? To perform. To succeed. To be improving all the time. To hold it together amidst both global and personal catastrophes. If you’re not juggling all of these things seamlessly, it can be easy to feel like a flop.

I’m the first to admit that I get lost in the sauce sometimes. Quitting corporate to pursue my dream of being a writer felt fun and freeing at first. As time has gone on, I’ve been feeling more pressure to be “successful” in this new venture of mine.

Even with my privilege and ability to pursue this goal, I’m scared of failing once everything is said and done. It’s nerve wracking to say that part out loud—but I want to be earnest. I want to be free from the shackles of being afraid to be cringey. And you know what can really help with that? Touching grass.

I recently went to the Franklin Canyon Reservoir and sat next to the water for a while. I watched the ducks swim around, paid attention to the sunlight, watched the tree branches sway in the breeze, and listened to the quiet rhythms of nature existing around me.

And that’s when I remembered: everything is interconnected. Nature cannot flop, it just does its thing. It simply is. By that same logic, I am nature. I cannot flop—and neither can you.

All of this is to say, don’t believe the flop propaganda. You could never be a flop, even if you tried.

I have a fascination with all things ancient and medieval. I love a good renaissance faire moment, and I look forward to dressing up and partaking in the festivities every year.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been intrigued by how those who came before us lived, ate, dressed, and behaved. They say history repeats itself, and yes, in some ways it does. In other ways, it’s totally different. I’ve been watching V. Birchwood’s videos for a while now, and she knocks it out of the park every time with content around these topics.

Whether she’s recreating ancient fashion styles, eating medieval food for a week, or sleeping like a Victorian would have, she fully commits. And she does so with a tremendous amount of care.

I can only imagine how many hours of research, preparation, and skill go into each and every video she makes. She’s a storyteller, historian, an avid sewer, an excellent cook, and the list goes on. An all-around renaissance woman. Pun intended.

I highly recommend you check out her channel. Warning: You may end up watching for hours, like I have. But hey, it’s educational!

That’s it for today. Want more weird?

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The Weird Girl Edit is a weekly newsletter written by Maya Rector, and it gets published every Wednesday. View past editions here. If you haven’t already, subscribe for the latest wacky musings in literature, media, and pop culture each week!