Publishing in the Age of #BookTok
Are you looking to break into the world of writing but find yourself intimidated by the traditional barriers to publication?
Don’t despair! There are millions of readers looking for their next favorite book, and they don’t have to find it on the shelves of a bookstore.
We live in a golden age of digital self-publishing.
For every writer who is successful through traditional publishing channels, there are plenty who have achieved fame and success through non-traditional means.
Social media and self-publishing writing platforms, like Inkitt and Galatea, have made it possible for a new generation of writers to connect with a broad audience hungry for new voices.
These authors may have started as fan fiction writers, self-published storytellers, or even found fame through Instagram and TikTok before finding their way to platforms like Inkitt and Galatea.
Here at Inkitt, we’re happy to have been a part of the careers of some very talented and successful writers, providing them with a new way to publish and offer readers stories amazing stories!
Keep reading for inspirational stories of writers who hit it big on their own. The next one could be you!
Sapir Englard and the Inkitt Algorithm
If you didn’t know, Inkitt employs an algorithm that tracks reader engagement with stories. This makes it possible for us to identify and promote popular stories on Galatea.
Galatea’s first big hit author, Sapir Englard, author of The Millenium Wolves series, has a pretty inspiring story of success.
While it may have started out as an intellectual exercise during tedious night shifts, The Millennium Werewolves series very quickly became a best seller on Inkitt, where our proprietary algorithm identified the series of viral books as a bonafide hit.
Now, with over 147,184,087 reads, The Millennium Wolves has made a lot of money and produced tens of thousands of fans.
Since then, Sapir has written even more books about these beloved characters. And hey—the algorithm doesn’t lie.
Instagram with Annie Whipple and Willow Winters
The use of social media platforms like Instagram for the promotion of books cannot be understated.
Best-selling author Willow Winters, whose book Under His Reign (65, 403 reads on Galatea!) is a savvy Instagram user who has used Instagram to promote her books with great success!
Likewise, Annie Whipple, whose book Kidnapped by My Mate (1.4 million reads on Galatea!) has been a marketing hit, thanks in no small part to Whipple’s Instagram account!
Both authors are proof positive that you don’t need to have the backing of traditional publishers to become a hit if you know how to market yourself!
Skyler Mason talks #BookTok
Of course, no discussion of social media would be complete without including TikTok and #BookTok.
While Annie Whipple and Willow Winters are no slouches in this department, one author who is crushing it on TikTok/ #BookTok is Skylar Mason.
Inkitt founder and CEO Ali Albazaz recently had a chance to sit with Skylar Mason, author of the popular novel Arrogant King (94, 395 reads on Galatea!), for an in-depth talk about her journey from novice writer to viral success.
A former speech therapist and a long-time reader of romance novels, Skylar Mason decided to write her own novel.
Skylar’s story is inspiring, and you should definitely listen to our interview with her.
It highlights a lot of the ups and downs new writers go through, not the least of which is that sometimes just getting started is the hardest part of writing.
Growing Pains
Worried that you can’t write a book? That it might not sell or even be read?
You’re not alone! Even very successful writers have gone through this struggle. Specifically, Skylar has gone through that struggle.
Look, the first time you do anything, it’s probably not going to be that good. But if you keep going and keep trying, you will get better, and you will find your audience.
But while honing your craft is important, how you market your book is just as important.
Case in point: By her account, Skylar’s first effort was not great. But she didn’t give up. She kept at it and refined both her writing and her marketing, achieving incredible success.
A big part of that success came through TikTok and Skylar figuring out what worked and what didn’t.
It’s safe to say that Skylar has cracked the code on this one, having gone viral on TikTok on multiple occasions:
Starting in 2020, she’s published over a dozen books, generated 200,000 dollars in sales this year [2023], and has built a TikTok account with over 530 million views. She’s a huge success and part of a select group of authors publishing on Galatea. – Ali Albazaz
Ready to Write the Next Hit Novel?
Writing and publishing are easier now than ever before. Not since the invention of movable type and the spread of mass literacy has there been such a seismic paradigm shift in the connection between writers and readers.
This is your moment! Readers are hungry for stories, and it has never been easier to deliver them!
Tell us your story! Your audience is waiting!
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