Member-only story
The Anonymous Writer Strikes Again
I’d rather hide behind the cat picture, thanks.
You might wonder why I don’t show my face around here — or anywhere, for that matter.
I guess you could say I like the ease — and sigh of relief — that comes with some form of anonymity.
This wasn’t an issue for a while. Who cared what that cat picture of a writer did over on Vocal or Medium? Why did it matter when each poem and essay slid under the radar with little to no fanfare? There were no problems, and it was fair sailing for a while.
But with longevity — over a year on writing platforms for me — come some snags.
In truth, it’s getting harder and harder to keep a barrier between how I want to be known as an online creator and who I actually am “IRL.”
Basically: my cover’s been blown among family members thanks to too many tells on my part. I trust things will go back to normal after a little while — after all, even the people who found me through my writing first and foremost don’t even check back as much anymore for new content — but for the moment I feel…skittish.
In an era where perceptions seem to mean everything — especially when concerning the cancel brigade — I feel this sense of uncertainty because I don’t know how to wade through the…
