In this article, we talk about what writers should know about TikTok.

As more writers jump on TikTok, whether for #BookTok or dance moves, we’ve compiled an ultimate guide on how to use TikTok and find more readers.

In 2016, something phenomenal happened.

Bytedance founded an app and gave it two different names. It became the fastest-growing social media of all time. In China, it was called Douyin. The rest of the world knows it as TikTok.

In just four years, the app has achieved what Instagram and Facebook took a decade to achieve: 3 billion users connected across the globe.

Now, one-third of all social media users are active on the platform.

That’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?

It’s safe to say TikTok is no longer just an app to show off your latest dance moves.

While it was originally a music-based app, it’s exploded into a billion-dollar industry.

Now, people from all walks of life use their talents and personalities to build brands through bite-size videos.

Writers are no exception. If you’re looking to connect with others, promote your work and build a successful writing career online, TikTok is the place to be.

In this guide, we’ll explain how to use TikTok and why you should make it your go-choice for self-promotion as a writer.

History of TikTok

Picture it: Alone on a dimly-lit stage stood a gummy bear with the unforgettable voice of Adele crooning in the background.

Then, as the invisible crowd starts singing the next verse, the camera pans out and you see it: hundreds of multi-colored gummy bears singing “Someone Like You” in unison.

It was whimsical, super cute and, undeniably, addicting to watch. In less than 15 seconds, this video garnered more attention than a multi-million dollar marketing campaign.

That was in December 2018 after Bytedance also acquired Musical.ly (the app that eventually became TikTok).

Since then, TikTok has become a place to see and be seen in every niche imaginable.

Now, users typically spend a majority of their time on their For You page, waiting for the latest trends to unfold in real time.

If you’re new to the TikTok scene, this is where the algorithm delivers fresh content using a user’s past behaviours as a guide.

Once established, TikTok then serves you the kind of content that you already liked and searched for with hashtags.

TikTok Really for Writers?

TikTok is a storyteller’s platform. Videos that perform the best are ones that tell a story and keep viewers engaged through education, entertainment or even bewilderment.

The sheer beauty of the app is that you can go viral even if you don’t have a large following.

You can have only 20 followers but get thousands of views on your videos. It might seem like a gamble, but the opportunity to go viral is huge.

While some authors might still hesitate to take their writing to wisdom to the platform, there are plenty of authors who are out there killing it.

And, contrary to what you may have heard, TikTok is not a shallow app that exists for micro-seconds of entertainment.

Authors today are using the platform to connect with others over their shared love of literature.

Getting to know other authors is just one of the perks, too.

TikTok is also a fantastic place to start building an audience with people who want to read what you’re writing.

TikTok Authors You Need to Know

TikTok’s short video sequences have changed the way authors promote themselves.

It’s a great platform for authors to both promote themselves while building a community.

With more than 80 million monthly active users in the US alone, and a robust community of readers in BookTok, there’s never been a better time to promote your book on TikTok.

Whether you’re independent or using traditional publishing, TikTok is an invaluable resource.

Another perk is how fast the community is growing.

Their tastes in literature are diverse, and since the majority of users on BookTok are still under 30, authors who target a younger demographic may be more successful on TikTok than other social media platforms.

Even with so many positives to TikTok, you might draw a blank when it comes to creating your first couple of videos.

So, if you’re needing a little inspiration, here are some of the top authors on TikTok.

While their writing journeys vary, they’ve all found ways to build a community, actively with their followers and even increase book sales.

Take a moment to peruse their feeds, in addition to the BookTok hashtag, to discover the different types of content that’s being shared.

Chloe Gong (@thechloegong)

Chloe Gong has amassed quite a following on TikTok.

This New York Times best-selling author has over 138.5k followers and 5.8 million likes by reviewing books and giving writing advice.

She uses the platform as a place to connect with like-minded people rather than a place to sell herself.

Victoria Aveyard (@victoriaaveyard)

While sharing snippets of daily life, Victoria also creates captivating previews that keep readers intrigued.

She goes the extra mile by using trending sounds and hashtags on her posts to expand reach.

Obviously, it’s working because she has over 275.7K and 9.8 million likes.

The trending sounds are either audio clips or songs that TikTok users add while creating videos.

