mishitales

 I tested out a few of the tips I got from various YouTube videos this morning, and so far things seem to be picking up.

I am doing my own version of the $1.80 method that YouTubers are recommending--Not actual money! The $1.80 refers to leaving your two cents (commenting) on the top 9 photos from 10 of your niche's top hashtags.

When I started the $1.80 method this morning, I noticed that I didn't like some of the top 9 photos (I'm not trying to be a butt, I swear! If I'm going to comment on something and sound genuine, I have to actually like it enough to do so). They were either way too mainstream (as in WUT are you doing in this niche?) or just not my cup of tea.

I decided to do my own version of the method and comment on a few that I actually liked enough to comment on (while liking other good posts) and commenting a lot on posts from people I follow. I got a lot of replies, and the photo I posted today got way more likes than I've been getting over the past few weeks.

If you're struggling like me, try this out!

I'll be back later this week for another update!

 As I stated in my last post, my Instagram activity dropped--it jumped off a cliff, and ran away!

I've been experimenting, but so far, nothing has worked to get my account back up to where it was in April. I've been trying switching up what I post, posting at different times, and liking everything I can in my niche tags. I recently started to up my comment game, so we'll see how that turns out.

It's just so frustrating because it was as if my account died over night! One day I was finally reaching a goal I had set for myself, and the next, the amount of likes dropped by 50%. It was just like that. I haven't been able to recuperate and get back up there. I have no idea what suddenly made my activity take a nose dive for the worse. I wasn't doing anything differently.

I know I shouldn't care, but when you spend hours on stuff, you want some sort of pat on the back! :) I also have my own set of personal goals that are hard to articulate on "paper." 

I wish I had a more positive post for everyone because I want this journal to look on the bright side and to be uplifting, but I've been working so hard to switch stuff up, experiment, and try new things in order to figure out why my activity dropped and to get back to where I was. 

 Oh dear me! I haven't posted here in a while.

Let's just say that going from two weeks of warm, sunny weather where I was outside most of the time to crappy, cold Northeastern weather where I'm right back in winter hibernation, barely moving mode is hard. I'm a child of the summer, worshiper of the sun and all things outdoors. I get the snowbird thing now. I totally get why people flock to Florida in the winter now. 

I've been slowly getting back into my routine. Now that I'm back in this timezone, my insomnia is back *cries* And why am I mentioning this? Drawing while grumpy. Several days of insomnia will make you cranky and turn you into a rabid Klingon with a chip on his shoulder. 

Tiny Artist tip #1

Don't work on a drawing when you are grumpy and 100% done with everything.

The shortcuts and lazy mistakes you'll make are not worth quickly pumping out a drawing, especially if it's for someone else! Just don't do it. Don't even pull the drawing out. Leave it be and work on it another day.

I could have worked on a drawing for a friend last night, but holy Captain Grumpy, Batman. I was not the most pleasant person, ha ha! I was at "What is that random sound? It's pissing me off!" level of cranky.

Today brings a so-so amount of sleep and a fresh start! I can live with a little sleep--it's more than what I've been getting all week.