How Social Media Can Jump-Start Your Writing Career

So you want to start your writing career, but you don’t know where to start. Everyone’s been there—that’s why Night Heron Media is here to help! Read on for advice and tips on how social media can jump-start your writing career.

Interact with a Larger Network
More and more social networks pop up each year, and whether you’re happy about it or not, they’re here to stay. Which is why everyone’s jumping to social media, including recruiters and headhunters. This means you can interact in a less formal setting with someone you could potentially write for or work with (but still remember to be professional!). This is also why you should carefully curate what you post on each platform, as inappropriate posts about your personal or work life could put off those you want to work with, and even get you fired.

Send More Traffic to Your Author Website
When setting up your social media accounts, you can link them to your writer website and/or blog, which can help you get more traffic. If you regularly write blog posts, you might post your latest post each week on social media, including hashtags when relevant (this is usually only on Twitter and Instagram). People who scroll through those hashtags or get updates in those areas are more likely to see your posts, rather than if you had just posted it for your regular viewers, which gives you a higher chance of increasing your following. Being interactive with your followers will also help with increasing your following!

Find Freelance Work
If you’re a freelance writer, you might start reaching out to potential clients through these platforms. While some people might not like being contacted, there will still be a number of people who are looking for a freelance writer and will appreciate someone preemptively reaching out and offering their services. However, this does not mean reaching out to every person who crosses your timeline—you’ll want to make sure you put some effort into researching your potential clients and make sure that it’s a place that might actually want/be able to hire a freelance writer.

Engage in Online Writing Communities
If you’re looking to become a published writer or are just getting started on your career, you might engage in writing communities on social media. PitMad, an event that occurs twice or so a year where writers can pitch their novel in 180 characters or less takes place on Twitter, so if you haven’t had luck querying or are just getting started, it’s a great way to think creatively about your manuscript, engage with other writers, and potentially pique an agent’s interest. Social media writing communities are generally welcoming and friendly, so engaging with people on these groups can help you increase your following and even get tips from other writers!

Final Thoughts
One of the most important parts about creating a social media presence is staying present and consistent. If you have a professional website, blog, and three social media platform, do your best to keep them updated regularly. If someone comes across your blog or Instagram and notices you haven’t posted in a year, they likely won’t return, even if they like what you’ve posted previously. However, if your last post was yesterday, you might have gained a follower. Or, if it’s someone looking for a freelancer to take on a gig, they know they can reach out to you and you’ll likely respond right away.
 
Remember—social media, when used correctly, can help jump-start your writing career, but that alone will not advance your career! You’ll need to maintain your presence, interact with followers, and even reach out to folks who can help your career move forward. All of this can be key to your success!

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By Krynn Hanold, Intern

Krynn is a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay and holds a B.F.A. in Writing and Applied Arts. She enjoys reading literary and upmarket fiction, sci-fi, and narrative nonfiction. She's incredibly passionate about publishing, and looks to start a career in the field.