These sounds or audio clips trend with specific dances, memes or challenges making their way around TikTok.

Ayana Gray (@ayanagray)

Ayana Gray’s TikTok provides an authentic look into her life as she releases her first book, Beasts of Prey.

She shares her excitement about the process by sharing vlog-style updates and reaction videos with her 20.9k followers.

These kinds of videos have broad appeal, reaching readers and writers alike.

If you’re looking for inspiration, her page is a great place to start.

The casual, genuine approach to sharing her publication journey is refreshing and very much needed in a society obsessed with highlight-reels.

A.L. Knorr (@authoralknorr)

This fantasy author shares her tips for independent writers to make their mark on the world.

She also keeps her community high by posting lifestyle memes as well as discussing her personal experience with her own book launches.

Even with a smaller follower count, A.L’s creative content strategy and genuine engagement has garnered 35.0K likes.

Colleen Hoover (@colleenhoover)

Colleen Hoover knows how to keep the conversation. From writing to personal matters, Colleen answers questions left on her videos. With over 10 million likes, the author of It Ends With Us and Verity is a true gem!

Angela Henry (@angelahenryauthor)

Angela shares her experiences about being both independently and traditionally published.

On her page, you’ll find advice on writing thrillers, book reviews and entertaining insight into her writing journey.

She currently has 80.K likes with 5106 followers. Angela is a perfect example of someone with fewer followers but high engagement rates on her posts.

Ben Alderson (@benaldersonauthor)

Ben, an indie author, uses other pieces of trending media to connect with followers.

He already has over 2 million likes and 91.8k followers on TikTok. But his writing style is only part of why he is so popular; the part is his own main character energy!

Ali Hazelwood (@alihazelwood)

Who thought an Italian neuroscientist would be a best-selling romance author?

Well, this NYT best-selling author not only has 5 novels under her belt, but she’s also a professor who makes hilarious TikToks about writing romance, eating candy and her daily life.

With Ali’s down-to-earth personality, it’s no wonder why she has over 23.5k followers.

Fiona Lucas (@fionalucasauthor)

This award-winning author packs her videos full of tips and advice for writing your first book, getting it published and ideas that help keep your creative juices flowing. She engages with followers by uploading memes and giving live updates.

Adam Silvera (@adamsilvera)

Last but certainly not least, is Adam Silvera, a #1 New York Times best-selling author of titles like They Both Die at the End and History Is All You Left Me.

He entertains his 47.4k followers with funny memes, quirky insights into his writing and interesting glimpses into his writing process.

TikTok Key Demographics

Just like other social media platforms, TikTok has its own unique demographics.

Interestingly, unlike other platforms where you kind of know who is using them and why, TikTok is different.

People of all ages are now on TikTok, both as content creators and viewers.

For a closer look at the stats that power the app, here’s a breakdown of the most important details:

Active users: TikTok has 1 billion active monthly users.
Number of downloads: TikTok has been downloaded over 3 billions times and was downloaded 656 million times in 2021
Engagement: TikTok has the highest engagement rate of all social media apps, with an average session of 10.85 minutes.
Competition: TikTok has surpassed Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Reddit in active monthly users.

According to Cloudflare, a web security and performance company, TikTok is not only accessed more than Google, but also Netflix, Amazon and Microsoft.

More people over the age of 30 are joining TikTok. Statistically speaking, approximately 60% of users in the USA are 16-24, with about 26% aged 25-44.

And that’s only a percentage of users worldwide. Currently, 18% of global internet users ages 16-64 use TikTok regularly.

What’s that mean for writers?

It’s a whole lot of opportunity to reach markets you never would have known existed prior to TikTok.

It also makes it much easier to target your ideal readers. Because everyone is already hanging out here, all you need to do is figure out how to get their attention.

TikTok Algorithm

As a spectator, you probably wouldn’t pay much attention to TikTok’s algorithm.

But as a creator, it’s important to understand how it works and how it affects viewership.

While there’s definitely a slight learning curve when it comes to learning TikTok’s algorithm, there are ways to stand out.

5 things writers need to know about TikTok’s algorithm:

1. Exposure is Performance-Based. Even with only a few followers, your videos can still get millions of views. TikTok takes into account the interactions on each video, not your profile as a whole.

