Agent advice on social media for authors
Twitter vs Instagram, plus TONS of writing resources!
*For links and resources, scroll down.*
I asked my agent where I should put my social media efforts, and she had thoughts…
When Elon Musk bought Twitter, I thought the ship was sinking, so I tried to move my social media life to Instagram. But Instagram has a different culture and vibe than Twitter (not to mention it’s way harder to share links), and, well… I just didn’t like it. I asked my agent if I should try harder on Insta or go back to Musky Twitter.
She said I don’t really need to be concerned with growing my social media following since I’m a fiction writer. If I were writing nonfiction, my platform would be important, but for fiction it’s much more about a good idea and good writing.
But that’s not to say social media can’t be helpful. Some things my agent mentioned:
1. Social media is great place to connect with other writers.
Which is something you should absolutely do! Other writers can become critique partners, beta readers, or moral support cheerleaders. Maybe one day they will blurb or review your book, or help spread the word about your debut novel to their followers.
You can connect with other writers on any platform: Twitter (“X”), Instagram, TikTok, Discord, Facebook. Tag them in a (positive) book review or an Instagram story about their book. Comment on writers’ pitches during a Twitter pitch contest. It’s about connection, so focus on the platform you enjoy using the most.
2. What site you use depends on the type of content you’re sharing.
Twitter is a good place to share your writing or links to writing opportunities, websites, etc. This was what hugely frustrated me about Instagram: how difficult it is to share links and info.
But Instagram is great if you’re posting mostly images and short videos. There are tons of “bookstagrammers” on IG sharing book-related content. YA horror writer Taylor Grothe made a successful transition from Twitter to Instagram with her gorgeous posts and reels. And my friend Bethany A. Veiman is making herself known in Instagram reader and writer circles with her humorous and heartfelt content. So if you enjoy Instagram, don’t let me discourage you!
Then of course there’s video-centric TikTok, where lots of people are sharing thoughts about books. I haven’t ventured there myself, so if you do, report back.
And I’d be remiss not to mention Substack, which started out as a place for newsletters but is now a full-on social media site with a strong writing community. With “Notes” you can share links and give shout-outs to other Substack writers.
So it also has to do with what type of media you like to consume. Would you rather watch videos (TikTok, Instagram) or read posts (Twitter, Discord, Substack)? To be successful on social media you need to spend time engaging with others on the site, so choose the platform you enjoy most.
3. Your social media following only helps with a book deal or book sales if your followers are your potential readers.
If you’re gaining followers by posting funny cat memes, but you’re writing a murder mystery, those followers may not be interested in buying your book.
It’s pretty hard to get a significant number of followers before you have a book, but you can try posting content that aligns with the genre you’re writing so that your followers are your target book audience. For example, if you’re writing a romantasy, post about other romantasy books (and tag the authors!). If you’re writing a psychological thriller, post about your favorite thriller movies and true crime podcasts.
Back to Musky Twitter
So, I’m back on Twitter. Not that I ever completely left, but I’d mostly stopped posting and was only going on a few times a month to check my DMs. Now, I’m back to daily use, and I’ll only be stopping by Instagram occasionally.
It seems like many writers are back on Twitter (or maybe they never left). Some things are annoyingly different (like the name “X” and whatever “Grok” is — I honestly don’t wish to find out), but most things are the same. Better the devil you know and understand, I suppose.
And I’m enjoying being back: seeing writers post about their #amwriting and #amquerying highs and lows. Cheering them on and commiserating. Come connect with me there!
Today is my birthday.
And yes, I would enjoy this fancy beach chair for when I take my kids to the town swimming lake tomorrow.
But all I really want is more subscribers to this newsletter. I’ve been hovering just below 4,000 subscribers for a while, and boy it’d be fun to hit 4K. When I asked my agent about social media, she did say that growing my newsletter would be good for my career overall.
So… know any writers who might enjoy my writing resources? Send them my way with the refer a friend button below. You can earn rewards for your referrals! Refer 3 people to my newsletter, get 1 month free access to all my paid content. Refer 5 people, get 3 months free. Not a bad deal!
Writing News & Resources:
For All Writers:
Common interiority mistakes in every genre from agent CeCe Lyra and
The Shit About Writing Team Not sure what interiority is? Mary Kole has a great explanation on her kidlit blog.
Check out this free online “Ask Me Anything” Editor Panel on July 31. From Good Story Company.
