Social media is super common nowadays and even those who use it don’t always know the ends and out. More importantly, once you’ve grown comfortable using it for personal things, it can be hard to make the switch to using it for business. In this month’s meeting, we discussed this in detail but for those who couldn’t make it, here are some of the finer points of the social media outlets we talked about.
Yes, Twitter. In the past three years or so, Twitter has become essential for writers, especially those that are unagented. Twitter is a place where you can easily find beta readers, illustrators and agents. How, through the community and through pitch competitions. Twitter is a buzzing place and within a few hours of posting as a writer, you can gain hundreds of followers!
How to use it:
- Join Twitter using a username that stands out.
- Make sure to include Writer in your profile somewhere!
- Post like there is no tomorrow!
- Share quotes from your book.
- Talk about the characters you like and hate!
- Share the premise and use polls.
- Run contests!
- Follow certain hashtags meant for writers
- #MSWL – To connect with agents specifically seeking diverse voices
- #WritingCommunity – To get it out to as many writers as possible
- #AmWriting – So those who follow know you are a writer.
- #WritersLift – In order to gain followers.
- #ReadingCommunity- To get cool book recs, find beta readers and as another way to be active.
- Participate in pitch contests. Pitch contests offer you the 240 character limit of a Tweet to pitch your book to hundreds of agents. These take place all the time and even if you don’t find your agent, many will give you pointers and hints so that you can improve your book’s elevator pitch for the next competition.
Instagram is old news to many of us, especially with the rise of other social media platforms but it is a great way to get your name out there! By sharing pics of your work in progress or just random updates, people will begin to remember you, especially agents and editors.
How to use it:
- Post pictures
- Of yourself
- Of your progress in your book
- That share inspiring words for fellow authors
- Follow authors/illustrators and others in the publishing industry.
Discord
Discord is becoming more and more popular as a way to stay connected. That being the case, many writing conventions (virtual and in-person) have begun using it as a way for the attendees to discuss panels and ask questions to the panelists. Discord is pretty easy to use as well, which helps those of us who aren’t exactly tech savvy.
How to use it:
- Create a Discord account using whatever username and avatar you so choose.
- Join servers (but only ones you actually plan on checking so that you don’t feel overwhelmed).
- For example NaNoWriMo, WOCWritersCircle, AllThingsPublishing
- There are also plenty of servers that are genre-specific
- Join conversations with writers.
- Post your social links on the Introductions channel or Socials channel. Most Discords will have both. This way you can build your following and meet some really cool people!
TikTok
Full discretion, I don’t use TikTok but I have seen how some authors use it and it’s a great way to get people to know more about your WIP (work in progress) and get more recognition for your face and name.
How to use it:
- Make a profile that you determine to use only for business and writerly things such as talking about your fave books, sharing some quotes, agonizing over writer’s block.
- Post frequently but not enough to spam.
- Connect with other writers and use hashtags so that your posts are found more easily.
Have any others you’d like to share? Or pointers from your own experience? Feel free to leave a comment down below! We’d love to know more!
Women of Color Writers Circle 