Social Media Platforms for Writers of Fiction

Things get less clear-cut for fiction and children’s book writers. Why? Most writers of fiction have a story they came up with that they hope other people will read. There’s not always a strong or singular topic, the project is just (they hope) a good story for people to enjoy. They made it up and they want to share it with the world. That’s it and that’s all.

But when you’re considering building social media platforms for writers, you do still need to consider your audience. And not in a vague “Everyone from nine to ninety-nine will love this book!” way. If you don’t know who your audience is, your odds of finding readers and communicating with them in a focused way are very low.

Social Media Platforms for Writers of Children’s Books

The options are even more limited for social media platforms for writers of children’s books. Having an online presence is essential for writers striving to break into publishing, and while social media may be a topline initiative that comes to mind for marketing a book, it's important to consider that younger audiences may not have access to these outlets (officially, kids can’t use most websites until they’re thirteen). 

To make an impact as an aspiring kidlit writer, ditch the social media platforms for writers, and spend your time and energy creating a basic three-page website to show off your writing: a welcome page, an about page to tell readers who you are and what you write, and a contact page so people can reach out.

If you write for kids, you may not find many kids coming to your online platform. However, you will find other writers, book bloggers, parents, librarians, and potentially some of your older teen readers. So tweak your audience approach accordingly.

Tips for Social Media Platforms for Writers

Here are some Do's and Don'ts for social media platforms for writers. Do keep these things in mind:

I wouldn't suggest that everyone immediately start blogging, Tweeting, or hanging out on Facebook. Forget TikTok for the moment! If you’re not confident with social media platforms for writers, and you don't feel you have anything useful to say, then these platforms probably aren't for you. 

After all, if you don't put in the effort, you won't be able to engage an audience for your online presence. Take this website for instance—it confidently offers value and advice. It draws in an audience by providing information that writers are curious about. If it was all about my cat, then it might not be as popular. (Though the internet does love cats!)

Many people using social media platforms for writers fall into the habit of only discussing their own work and pushing their message. While this can help bring writers together around one person's journey, there’s little appeal here for a larger audience. If you find yourself doing one-way communication to your followers, your time might better be spent writing instead of getting on social media platforms for writers.

If you are only using social media platforms for writers like Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to promote only yourself and your projects, chances are, people will lose interest. Moreover, if you feel like you have to use these tools but feel unsure or uncomfortable with them, it will definitely show in your posts. The internet already has enough bloggers and Tweeters (Twits? Twitterers?), so we don't need any more hesitant Web 2.0 people contributing! (Did you know we’re already on Web 3.0?)

More Tips of Social Media Platforms for Writers

Creating an online presence is all about crafting engaging, high-quality content that speaks to your target audience. Here are some more social media platforms for writers tips to help get you started: 

• Generate interesting ideas, blog about book-related events, and leverage everything you do to further your goals. Look for writing lessons in movies, and chronicle milestones of your book's journey. (If you are under a publishing contract, remember to check with your editor before sharing any book-production-related information.)

• If you're an illustrator using social media platforms for writers to talk about your own craft, why not share your sketches and final pieces? Let's hear about your creative process, the tools you use, and what you’re working on. Progress videos are popular on TikTok. Put some visuals in your posts on any social media platforms for writers and liven them up with a nice cover image. Spice things up with interesting links on Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms for writers. Original art that’s relatable often goes viral on Instagram, whether as a post, a series, or a Reel.

• Leverage other people's content to give your blog a boost—try hosting blog tours, inviting guest bloggers, conducting interviews, and bringing added value to your readers by spotlighting fun and unique personalities who fit the theme of your blog.

• Additionally, you can use social media platforms for writers to hold contests and giveaways—as people always want to know "What's in it for me?" when they check out websites and other social media.

• If you are writing non-fiction, use your blog as a platform to share the exciting things you've discovered about the topic. Perhaps you've done research yourself or found articles about the latest news. With non-fiction works, you can create a blog that will become a go-to resource for teachers who might even teach your book in the classroom!

Social Media Platforms for Writers DON’TS

As you can imagine, there are good ways and not-so-good ways to use social media platforms for writers. Here are some warnings:

• As already mentioned, don't just rant about yourself or keep talking endlessly—make your online platform a place that people want to visit! Not only that, but if you complain about the struggles of getting published or bad-mouth publishing professionals, it'll come back to haunt you. That agent who clicks on your blog link in your query will think you'd be a pain to work with. Put your best foot forward and make a commitment—there are already so many people online using various social media platforms for writers, so don't add your lackluster content to the pile if you're not passionate about it. 

• Don't let your online presence sit in limbo. Using social media platforms for writers represents a massive investment of your time and resources, so don’t drop the ball. Remember, your most recent post will be the first thing visitors will see on most social media platforms for writers, so it's essential to keep your feed up-to-date if you don't want to seem like you’ve dropped from the conversation. If monthly bare minimum updates aren't feasible, consider creating a static website instead.

• Don’t post writing to social media platforms for writers. If you want to share, put it in an email newsletter instead, so you are collecting email addresses. Use social media platforms for writers to stay connected with friends, fans and writing buddies. Keep your profile simple and use it for links—don't think of Facebook as an online publishing platform unless you are absolutely committed to putting in the time.

• Be involved in the world of social media platforms for writers—don't exist in isolation! If you're just starting to blog or Tweet, don't be afraid to reach out and make connections to other people. Respond to comments on Instagram, comment on the pages of people who comment on yours, and read other blogs—because the "social" aspect of social media is meant to be a two-way street!

Are you thinking about how involved you should be in social media platforms for writers? It can be a tricky balance, as some people just can't stop and lose sight of their writing goals, while others put in an ineffective effort and waste their time. 

Remember, figuring out your own style is key. You are paving your own way to a potentially successful future in publishing. If a publisher picks up your book, they'll be looking for you to do some online author promotion! So use social media platforms for writers to create a track record and get moving. A little bit—even if you’re starting out—can go a long way.