Check out the latest episodes of This Mama is Lit, a podcast from
Literary Mama featuring interviews with writer-moms. I’m now a part of the podcast team, but you won't start hearing my voice until this fall.
CRAFT First Chapters Contest: Deadline Aug. 4.
NYC Midnight’s 500-word fiction challenge starts July 12. Register before then!
The Writers Center website is a GREAT resource for finding grants, fellowships, residencies & retreats, publishers (who publish non-agented authors), and literary journal opportunities.
Ready Chapter 1 is a community-powered platform connecting book publishers with undiscovered writers. Find peer critiques and more.
Check out all the many upcoming online craft workshops from Savvy Authors!
Writing Workshops also offers lots of online classes in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, picture books, and the business of writing.
Check out the meet-up group called Shut Up & Write. There are in-person chapters all over the country, as well online events.
Cheshire Novel Prize hosts a FREE group on their private app called Writers Space where you can talk about writing, ask for BETA readers, and connect with other writers.
Ready to submit a story? Check out NewPages for submission calls from literary magazines and journals.
For KidLit Writers:
Have a great idea for a kid’s book (PB through YA)? Introducing WriteMentor’s brand new competition for ideas right from the early concept stage. Enter by July 14.
Searchlight Writing for Children Awards. Contests for PB, children’s, and YA writers. Deadline Sept. 1.
Each week Kidlit411 posts The Weekly 411 with links with articles and opportunities for writers of picture books through YA.
Check out the Voyage YA 3-Sentence Story contest and their genre flash fiction prize (deadline July 31).
Wow Con, WriteMentor’s annual online conference for writers of children’s fiction: Sept. 27-29.
Register by July 22 for a chance to win prizes like critique packages from agents and editors.
A list of places that publish stories for children from The Write Life.
Literary Rambles has information on kidlit agents and agent interviews.
Submit your children’s book to these publishers: no agent required!
Here’s an incredible list of upcoming events for KidLit writers!
Check out SCBWI (The Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) fir events, conferences, critique partners and more. (Picture book through YA.)
For Querying Writers:
Live in the DC area? I will be teaching a 3-day workshop class at The Writer’s Center: Find the Right Agent for You, A Submission Package Workshop. Learn how to research agents, write a stand-out query, and polish your first pages. We will workshop the queries and first pages of all participants. Begins July 13.
Free online Query Letter Workshop from
: July 18.Here’s a list of small publishers, most of which do not require agents.
A query letter template from agent Samantha Wekstein and lots of querying advice from agent Eric Smith.
Andrea Bartz has a list of successful query letters.
Pitch contests on Twitter(“X”) seem to be coming back (for now). These events can feel like a bunch of authors screaming into the void, but it doesn’t hurt to try. After all, I found my agent through a Twitter pitch party. So read my article:13 Things to Know About Twitter Pitch Events then mark your calendar for these upcoming pitch parties:
#PicantePit on July 15 for Adult and NA authors of Latinx/Latine backgrounds
I occasionally choose a subscriber for a FREE submission package critique. Send me your query and first two pages, and, if I chose your submission, I will send you in-depth feedback on both. Fill out the form here.
Writing Conferences & Events:
Live in the mid-Atlantic region and looking for a writing retreat get-away?
2024 Writing Retreats at ZigBone Farm (Just one hour from DC/Baltimore area in Maryland's Catoctin Mountains). MD residents can apply for a grant to help cover costs!
July 28 - Aug 2: Summer Novel Writing with award-winning author Tammy Greenwood. For writers at all stages of the journey.
September 22-27: Fall-on-the-Farm Women's Poetry Writing Retreatwith Award-Winning Poet and Writing Instructor Ann Quinn
The Writer’s Retreat at Good Contrivance Farm. Open year-round, the only requirement for this peaceful retreat north of Baltimore is that you use the time to work on your writing. Spaces normally book about two months in advance.
The James River Writers Conference in Richmond, VA is happening Oct. 4-6.
Thinking about going to a conference or applying for a residency? Check out the free searchable database on Poets & Writers.
The Writing Day Workshop “How to Get Published” Conferences are affordable and helpful. Plus, sign up for pitch sessions with agents for $29 a piece. Check out the upcoming conferences:
Wow Con, WriteMentor’s annual online conference for writers of children’s fiction: Sept. 27-29.
Writers Digest offers loads of virtual conferences on a variety of publishing and writing craft topics.
For more writing conferences, check out this list or the free searchable database on Poets & Writers.
I love hearing that it doesn't really matter which platform one uses! Back to Twitter for me too, I think.