Let me paint a familiar picture: You open Instagram (or Facebook, or TikTok, or whatever platform you’ve committed to), you stare at the blank post box, and you think, “I have absolutely nothing to say.”
Or worse, you think, “I can’t just post ‘buy my book’ again… can I?”
Here’s the truth: Social media for authors works best when you’re NOT constantly selling. Your readers want to connect with you as a person, not just see ads for your books.
But what are you supposed to post instead?
That’s what this post is for. I’m giving you 30 specific, copy-and-adapt post ideas that will help you engage with your audience without feeling like a used car salesman.
Behind-the-Scenes Content (Posts 1-6)
These posts let readers into your creative world without requiring you to share anything too personal or polished.
1. Share your writing space Take a photo of where you write. Messy or neat, home office or kitchen table—readers love seeing where the magic happens. Caption idea: “This is where [book title] came to life. Coffee required, pants optional.”
2. Show your editing process Screenshot a page with track changes or notes. No spoilers needed—just show that writing is work. Caption idea: “Cutting 2,000 words today. Every one hurts, but the story is better for it.”
3. Your research materials Books, websites, photos, whatever you used to make your story accurate or authentic. Caption idea: “Down a research rabbit hole about [topic]. This is either dedication or procrastination, you decide.”
4. Writing playlists Share what you listen to while writing. Link to a Spotify playlist if you have one. Caption idea: “My [book/character name] playlist. I can’t write their scenes without it.”
5. Current word count celebrations Hit a milestone? Share it! People love celebrating with you. Caption idea: “Just hit 50,000 words on [book title]! That’s [X] cups of coffee and [Y] late nights.”
6. The tools you use Software, notebooks, pens, sticky notes—whatever helps you get words on the page. Caption idea: “My writing setup: Scrivener for drafting, Grammarly for cleanup, prayer for plot holes.”
Reader Engagement (Posts 7-12)
These posts invite conversation and help you learn more about your audience.
7. Ask about their current read Simple but effective. People love talking about books. Post: “What are you reading right now? I’m always looking for my next favorite book!”
8. Character casting If your book became a movie, who would play your characters? Ask readers who they’d cast. Post: “Dream casting: who should play [character name]? I’m thinking [actor], but change my mind.”
9. Favorite tropes What story elements do they love or hate? Post: “Romance readers: enemies to lovers or friends to lovers? Defend your answer.”
10. Reading preferences E-book, paperback, hardcover, audiobook? Let them debate. Post: “Team paperback or team e-reader? I need to understand you people who read on your phones.”
11. Book recommendations Ask for genre-specific recommendations. Then engage with every response. Post: “Give me your best ‘strong female character who isn’t insufferable’ recommendations. Go!”
12. Unpopular opinions Invite hot takes about books, writing, or reading habits. Post: “Unpopular opinion: [Your take on something in your genre]. Am I wrong?”
Educational/Helpful Content (Posts 13-18)
Share what you’ve learned. Teaching builds authority and trust.
13. Writing tips Share one specific technique that helped you. Post: “The ‘sanding method’ changed my dialogue. Here’s how it works: [brief explanation]”
14. Publishing lessons What did you learn the hard way? Post: “Things I wish I knew before publishing book 1: [numbered list]”
15. Tool recommendations What software, apps, or resources do you actually use? Post: “5 free tools that make author life easier: [list
with brief explanations]”
16. Genre conventions Explain something about your genre that readers might not know. Post: “Why steampunk mysteries always need [element]: A thread about genre expectations”
17. Marketing mistakes Share your own failures so others can learn. Post: “I spent $500 on [marketing tactic] and got zero sales. Here’s what I learned…”
18. Industry news Share and explain something happening in publishing. Post: “Here’s what [recent publishing news] means for indie authors: [your take]”
Personal Connection (Posts 19-24)
Let readers see you as a person, not just an author-brand.
19. Non-writing hobbies What do you do when you’re not writing? Post with photo: “Taking a break from edits to [hobby]. Sometimes you need to rest your brain.”
20. Your reading life Share a book you loved that has nothing to do with your genre. Post: “Just finished [book] and WOW. Totally outside my genre but absolutely worth it.”
21. Coffee/tea/beverage of choice Writers and beverages are basically a meme at this point. Embrace it. Post with photo: “Attempting to write [difficult scene] without enough coffee. Send help or caffeine.”
22. Pets who “help” you write Do you have a writing companion? Share them! Post with photo: “My writing assistant believes the keyboard is a warm nap spot. Progress: minimal.”
23. Favorite writing spot (not home) Coffee shop? Library? Park bench? Post with photo: “Found a new writing spot today. [Description of why you love it]”
24. Your reading space Where and how do you read? Post with photo: “My ideal reading setup: [chair/couch/hammock], [beverage], and zero responsibilities.”
Occasional Promotional (Posts 25-30)
Yes, you CAN promote your books. Just do it strategically.
25. Share a review When you get a great review, share it! Post: “This review made my entire week: [quote from review] Thank you [reviewer]!”
26. Favorite scene Share what YOU love about your book. Post: “My favorite scene in [book title] is when [vague description, no spoilers]. I giggled while writing it.”
27. Character spotlight Introduce a character with a visual and description. Post with image: “Meet [character name]: [brief, intriguing description] #CharacterIntro”
28. Book sale announcement When your book is on sale, tell people! Post: “PSA: [Book title] is on sale for $0.99 this week only! If you’ve been on the fence, now’s the time.”
29. New release countdown Building anticipation for upcoming books. Post: “[Number] days until [book title] releases! Here’s a tiny sneak peek: [quote or image]”
30. Audiobook announcement Celebrate new formats. Post: “Big news: [Book title] is finally available in audiobook! Narrated by [name], and I’m obsessed.”
How to Actually Use These Ideas
Here’s my practical advice for implementing these:
1. Batch create content Set aside one hour per week to create 3-5 posts. Schedule them so you’re not scrambling daily.
2. Adapt to your voice These are templates, not scripts. Rewrite them to sound like you.
3. Mix it up Don’t post the same type of content repeatedly. Vary between categories.
4. Track what works Notice which posts get the most engagement. Do more of that.
5. Engage with responses The real magic happens in the comments. Respond to everyone who takes time to comment.
6. Don’t overthink it Done is better than perfect. Post, learn, adjust.
The Real Secret
You know what the real secret to social media success is? Consistency beats perfection every time.
I’d rather you post a slightly awkward photo of your writing desk once a week than spend three weeks crafting the perfect aesthetic post and then giving up because it’s too much work.
Your readers want to connect with a real person. They want to see that authors are humans who struggle with plot holes, drink too much coffee, have pets who interrupt Zoom calls, and occasionally read books outside their genre.
Give them that, and they’ll stick around for your book releases.
Your Turn
Which of these post ideas resonates most with you? Or better yet—which one are you going to try THIS WEEK?
Drop a comment and let me know. And if you use one of these ideas, tag me! I’d love to see what you create.
— Jolene
P.S.
If you want more structured help with social media strategy, check out the [free Marketing for the Absolute Beginner course]. It covers the foundations you need before diving into any specific platform—including how to figure out which platforms are actually worth your time.
Related Resources
• Free Course: [Marketing for the Absolute Beginner]
• Coming Soon: Facebook for Authors course
• Coming Soon: Instagram for Authors course