Have you ever scrolled through Instagram, seeing content creators at glamorous events, sipping champagne in fabulous outfits, and wondered what their lives are really like behind the perfectly curated posts? Well, today I’m pulling back the curtain and taking you along for an entire week in my life as a full-time content creator in New York City.
The Question Everyone Asks
Not too long ago, my 90-year-old grandfather asked me something that made me pause: «Flor, what exactly is your job? What do you do every day?»
It was such a fair question. For most of his life, the concept of «content creators» or «influencers» simply didn’t exist. There wasn’t even internet for a significant portion of his 90 years! His question got me thinking about how many people—maybe even you—might be wondering the same thing.
What does a content creator actually do all day? How do we get paid? Is everything we post an ad? (Spoiler alert: definitely not!)
So I decided to document a particularly eventful week that showcases both the glamorous highs and the behind-the-scenes reality of this career path. And trust me, there’s so much more to it than what makes it to the grid.
The Reality Behind the Feed
Here’s something I want to make crystal clear right away: Most days, I’m creating content simply for the sake of creating. Of the 140+ videos on my YouTube channel, over half were made without any sponsorship or brand partnership—just me, my camera, and ideas I’m passionate about sharing.
I make videos about books I’ve read and loved, tips for learning new languages, organizing your work-from-home space, exploring NYC neighborhoods, and so much more—all without anyone asking me to or paying me to. These videos, Instagram posts, stories, and TikToks essentially serve as my portfolio, showcasing what type of content I enjoy creating, what I’m good at, and the quality of work I produce.
It’s like leaving breadcrumbs for potential brands and agencies who might want to work with me in the future. And sometimes, those breadcrumbs lead to incredible opportunities.
When Passion Meets Opportunity
Take my recent experience with Liane Moriarty’s new book launch for «Here One Moment.» After posting 16 videos with book recommendations on my channel—many featuring Moriarty’s previous works that I genuinely love—an editorial team noticed my authentic enthusiasm. They reached out, sent me advance reader copies, and eventually offered me a paid partnership promoting Moriarty’s latest release.
This led to one of those «pinch me» moments in my career—attending an exclusive launch event at Connie, an actual grounded plane converted into a bar at the TWA Hotel in JFK (iconic location? Check!), and getting to meet Liane Moriarty herself. For a book lover like me, this was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The Week’s Highlights
This particular week was packed with diverse experiences that perfectly capture the range of what my job entails:
Monday: The Liane Moriarty Book Launch
Starting the week with champagne on a vintage plane-turned-cocktail bar, meeting my favorite author, and connecting with fellow book creators from Instagram and TikTok. The event was as glamorous as it looked on social media—but it was also work! This was a paid partnership where I was creating content to promote the book launch.
Tuesday: The Home Studio Day
Contrast Monday’s glamour with Tuesday’s reality: full makeup, dressed up, but filming multiple videos from home for content that would appear on my channel weeks later. No sponsors, no payments—just creating quality content to keep my channel active while I prepare for upcoming travel.
Wednesday: Broadway Night & Holiday Preview
Attended a preview of «Our Town» starring Jim Parsons on Broadway, followed by a holiday gifting suite event where PR agencies showcased brands they represent and their holiday offerings. These events are about more than the perks (though yes, we often receive gifts!); they’re crucial for relationship building with brands and PR teams.
Thursday: Dinner in the West Village
A seated dinner with an aesthetics brand at a gorgeous restaurant on Cornelia Street, where I got to meet their team and connect deeply with other creators—including Gillian, whom I’d followed for over a year but never met in person until that night.
Friday: The Edit
No makeup, comfy clothes, and hours at my computer editing this very content you’re watching/reading. The unsexy but necessary side of content creation that takes just as much skill and creativity as being on camera.
The Business Behind the Content
Something many people don’t realize about content creation is its unpredictability. Unlike traditional jobs with steady paychecks, our income can fluctuate dramatically from month to month. There are incredible highs—like being flown to dream destinations or meeting your idols—but there are also periods of uncertainty where you’re wondering where your next paycheck is coming from.
This career requires constant innovation, pitching yourself to new brands, developing fresh concepts, and putting in hours of work that may or may not pay off financially. For every glamorous event you see, there are dozens of hours spent filming, editing, and creating content that gets minimal views but keeps your channels active and engaging.
The Importance of Relationships
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in this industry, it’s that relationships are everything. Behind every brand you dream of working with is a real human being who decides who gets campaign opportunities. Your reputation—how you present yourself, how you show up to events, how you interact with others in the industry—can make or break your career.
Those fancy dinners and gifting suites? They’re not just about the free products or beautiful Instagram stories. They’re opportunities to connect with the people who might champion your work to their clients or bring you onto their next big campaign.
Final Thoughts
Being a content creator is a rollercoaster of experiences—from sipping cocktails at exclusive events to sitting alone at your computer for hours editing footage. It’s glamorous and mundane, exciting and exhausting, fulfilling and frustrating—often all in the same week!
It’s a privilege to do this work, and I’m always mindful of that. But I also want to be transparent about the reality behind the highlight reels you see online. For every perfect Instagram post, there are dozens of outtakes, hours of planning, and moments of self-doubt that never make it to social media.
So the next time you see a content creator living what looks like a dream life, remember that you’re seeing their carefully curated highlights—and behind those highlights is someone who’s working hard to build something meaningful in an industry that’s still defining itself.
I hope this peek behind the curtain has been insightful! If you have any questions about content creation or life in NYC, drop them in the comments below. And if you’d like to see more «week in my life» content, let me know that too!
Until next time,
Flor.
Do you have questions about life as a content creator that I didn’t answer here? Let me know in the comments, and I might make a dedicated video responding to your questions!
Connect With Me:
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