How to use TikTok as a Writer: An Introduction

#WriterTok and #BookTok have absolutely exploded on TikTok. There are many tens of thousands of TikTok creators making videos around writing and reading.

If you haven’t used TikTok before, it’s going to feel like landing on another planet. It’s quite different from other social media platforms. It’s fast-paced and confusing at first, but stick with it. The more videos you watch, the more the algorithm works out what you like, and the better the content you are served becomes. 

TikTok calls itself an ‘entertainment platform’ rather than a social media platform like Instagram that shares a similar visual space. In fact, according to TikTok, people are now spending more time watching TikTok videos than they are watching Netflix. 

TikTok, by nature, is a storytelling platform. The videos that do the best on TikTok tell a story and make the viewer engaged either through drama, comedy, or bewilderment.

The beauty of TikTok is that with very few followers, content can go viral. You can have 15 followers but get 20,000 views on a video. It’s like a gamble. And the possibility of going viral becomes quite addictive!

Where to start on TikTok?

Explore #BookTok

Jump into #BookTok – a specific hashtag on TikTok that book-loving creators use. Search #BookTok using the Discover tool in TikTok to see the most popular video content by readers from around the world. They create engaging videos reviewing their favourite books, showing off their colour-coded bookshelves, or how they keep notes while reading. Posting videos about your favourite books or TBR (to be read) pile is a great way to ease yourself into the platform.

Explore #WriterTok

Discover #WriterTok by exploring the hashtag. Writers are posting videos about their excitement about getting published, their writing process, and tips for other authors, as well as creating intriguing videos based on the storyline of their novels.

Like, comment, and build a community

The best piece of advice I got when I started on TikTok was to build a community. You have to tell the algorithm where you want your content to be spread. So start liking and commenting on other writers’ and bookish people’s content. This way you are telling TikTok these are the kind of people you want to reach!

I’m an introvert. What content should I make?

The best part of TikTok – and what will help your content to do well – is the trending sounds. Use a trending sound and then put your own spin on it. A trending sound could be a piece of music or it could be a voiceover of someone speaking that helps you connect with an audience. I used a trending sound for a reader follow party and went from 348 to 1000 followers in 4 days! You simply click on the music icon down the bottom (see image) – hit ‘use this sound’ – and then create your video!

The trending sounds help to build a community, and it becomes a kind of conversation. In many ways, TikTok is a derivative platform – eg. someone sees what they like, copies it and puts their own take on it. In that way, we see lots of different videos using the same sound but done differently, which becomes interesting in itself.

TikTok video basics

Create a profile and add your bio. Choose a piece of music and record a video on the TikTok app. Edit your clip and adjust the timing, add filters and text or record a voiceover. Don’t forget to write a caption and add some hashtags. Good hashtags for writers are: #writertok #authortok #booktok #indieauthor #indiewriter 

When you have enough followers, TikTok will allow you to put a website link in your profile. You can either link this to your website or use a link-building platform like LinkTree to create multiple links to your published books, Goodreads profile, and other social media platforms.

Once you reach 1000 followers, try to go live, as this really boosts the reach of your videos. Also, try not to delete any videos you have published, as this can disrupt the algorithm and your views may plummet. So make sure you are happy with anything you post before you post it.

Have fun. Don’t think too much about the views and follows. If you’re having fun, then your viewers will too!

Here are a few great #writertok accounts to follow to start giving you inspiration:

@victoriaaveyard  
@rebecca.thorne
@magotwood  
@writingcoach  
@jesss.david  
@reverseharemauthor
@headonfirepod 

And finally, TikTok is all about emotion. Here’s a good one to feel the big feels!