Audio and Sounds Make a Difference. Videos containing a trend sound or song are shown more than videos without.

User Activity Matters. TikTok’s algorithm favours active accounts. The more you use the app, the more you’re shown to your target audience.

Accessible Content Performs Better. Not everyone can hear your videos, so if your video isn’t accessible for the hearing impaired, you’re losing a huge market of potential followers.

The algorithm is man-made. TikTok shows videos to many subsets of users before they are shown to the masses.

What is BookTok?

BookTok is a wholesome corner of the internet; the ultimate book club anyone can join.

Whether it’s a slice-of-life comfort story or healing romance to get you through heartbreak, there’s just about nothing a good book can’t fix.

While you can always browse the best-seller lists online, it’s a lot harder to find the next big things and hidden indie gems. That’s where BookTok comes in.

More than just a place to share your literary favorites, it also has the power to influence sales. Books have skyrocketed to popularity and become overnight sensations even years after they were first published.

Even with TikTok’s diverse demographic, the majority of users are still more of a younger generation.

As a result, #BookTok is reaching a new generation of readers who otherwise may have lost interest in literature.

We could go so far as to say that #BookTok is what’s shaping the future of the written word. Without it, who knows how many teenagers would have found books an undesirable alternative to their endless feeds.

The impacts of the platform aren’t limited to the app, either. Since the emergence of #BookTok, book sales have soared in the young adult and contemporary romance genres.

With 17.5 billion views of the BookTok hashtag since 2021, this trend isn’t fleeting.

In particular, young adult literature sales continue to increase, and booksellers are making the most of it.

Walk into any bookstore and you’ll find displays featuring the latest and greatest titles circulating around the app, just waiting for an eager TikTok’r to swoop them up for their next book haul.

Over the last 10 years, we’ve seen an uptick in the number of publishers using social media for publicity.

So, the emergence of books on a platform originally dedicated to dance and dogs really comes as no surprise.

Trends like dark academia (think stormy nights, hot coffee and dimly-lit, brooding libraries), are already well-known subcultures on Tumblr and Instagram.

BookTok has become an online literary phenomenon; a safe place for literary lovers to share what they enjoy the most.

It’s also shown us that sometimes the best kind of marketing for aspiring authors is by readers; those who are genuinely passionate about reading and, of course, using TikTok to talk about it.

BookTok has also given self-published authors a place to promote their work to the masses.

Previously, such a level of marketing was only afforded to those who were lucky enough to sign with a major publishing house.

Thanks to TikTok, books that may have never taken off are finding homes among passionate audiences.

How Writers Should Use TikTok

Learning how to use TikTok is pretty easy. Even with all the special features, all you really need is time to familiarize yourself with how the app works.

Once you complete the quick sign-up process, you need to create a bio and add a profile picture.

Add a catchy headline to let users know what you’re all about.

Have fun and showcase your personality!

You can also add links to your other social media pages around the web, like Twitter or Instagram.

If you set up your account as a business account, you can also add a link to your personal website.

Explore #BookTok

Use the discover tool to search #BookTok to find the most popular videos from readers all over the world.

Readers create engaging videos highlighting their favourite books, show off their colour-coded bookshelves and let you know what’s on their TBR (to be read) list.

Explore #WriterTok

Under #WriterTok, aspiring writers share videos about the writing process, tips for other writers and share their excitement about being published. This subsection of TikTok is also where authors create intriguing videos that lead up to their book’s release.

Content Ideas for Tiktok

TikTok is one of the best places to promote your upcoming novel and build a loyal following. So, even if you’ve only been a spectator up until now, there are a lot of ways to create entertaining videos.

Sneak Peek of Your Book’s Cover

To pique interest, create a video snippet that shows the cover of your book. You can create a buildup to the big reveal and also highlight your book’s title.

Bonus tip: Save the video and attach it to a promotional email blast when your book is published. You can include other special VIP details for followers who signed up in advance.

Hold a Q&A

You can also create a TikTok that answers the top questions your audience asks or ones that you feel are an important part of the writing and publishing process. This is one of the easiest ways to genuinely engage with your audience and create a community.

Not sure how to go about it?

It’s simple.

