6 Ways to Post on Social Media (Before Your Children’s Book Is Even Finished)
If you think you need to wait until your book is published to start marketing it, think again.
But do you know what you do need? A social media account and the courage to show up.
With the majority of readers (and buyers!) being online these days, it’s important to establish your online presence—even before you launch your book. If you’re hesitant because your book is still in progress or you’re waiting for the next publishing step, take my advice: you don’t need to be selling to connect! You can start building interest right now.
Published book or not, here are six types of social media post ideas for authors (with examples) to help you show up with creativity and confidence.
6 Types of Social Media Post Ideas for Authors
1. About You
Why It Matters:
It’s important to connect with your audience! People buy from people they trust, and trust starts with an authentic connection. This is your chance to show the real you on social media. Invite them into your world by sharing your voice, your values, and even a few fun facts! The more your followers know you, the more likely they are to buy your book.
Post Ideas to Try:
- Five fun facts about me
- What inspired my book
- Why I decided to write a children’s book
- My favourite books, podcasts, etc.
- This or That preferences (e.g., tea or coffee)
2. A Day in the Life
Why It Matters:
Readers (and future buyers) love seeing the real routine behind the writing dream. Over the past few years, “A Day in the Life” videos have been trending more and more—and not just from people living the “ideal” life, but from everyone.
Teachers, 9–5 employees, freelancers, stay-at-home parents—you name it. These posts have become an outlet for people to be creative and show their lives. Turns out people love it! It’s a fun and exciting way to see how other people spend their days and how they’re reaching their goals.
Show your audience what your daily life looks like, from the kind of tea or coffee you start the day with to your daily writing routine. If you don’t write every day, you can share what else you do in your spare time. Maybe you run errands, chauffeur children and grandchildren, cook your favourite recipes, and more. Regardless of what you share, this behind-the-scenes process helps give others an insight into what it takes to write a children’s book.
Post Ideas to Try:
- A “day in the life” Reel/TikTok or photos
- A Reel/TikTok or photo of your favourite writing spot (bonus points if it's messy and real!)
- A Reel/TikTok or photos of what you are doing when you aren’t writing
3. Your Writing Routine
Why It Matters:
As you brainstorm ideas, don’t forget to bring your followers along for the ride by sharing your writing routine. Creativity is unique to everyone, and writers and readers love getting a peek into an author’s process. Oh, and don’t be afraid to show the messy middle. It's progress over perfection that establishes authenticity.
Post Ideas to Try:
- Show yourself writing distraction-free at your favourite local coffee shop
- Record a time-lapse of your early-morning writing session
- Share a Reel/TikTok showing your favourite writing spot at home
- Film a Reel/TikTok with quick clips from different parts of your routine: coffee pour, laptop open, scribbling in a notebook, etc.
- Post a carousel showing your favourite writing tools
- Morning vs. evening writer story poll: which one are you?
4. Tips & Tricks
Why It Matters:
Got any helpful tips or tricks to share? Tell your audience! Other authors love hearing what works (and what doesn’t) from someone who’s been there. Whether you have tips to stay motivated while writing or simple tricks to get stains out of clothing, share them with your followers. These posts not only offer value but also help build trust with fellow writers.
Post Ideas to Try:
- How you overcome writer’s block (or what procrastination really looks like)
- Film a quick tip talking directly to the camera (i.e., “Writing tip of the day”)
- Post your best productivity hack for busy writing days
- Recommend your favourite books on writing craft
- Share how you balance writing with other responsibilities
5. Market Your Book
Why It Matters:
Once your book is published and ready to sell, use your social media accounts to start marketing! This gets your book in front of the eyes of your ideal audience so they can see it and make the purchase. BUT don’t overdo it on the selling. A good rule of thumb is to post personal/value content 80% of the time and sell 20% of the time. That way, you won’t overwhelm your followers with relentless selling.
Post Ideas to Try:
- Host a giveaway with a signed copy of your book
- Go live for a virtual launch party
- Share the story behind why you wrote your book
- Post a photo of your book arriving in the mail or on shelves
- Show a sneak peek of your favourite page or illustration
6. Inspirational Quotes
Why It Matters:
If you’re running low on post ideas, I find a good quote serves well. It can be anything you find funny, inspirational, motivating, or heartfelt. Quotes are highly shareable, easy to create with design tools like Canva, and can quickly resonate with your followers. They’re also an easy way to break up your more educational or promotional posts.
Post Ideas to Try:
- Share a quote that reflects your current writing mood
- Post a quote from a favourite children’s book or author
- Use a quote to open up about a recent writing challenge or breakthrough
- Create a carousel of quotes that inspired your children’s book
- Share a quote that captures the heart of your book’s message
What’s Next?
Step 1: Start your content calendar with the ideas in this post.
Step 2: Follow us on social for inspiration and support!
Step 3: Post consistently! It doesn’t matter how much you post, only that you’re posting regularly. Try to start with 1-2 posts per week, then increase your cadence as you get more comfortable.
FAQs
What social media platforms do I need to post on as a children’s author?
Start by posting on the platform that you feel the most comfortable on! It’s better to show up consistently on one platform, rather than spread yourself thin across multiple.
How do I plan my content calendar?
Start by looking through the post ideas here and choosing a few that feel doable. Map them out on a simple calendar and aim for 1-2 posts per week. You can even set specific days to take photos or videos so you’re gathering content intentionally. Try not to overcomplicate it—this should be something that is fun and creative for you, not something that feels like a chore.
Where can I find inspiration for posting?
Check out one of our Publishing Mastermind authors, Chelsea Chong Kim. She left her 9-to-5 to follow her dream of becoming a full-time author—and she’s doing it!