This topic is always relevant and ALWAYS changing, so I thought I'd share some insights with you on ways you can make it work and also on how you can live without it.
What? Live without social media? The horror!! Yes, you can do it!!
First, though, I'm going to cover some basics. One thing that I'll say upfront is that, like writing, this involves a lot of opinions, and everyone will have their own idea of how to use it.
I also don't have a GIANT following, just a few thousand who I actually connect with, but not millions or hundreds of thousands so maybe this will mean nothing to you but here goes.
I have coached writers of novels, screenplays, and television on how to use social media as part of my Script Concierge and Story Concierge one-on-one coaching for many years. I think it is important.
I use SOCIAL MEDIA to NETWORK. That's how I use it. For me it's an invaluable tool that I, being the social butterfly who I am, loves.
HERE IS WHY.
I have literally gotten 100% of every job, gig, or anything from being on social media since 2006. Every single one. Every opportunity and that includes Hollywood jobs.
For example. I once moved up to Seattle to teach animation at a well known animation and art school, well, for many reasons that didn't work out and I found myself out of work. I applied for freelance art jobs and even worked remotely on one of the Smurf movies via FedEx and a lot of shipping paper back and forth. (Yes, we drew on paper for many years). Then that ended. I found myself desperate and worried for the future. Here I was in my early 40s, more than twenty-films under my belt, and several years working in the film industry as a writer, and nothing mattered so I applied at Trader Joe's. A band-aid on the Titanic. Which is exactly what I posted on social media in a fun, positive way. Well, a friend of a friend and work colleague who I had written multiple shorts for, saw it and I landed a co-creator for a television show.
FROM POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
Another time, I posted a photo of my new novel on MySpace (yup, way back then) and a MS connection saw it, asked me about it, took it to work and put it onto the set. A PA picked it up, started reading it, thought it was hilarious and gave it to the producers and I ended up in negotiations for a TV series to made from that book for more than two years.
FROM POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
One more story about the film industry and how I landed gigs. A friend knew I was a writer and he was producing on a movie that was about mining diamonds, he invited me to write for social awareness and volunteer against diamonds. I did, well, that lead to him recommending me for a TV writing job on a show that was newly created, a summer sub, as we called them back then, and boom, I had a TV writing job.
I could tell story after story like this.
How did I do that?
I showed up and I was AUTHENTIC.
That's the secret to social media. Be yourself. Don't be anyone else.
I've also been direct. "Hey everyone, I'm coming off this show and am looking for a new gig, hit me up with recommendations." and it's worked, every single time.
What doesn't work?
Being negative
Slamming anyone, including your boss, but also agents, managers.
Attacking others or others' work in the industry
Begging for work
Appearing desperate
Being fake
Only posting to advertise your class, workshop or other
The two biggest things that you can do are:
Be AUTHENTIC and INVOLVED.
You have to care about others and NETWORK.
Social media is about being social.
I remember when BookTok was brand new. My old account had like 5000 followers, but I quit TT for security reasons due to a job I was considering taking had it in their rules that we couldn't have it. Those who did and do well, posted DAILY. They updated their readers about the process, their books, etc.
Now we have even more choices.
INSTAGRAM-REELS, STORIES, LIVES and POSTS all work, but you have to be consistant.
FACEBOOK-your personal page, your writer page and or your group.
TIK TOK
Are three of the best ways to get out there.
Pinterest is another.
Threads, Lemon8, X, Cara
Then there is blogging...that's a horse of another color.
For any of these to work, you need to show up, be consistent, and give people what they want.
Don't want to be on social?
It's this simple.
Don't.
Plenty of writers have made a living without social media.
Be ready to email people and make connections at work, in real life at networking events, and more.
You don't need social media and a lot of people, especially, I find, older GenX and Boomers have the hardest time with it.
That's not me being mean, it's just who I see struggling with it the most.
Know that social likes, comments, and shares, aren't a real indication of your success or failure. It takes time that many don't have or want to spend doing it.
SOME MORE TIPS
If you choose to be on.
USE YOUR REAL NAME or some version of it and use the SAME NAME ON ALL OF THEM.
I'm stephobourbon on everything, that way it's easy to find me.
If you have some cutesy name like, kittycarryall or lovingwinter or fairydreamgirl, no one is going to know who you are. USE YOUR NAME.
For your PERSONAL FACEBOOK-always be PRIVATE for your posts and keep who can "friend" you to friends of friends.
FACEBOOK pages are public so understand that tone and message you are sending to the world.
INSTAGRAM be public. Having a private page that no one can see does you no good. The same with the platform formerly knowns as Twitter.
REELS are forever.
Assume everyone is reading your posts but know that people are scrolling so it's okay to repost the same things over and over.
Perfectionism will kill you. Just be real.
If you are new to social media, CHOOSE ONE and start there. Post daily and be consistent, then you can follow and do the others.
NOW, ASK YOURSELF THIS.
WHAT is your goal as a writer?
DO you need a huge following to be successful?
This depends on what you write.
It is absolutely not true that you can't get an agent or manager without it. I hate when I hear people say that, because it's not true. It can help you in some areas but let me ask you this.
Why did you go see Barbie? Or Deadpool & Wolverine? Or It Ends With Us?
Because the screenwriters had huge followings?
No, it was because of the STARS and or the IP that you already know and love.
Why did you tune into Ted Lasso? The writer's social media? Nope.
The last book you bought may have been because of #booktok but most likely you saw it on Amazon or in the bookstore, or a friend recommended. It's unlikely that it's because of the author's social media account.
If you are writing personal essays, or a memoir, social media can help you leverage your brand. If you are writing books to help others, social media can help you.
It can help you for fiction too--but it's not a requirement.
Please don't let anyone bully you into getting on social media if you aren't comfortable with it!
Please feel free to drop your questions in the comments, or reply to the email you got, or even email me. I'm happy to help.
XO
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