All you need to do is position yourself slightly to the left or right, smile and point to questions on one side and then answer on the other.

Don’t forget to add trending music and sounds to the video as well.

Bonus Tip: Choose a specific day each week where you answer questions. This encourages followers to engage and tune in to see your response.

Pack a Book Order

Packing orders is huge on TikTok, so use it to your advantage.

Show your packing a personalized book order with a special thank-you note.

Some authors use a personalized seal while others add a bookmark as a finishing touch. If you have any fans on TikTok, they just might do a “duet”of them opening their package, giving you even more chances to be noticed by others.

Bonus Tip: Implement ASMR into your unpacking video to increase views. It’s a trend on TikTok, so don’t forget to use the appropriate hashtags too. ASMR, if you haven’t heard of it, stands for autonomous sensory meridian response.

In short, it’s soft, pleasing sounds (like crickley book jackets and page turning) that cause people to experience a pleasant sensation called ‘tingles.’ Others simply find the sounds relaxing.

Preview Characters Profiles

If you’re publishing a fictional book, you can create a buzz by introducing the main characters. After all, they’re the heart of your story! To boost engagement even more, add a few snippets from your book that showcases each one’s unique personality.

Don’t forget to add subtitles to each clip so hearing-impaired users can follow along. Reveal just enough to keep your audience interested, and then leave the rest to their imagination.

Bonus Tip: Tie character profiles into your Q&A sessions where you ask the audience to guess traits of your main or secondary characters. Even a game like two truths and a lie can be a fun ice-breaker for you and your audience.

Create an Aesthetic Montage

If you frequent #BookTok, it won’t take long before you see the enormous amount of mood boards and montages giving you a glimpse of inside writers’ minds.

You can find tons of inspiration on Pinterest, which you can use to create a TikTok with music that captures the mood of your story.

In addition to the above, below are a few more ideas to use as inspiration when creating content:

TikTok meme challenges as your book characters.
Show off your book collections.
Give book reviews.
Read passages of your work.
Create book trailers.
Create FAQ compilations of your favorite authors or common writing questions.

Bonus Tip: Ask viewers to create and collaborate with you. Not only do you get to meet more people; it also helps boost your views naturally!

6 Mistakes Writers Need to Avoid

As more readers and writers head over to TikTok, albeit for the latest dance moves or to check out #booktok, there are few mistakes, as an author, you want to avoid.

Mistake 1: Not Actively Engaging

If you’re only using TikTok to post content but not actively engaging with others, you’re not going to reap the benefits of the app.

TikTok’s algorithm isn’t only about showing up; it’s about engagement and interacting with relevant content.

To truly understand TikTok’s many trends, you need to use the app consistently, not just post and disappear.

So, what’s the best way to boost engagement?

Hang out in the BookTok community and watch videos regularly, but also engage with other types of content that interests you.

Follow and interact with accounts that you genuinely like. Over time, you’ll gain insight into trends, niches and also learn how to be more creative with your own content.

The more you use the app, the less overwhelming it will be, and you’ll feel inspired to create.

You’ll also learn how to improve your content if you use the app as a “viewer,” as well as a content creator.

Mistake 2: Not Learning How to Use The App

Do you know the difference between a duet and stitch and when you should use them?

Do you know how to save trending sounds in your favorites folder to use in future videos?

If these questions make you break out in a cold sweat, you need to spend a little more time learning how to use TikTok.

While all the different features can be intimidating at first, you’ll be pleasantly surprised how intuitive the app can be.

In addition to green screens and trending sounds, TikTok’s functionality lets you create test videos, which you save in your drafts folder.

Have fun, play around and find content that makes you think, “I want to do that, too!” This is a platform built on inspiration. The best way to learn, however, is to dive right in and start creating your own videos.

Mistake 3. Only Focusing on Sales

No one wants to have products forced on them.

We all know how nausea-inducing a salesperson’s never-ending spiel can be. Imagine how much worse it is when an author is trying to pitch their book to you every second of the day.

Share your excitement, the trials and tribulations of being an author and parts of your work that you are truly proud of.

While selling books may be part of your dream, it shouldn’t be the sole focus of your marketing strategy on TikTok.

The most successful writers on the app don’t have to sell themselves; it’s their content and authenticity that drives sales.

