Social Media (and Marketing for Authors in General) I Want to Quit You, Part II

I know I need you, but you're really kind of annoying

Since my last post I've submitted to the power of the social media force...reluctantly. Marketing for authors is a total drag.

I've created yet another TikTok account. There have been a couple in the past where I didn't create any actual content; I was just a lurking looky-loo. That being said, in one week I've posted exactly one reel (is that what they're called on TikTok?). I was an early-ish adopter of Facebook and IG and was able to enjoy them organically without any ulterior motive or business objectives.

Fifteen years ago I would have been sharing highly filtered images of sautéed broccoli rabe on Instagram, and earlier than that would've been some day in the life foolishness for friends and acquaintances on the platform now known as Meta. These posts were consistent and never done by force. I never felt obligated, only compelled to share the (admittedly) curated version of my life. Cool, cool.

Now there's a clear goal that entails finding strangers within some inner sanctum referred to as BookTok in the hopes that I can persuade them to buy and read and review my work...so more people can discover my work and they can buy, read, review, and so on and so on. Two purchases of my October-launched book and still counting. I'm pretty sure one was my mother-in-law. And if I was a betting person, I would wager that the other buyer was her sister-in-law. All that to say, I know, I KNOW, that I have to be on social media, particularly TikTok. And I know I need to post and engage consistently. This is Marketing for Authors: 101.

Maybe I should incorporate a quota challenge for TikTok posts the same way I'm doing a challenge to publish three books in a year. Things that make you go...

Welp, you've made it this far. You know what time it is. It's time to get writing right now!