Mira Sethi Talks About the Struggles of Being an Author in the TikTok Era

Mira Sethi Talks About the Struggles of Being an Author in the TikTok Era

Actor and author Mira Sethi is articulating the challenges of being a writer through a candid rant on Instagram stories, and we agree completely.

Sethi shared a thread from American novelist Anne Lamott, who encouraged writers to remain committed to their craft until they produce a flawed first draft. The author of *Bird by Bird* further advised that the subsequent step involves eliminating the dull elements, falsehoods, and pretensions and creating a more refined second draft.

In contrast, Sethi expressed a different perspective, asserting that crafting those falsehoods and pretensions can be enjoyable, as “the lies provide comfort while you navigate your trauma, and the pretensions allow for the emergence of good ideas amidst poor writing.”

Writers often find it therapeutic to express their traumas on paper or through their laptops, even if it involves a series of “lies.” Sethi also congratulated those writing during the “Golden Age of TikTok,” possibly alluding to the surge of low-quality novels that frequently originate from social media or fanfiction platforms before publication. Alternatively, she might be referencing the overwhelming number of book reviews proliferating on TikTok, where everyone assumes the role of a critic. It is also plausible that she is genuinely applauding those who persist in their writing endeavors despite the distractions posed by social media.

Regardless of the various interpretations of her remarks, we agree with them. Sethi humorously noted that it is “very exciting when seven strangers read a book it took you four years to write,” we would like to affirm that we are indeed among those seven readers of her work!

The *Very Filmy* actor further jested that while her readership may be limited, “350,000” viewers are tuning in to watch her on HUM TV, where her show is broadcast. If you are one of those viewers who have yet to explore her literary contributions, we strongly encourage you to pick up one of Sethi’s books instead of scrolling through TikTok.