Mistake 4. Posting Just to Post

It’s a given that you want to boost your followers count as quickly as possible. However, you need to think in terms of quality over quantity.

Aside from constantly trying to sell yourself, uploading low-quality videos that provide little to no value is a surefire way to drive people away from your page.

Any followers you have will quickly see that you’re not really trying to build a community.

The transparent attention-grabs come off as unprofessional and disengaged.

If you really don’t have something to say, it’s okay.

Waiting a few days and returning with something engaging is the far better option.

Batching content is a good way to avoid falling into a rut.

Spend the first day of each week outlining the types of videos you want to create.

Be sure to include the topic and which format you plan to use. Then, spend the next day or two shooting your TikToks and editing them.

Keep in mind that some videos take longer to edit, so plan ahead.

If you create a lot of short video clips in one day to post throughout the week, you can then use that free time to create longer, more in-depth videos.

Mistake 5. Not Really Knowing Your Audience

Young adult fiction is the most popular genre on TikTok, followed by romance and young adult fantasy.

And since 50% of 800 million monthly users in the USA are 35 or younger, you need to know who your audience is and which genre is most appealing to them.

TikTok is home to a predominantly younger audience, so edgier content will naturally attract more views.

If you don’t write YA or fantasy, you can still find your target audience. You’ll just need to create content that’s tailored to your specific type of reader.

Check out what authors are already killing it in your genres. Look to them for inspiration, and follow them to help boost your visibility among their followers as well.

Mistake 6. Overthinking Your Content

Your audience doesn’t expect perfection; they do expect that you care enough to provide them with quality content.

Some writers might overthink content creation so much that they can’t create anything.

Imposter syndrome is avoidable simply by being yourself. Videos on TikTok are supposed to “appear” spontaneous and casual; not so perfect it looks like a professional videographer shot it.

At the end of the day, follow your gut, have fun and don’t be afraid to show your true self. That’s what the app is all about!

Now that we’ve gone over what you need to avoid, let’s dive into your strategy.

After all, that’s the best part! It’s where you get to put your creativity to good use!

Perfecting Your TikTok Strategy

Marketing yourself as a writer TikTok starts with understanding the differences between this platform and others. As we mentioned above, going viral is far easier on TikTok when you have a solid strategy.

1. Learn Basic Videography Principles

The first step is making great high-quality videos.

Even if you don’t have a lot of video editing experience, TikTok has a lot of tools you can use. There’s also plenty of free resources on the platform and online to help you get started.

You can also upload pre-recorded videos from your camera roll or record directly on TikTok. The built-in functionality makes creating videos easier than you might think.

LIGHTING: Pay close attention to your lighting. Natural lighting is always best, so if you can record in the daytime, try to do so in front of a window. You can also invest in a ring light.

They’re available at different price points, so don’t think you need to purchase the most expensive one. Even a small table-top one will work. You can eliminate shadows by reducing light that’s behind you or above.

EQUIPMENT: You really don’t need to invest in high-end video equipment. The camera on your phone should suffice. However, buying a tripod is a good idea. A Gorilla tripod works well, is flexible and is available on Amazon.

BACKDROP: Be mindful of what’s in the background. Add your personal touches but keep it free of clutter. The mindset of less is more works well in this scenario as well. You want to keep distractions to a minimum and keep viewers’ attention on you.

You should also try writing your script and creating a storyboard for your video. This will make the actual recording process go a lot faster.

D.TAKE ACTION: Always start your videos with movement. Even if it’s taking a sip of water or sitting in your chair, it’s better than remaining stationary. These simple actions make your videos look more genuine and less staged. The lasting thing you want is to look like a cardboard cutout.

AUDIO: Audio is just as important as the lighting. In fact, poor sound quality is the fastest way to make users leave your page. You don’t necessarily need to buy an external microscope, however, background noise can ruin an otherwise great video. Your goal should be keeping the crisp and clear.

Don’t forget to choose a cover for your video. You want to choose one that’s visually appealing and makes users want to stop scrolling. You also need to use hashtags. Choose ones that are trending and align with your niche.

2. Develop Your Own Style

You are your brand, so you need to do what feels good. If you love to dance, then dance.

