BookTok: A New Writing Community?
When I first made the decision to actually get on TikTok and when I say that I mean actually post instead of just lurk I didn’t expect too much. As with anything I learned as I went, the rules of conduct, and how to navigate the app, I joined with the intention of finding more bookish people and writers to interact with. What I found was an entire well-established community of bookworms and writers. People who found a way to bring books to an app oversaturated with the latest trends and gain an audience. There was a strong nerd side to TikTok and I’d stumbled upon the book nerds. There I found book reviewers, authors, and avid readers sharing their favorite books in creative and fun ways. I realized that much like bookstagram that this was a cleverly thought out way for readers and writers to mix and find each other. One of the things I found that I liked the most was the organic interactions. We love to talk about books and all things bookish, it’s just who we are. We are supportive and finding indie authors is encouraged, there have even been people who were introduced to indie authors via TikTok who’d never considered those types of books. It away for writers to reach a wider audience and it is a way for readers to broaden their horizons.
It’s a great community, but I know this app is not for everyone. The world of TikTok can often be intimidating, it’s seen as an app for people who are looking to follow what’s now, but as I said there are so many other sides. It’s not just for the trend chasers. Most writers and readers are introverted by nature and that is enough to make that app scare you, as for myself it was a huge challenge because not only am I introverted I’m very self-conscious and have social anxiety. The idea of showing my face and talking was enough to make me nauseous, it still does. But as someone who wants to pursue the Indie publishing route, I felt it was something I needed to do so I swallowed my fears and jumped in. And that’s when I realized in that little corner of TikTok it didn’t matter if you spent an hour on hair and another on makeup just to talk about a book or about your writing. It didn’t matter if you looked cute on camera, this side was more concerned with taking in all things bookish and writing-related. Nerding out at oddball hours, crying over books, showing off writing it’s all wholeheartedly encouraged. And book recommendations, whether your own or someone else’s by all means talk about them. If I can take that leap and do all of that, well anyone can. BookTok is a wonderful community and a great platform for writers. It’s one of those things that might be out of your comfort zone but in the end, is well worth it.
The weakness of every writer and reader is that we withdraw into ourselves and it’s often hard for us to break out of that shell. We spend so much time alone writing or reading stuck in our heads that we become accustomed to being alone. Our only companions become our writing and the books that line our shelves. But when connected with like-minded people such as on BookTok we come alive. The fear of being seen as weird or awkward gets pushed to the back of our minds. We are after all among fellow awkward weirdos. There is a lot to be said about the bookish side of all social media. With BookTok it’s no different, it’s a treasure trove of fellow readers and writers. It’s a home where you can find those who nerd out just as much as you over the written word, it’s where you can find those who will encourage you to write, encourage you to read. For the indie author, it just might be the spark to light the flame that helps find those readers who are going to love your work.
Social media has changed the game for Indie Authors many times over, it keeps on changing it. That is what BookTok has done, it has given yet another platform for writers to grab on to, it’s a way for readers to find them. It’s another door that has opened and I encourage walking through it.
