You’re writing a novel in 30 days. You’re trying to hit your daily word count, keep your story moving, and fit everything around the rest of your life.
And here I am telling you to post about it on social media, too.
Yes, I am.
But hear me out.
Your writing challenge gives people something to follow. They can cheer you on, celebrate your progress, and come back to see how it’s going. It’s also an opportunity to connect with other writers working toward their own goals.
After spending almost nine years in marketing before switching to writing full-time, I want to help you make the most of that opportunity.
Welcome to Marketing Mondays, where I share what I’ve learned as a marketer to help fellow writers start building their author platforms.
Grab a drink, and let’s get into it.
1. Start With Your Author Name
Before you worry about what to post, think about HOW you want people to find you.
What name do you plan to put on your book cover? Your full name? A pen name? Whatever you choose, use that as the starting point for your social media handles.
For me, that’s Elizabeth B. Yuen. I want someone who encounters my writing on one platform to recognize me when they find me somewhere else.
Go ahead and claim your preferred username across the platforms you’re interested in using, even if you aren’t ready to post on all of them yet.
That gives you room to experiment while keeping your name consistent.
You don’t need a finished manuscript or a published book to take this step. You can start establishing your author presence while you’re still working toward those milestones.
2. If You Need to Add “Author,” Put Your Name First
Sometimes your preferred username is already taken. That happened to me, too.
If you need to add a word such as “author” to your handle, my preference is to put it at the end:
YourNameAuthor
That keeps the name you want readers to recognize at the beginning of your handle.
When I first started, I put “author” before my name. Eventually, I changed it because I wanted my online presence to center on the name I planned to publish under.
Think about how your handle looks alongside your display name, profile photo, and bio. Would someone arriving at your page understand who you are and what you share?
The goal is to make that connection easy.
3. Give Your Author Account a Clear Purpose
Your author presence should reflect the kind of writer you want people to know.
That’s why I recommend keeping your personal and professional accounts separate. Having a dedicated author account gives you a space where people can follow your writing journey and know what to expect.
Professional doesn’t have to mean stiff or impersonal. You can absolutely share your personality, your favorite writing drink, or a funny moment from your day.
Think about how those pieces fit into the overall experience you’re creating.
Your bio can explain what you write. Your posts can show your process. Your updates can help people get to know the person behind the stories.
You also get to decide what stays private. Sharing your writing life doesn’t require sharing every part of your personal life.
4. Give Yourself Time to Learn What Works
One of the biggest things I learned in marketing is that people often expect social media growth to happen much faster than it does.
They start posting, don’t see immediate results, and assume something is wrong.
But a handful of posts won’t tell you everything you need to know about a platform—or your audience.
Take six months to a year for experimentation. That gives you time to practice, try different formats, and notice which platforms feel worthwhile for you.
Your 30-day writing challenge can be the beginning of that process.
Use it to figure out:
- Which kinds of updates do you enjoy creating?
- Where are you having conversations with other writers?
- What can you realistically maintain alongside your writing?
- Which posts make people curious enough to respond?
A viral post can be exciting, but you’re also learning how to show up regularly and build relationships over time.
Give yourself room to learn before deciding that something isn’t working.
5. Start With Content You’re Already Creating
You’re already doing the writing challenge. That means you already have something to talk about.
You don’t need to invent an entirely separate content project.
Start with a small update about the work you’re doing.
Share a Written Check-In
On platforms like Threads, X, or Substack Notes, you could post:
“Day three of my writing challenge: 1,200 words written, one scene finished, and a character who has decided to ignore my outline completely. How’s your writing going?”
You can share your word count, a small win, or something you learned during the session.
And if you’re outlining, brainstorming, or revising, that counts as something to document, too. Your update can reflect the goal you’re actually working toward.
Film a Short Writing Update
For Instagram Reels, TikTok, or YouTube Shorts, try recording a few quick clips during your day.
Your desk. Your planner. Your writing drink. A short clip of you typing.
Add a sentence about how the challenge is going, and you have the beginnings of a post.
You could also share a screenshot of your word count with a little context. Just check that you’re comfortable with everything visible before posting.
Invite People to Write With You
If livestreaming is available on your account(s), a writing session can be another way to document work you’re already doing.
I host 90-minute Pomodoro “write with me” sessions on my YouTube channel on Wednesdays. We show up, work on our projects, and get some writing done together.
It gives me accountability and creates a space for other writers to make progress alongside me.
Check the current livestreaming requirements for the platform you want to use, then decide whether that format fits your routine.
Bonus Tip: Let Your First Posts Be Imperfect
Your first video might feel awkward. Your lighting might be a little strange. You might post something and immediately think of a better caption.
That’s okay.
You’re learning how to document your work while doing the work itself. You don’t need every update to look like a polished production.
Let people see your enthusiasm, your progress, and the occasional messy writing day. Those are all part of the experience.
You can improve your content as you go. First, give yourself something to improve.
Your Marketing Monday Homework
Choose the author name or pen name you want to use, and start claiming consistent handles on the platforms you’d like to explore.
Then introduce your challenge.
Keep it simple:
“Hi, I’m Elizabeth! I’m starting a 30-day writing challenge and documenting the process here. Is anyone else working toward a writing goal this month?”
You’re opening the door to a conversation. When people respond, talk to them. Visit their pages. Cheer on their progress, too.
You don’t have to wait until publication to start connecting with a writing community.
What’s your goal for your 30-day writing challenge? Share it in the comments, along with the social media handle where you’re documenting your progress. Let’s cheer each other on!
For more marketing tips from a former marketer and fellow writer, follow along with Marketing Mondays and join my newsletter.
Happy writing!
