Reflections on September: Writing, Making, and Running an Instagram Account

 A personal reflection on writing, content creation, and running Grayscale Nook, exploring why sustainable creativity sometimes means choosing your own pace and finding a form of expression that truly fits you.

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閱讀中文版：「九月的感悟：關於寫作、創作與經營 Instagram」

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Reflections on September: Writing, Making, and Running an Instagram Account

A Conversation

In September, I had a conversation with someone about why I created the Instagram account for Grayscale Nook, and whether it could eventually be monetized. By the end of the conversation, I felt somewhat disappointed. Part of that disappointment came from realizing that decluttering might not be an easy topic to monetize.

At the same time, I was asked about the direction of Grayscale Nook, its target audience, and where I hoped to take it in the future.

I couldn’t really answer.

Even though I had thought about monetization, I had never actually set a clear path for how it might be achieved. And without a clear goal, I began to wonder whether my content had lost its sense of direction.

The conversation also touched on the current popularity of short-form video. I was encouraged to learn more about video-making and perhaps use it to grow my audience.

Afterwards, I thought about it for a long time.

Returning to the Beginning

Eventually, I decided to return to where I started.

I created this account because I wanted to try content creation and experience what it was like to build something through social media.

There was a long period when I stopped altogether. It was not until the end of last year that I decided to start again. During that time, I kept thinking about the biggest obstacle I had when it came to making content: Why couldn’t I keep going?

Eventually, I realized that the problem was not a lack of ideas.

It was my capacity—my skills, my time, and my energy.

Work and things in my personal life already take up a certain amount of my energy. For me, learning an entirely new skill from the ground up, especially one that requires a significant amount of time and practice, is not something I can easily sustain right now.

Video-making is one of those things.

I have tried it, and I understand why short-form videos can help reach more people. But for where I am right now, it is not a creative method I can sustain in the long term.

So after exploring different options of making content, and thinking carefully about my abilities, time, energy, and the kind of content I could continue making, I eventually chose what felt more suitable for me:

Decluttering as my main theme, writing and making image-based content as my main forms of expression, and Instagram and blogging as my creative outlets.

Slowly Finding My Own Way

Since starting again, I have learned a lot.

Although I decided to focus on writing and image-based content, neither writing nor graphic design comes naturally to me.

At first, I struggled to find the focus of a piece, or to understand how to give my writing a natural flow.

Photography was much the same. I used to have trouble knowing what I actually wanted a photograph to express. Now, I am slowly learning how to frame a shot, and how to notice what I want to keep within the frame. 

I also used to struggle with the layout and colour choices of the images I created, and the different elements did not always work well together.

But through one attempt after another, I have slowly begun to find my own way.

I am learning to edit my writing.

To simplify my photographs.

To leave more space in my layouts.

These may seem like small changes, but they have made me realize that making things is, in itself, a form of learning.

Through this process, I also found the courage to attend a few gatherings for creators and meet people I might not otherwise have met.

Looking back, none of these things were what I expected when I first created this account.

But perhaps this is also what making means to me.

It is not simply about running an Instagram account.

It is not only about gaining followers or figuring out how to monetize what I make.

It is also about getting to know myself a little better through the process, and slowly finding my own way of expressing myself.

I Don’t Have to Take the Fastest Path

I will continue to focus on writing and making image-based content.

At the same time, I will slowly learn more about video production.
I do not mind learning something new. Learning itself can be an interesting and wonderful thing.

However, video will not become my main form of creative work.

At least, not for now.

I want to make things at a pace that I can live with, slowly and steadily.

Maybe it is not the most popular way.

But perhaps it is a way that suits me better.

Stubbornness Is Also a Part of Me

I am a stubborn person.

When it comes to making things, I want to allow myself to show who I really am.

I do not necessarily want to choose the way that is easiest to be seen.

I do not necessarily want to follow whatever format happens to be popular.

And I do not want to change what I genuinely want to make simply because someone thinks another direction might have more potential.

If making things eventually brings me back to myself,

then I hope that what I make can feel a little like me.

And perhaps this stubbornness is simply another part of who I am.

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閱讀中文版：「九月的感悟：關於寫作、創作與經營 Instagram」

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