If you’re more introverted and prefer low-key videos, that’s fine too. Not everyone has to be a crowd-pleasing comedian to make it on the platform.

TikTok is your own personal playground, so there’s no wrong way to go about building your community.

Some people love being in front of the other camera, but others take a more laid-back approach while their content takes center stage.

You can make videos that align with your personality. Never feel like you have to fake it to make it.

3. Have Fun With Edits and Trends

Once you get the hang of making videos, you might want to branch out and try different trends.

For instance, “duetting” is when you combine your video with someone else’s. You can use this feature to create a comedic dialogue or show your reaction to something under #BookTok. Plot-twist reactions have never been so rewarding to watch.

You can also learn how to “stitch” videos together too. It sounds complicated, but in reality, it’s a straightforward editing technique.

You simply take the beginning of one video and then add your own.

Other types of formatting include using Siri to do voice-overs. If you don’t like being on camera, this can work really well. You can also use an auto-reader to read enticing excerpts from your book.

After you master video editing, you can also create book trailers and use them as an omni-channel marketing tool.

In a nutshell, you create one piece of content and then use it on multiple platforms.

You can even repurpose or later and repost, especially if it performed well the first time.

If you feel like your head is spinning, don’t worry.

It’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed when learning how to use a new platform.

But just like all the others, the more you use it, the easier it will become.

Don’t be hard on yourself if your first couple of videos aren’t great.

It’s more important to keep experimenting until you get the hang of it. Even the shortest video clips take practice. In fact, they’re almost an artform of their own.

Tips for Writers Creating Content on TikTok

Making TikTok videos is like writing fiction novels. Both need to have a captivating narrative, which people want to follow. Obviously, writing a novel takes considerably longer than making a TikTok video. However, there are several narrative structures that are worth mentioning.

All of these awesome sources of inspiration, and as a writer, you can use them as stepping stones for content creation.

Talk About Your Journey

As an author, the journey format can be compelling. This type of video typically shows users that something is happening or you did something and this is the end result.

It can also show a personal “micro” journey. Sum up your path to becoming a writer in 30 seconds or less. Example: Your job made you miserable, you always loved writing, so now you’re pursuing your dream to become a full-time author.

You could also create a hero journey storyline. This can be a short two or three-minute video collage that focuses on the struggle and ultimate victory. Example: You could show how worked day and night on your book, received more rejections than imaginable and just when you were ready to give up, you landed a publishing deal… or decided to publish yourself.

Emphasize Expectations

Viewers have expectations; that’s why they tune in to see your content. So, if you create videos that make them wonder what’s going to happen next, it’s a win-win situation. This could show you having a conversation with a previous colleague, with animated effects showing what you’re really thinking. Humorous videos always perform well, especially on TikTok.

Share Your Knowledge

Giving free advice and helping others is always a good choice. If you’re particularly knowledgeable about something, like getting your book published or marketing on multiple platforms, you can create tutorials. Any visuals you can put together can boost visibility and engagement.

It’s important to note that a lot of TikTok users take a super casual approach to sharing what they know. They might edit their videos while sharing valuable tips. It’s these deliberate actions that make us think they are sharing something that just came to mind. This ultra-informal approach creates authenticity that’s more engaging.

Remember Social Media Best Practices

As with other social platforms, there is a right and wrong way to use them. Aside from posting valuable content, there’s certain etiquette rules you need to follow:

Engagement: Always respond to questions or comments on your videos. With the exception of trolls, engaging with your followers will help build a loyal following. If you feel like you need to respond to negative comments, do it with tact.

There’s no point in trying to reason with someone who leaves negative comments. However, responding negatively will only encourage more hate, and you might lose followers.

Be open, but don’t share personal information: Never give out your full address, phone number or other identifying information. Avoid oversharing things that could put you in a vulnerable spot, too, like intimate struggles in your life or problems or details about your mental health.

Next Steps

If you have realistic expectations, using TikTok as an author can be fun, inspiring and possibly even lucrative.

When done correctly, you can build a brand around your writing, self-promote your latest and greatest and even land sponsored deals, if your content resonates with the right brands.

So, get out there and start creating!

Your characters are ready to shine, and it’s time to put them in the spotlight!

TikTok For Writers: The Ultimate Guide To Make Money