Putting Yourself Out There: (Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the ‘Gram)

by Cindy Lee Neighbors

Every author has heard the same advice: know your audience, write what you know, and write the best elevator pitch of your life, just in case you have one shot to pitch it. But what we all dread and fear the most is putting ourselves out there… even the most confident people, I’m sure, hate the attention. Because trust me, I love attention, but I absolutely dread it, at the same time.

Nevertheless, my friends pushed me to take the deep dive into the place I feared the most to market my memoir. It was ironic. I wrote a “tell-all” — and really…I wish I could call it that. But let’s be real, tell-alls…don’t tell ALL.

I digress. My social media marketing strategy is not rocket science. I simply opened up the app one day and started mindlessly posting things that matched the essence (or vibe, as the kids say) of my book. And if you look at it globally, yes, there are motifs/themes, or perhaps “tropes,” if you will. Ocean vibes, hints of past lives, mysterious questions…lingering ex-lovers…etc. I wanted my social media presence to mirror my book.

Incidentally, as I was building my page, I didn’t fully realize I was doing this, and I’ve learned that part of creating this mirrored the process of writing. Pretty crazy, right? I realized a lot of it was stream of consciousness. Kind of like journaling, I suppose.

It should come as no surprise that I have a few other Instagram accounts that I use as “side” or dumping grounds, like journals. Places where I can just keep quotes or photos or memories, just for myself. Muses, inspirations. I recommend all writers do this. Follow other writers, musicians, poets, painters…artists. EMBRACE SOCIAL MEDIA.

I know it’s SO challenging, but the brutal reality is that life is now becoming hugely digital, so we have to use it to our advantage. I hope this helps someone out there. I had a really tough time understanding this and still do…but every now and again, I “meet” someone online and I’m reminded, yes, there are real people “out there” making real art. And it all matters. It’s all full circle.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cindy Lee Neighbors, born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai’i, began her artistic journey in childhood, competing in pageants from age 6 and winning Miss Teen Asian International at 14. She appeared in music videos for Coolio, commercials for KFC, and high school plays before moving to Los Angeles to pursue acting. She earned a theater degree from the University of Southern California and landed roles in shows like Smith and The Fish Tank.

Driven by a desire to serve her country, Cindy embarked on a career in military medicine, earning a Doctor of Medicine degree with honors from the Uniformed Services University, where she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, which only accepts the top 16% of medical students nationwide.

Throughout her time in residency, Cindy advocated to reduce opioid prescription rates within her surgical department. Her work, implemented at Tripler Army Medical Center, demonstrated that opioid prescription rates could be reduced by as much as 50% in rhinoplasty patients without the need for refills. Her publications have garnered national recognition, including awards at the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Annual Meeting and the Tripler Bass Symposium. 

Now retired from the Army as a Captain, Cindy is pursuing her lifelong passion for storytelling. Her debut memoir, TOO MUCH, is a raw and honest account of navigating mental health challenges within the demanding field of military medicine. Cindy is also excited to announce her upcoming children’s book debut, Benji and Briana Become Booger Doctors (Mascot Books).

Cindy is committed to destigmatizing mental illness and empowering others to find their voice. When she’s not writing, Cindy enjoys traveling, hiking, and scuba diving.

Connect with Cindy on social media @cindyleeeneighbors or learn more at her website www.cindyleeneighbors.com.