All 15 ideas at a glance
Why TikTok works for authors
TikTok is where many readers look for the next book, and BookTok is the name readers use for the community that recommends books there. TikTok's For You Page shows videos based on how people engage with them, not on who they already follow. A reader who has never heard of you can see your video if they like the genre in it.
Your genre decides how well this works. Romance, fantasy and thrillers have the most active readers on the app. Nonfiction and older readers have a smaller presence, so spend a week watching the hashtag for your genre before you commit to a schedule.
- Short video with on-screen text: Readers decide in the first seconds. A cover, a line of text and a hook have to land before the reader scrolls.
- Long-form video (up to 10 minutes recorded in the app): Suits write-with-me sessions, reading-order guides and craft talks, where a reader wants to watch the whole process.
- Photo carousel: A commenter in r/writing says their carousels do better on TikTok than their reels do on Instagram. A carousel works well for a list, a brief or a series order, where a reader might save it.
15 TikTok content ideas for authors
Craft and reader recommendations
These posts show readers how you think about books. They are the ones readers save and send to a friend.
Short video with on-screen text
1. The first thing I cut from every first draft
Why it works: Readers who want to learn how a book gets made watch craft advice, and it shows them how you work before they buy. It needs only your own draft, so you can film it on a slow week. Choose one habit you have actually kept across books, not general writing advice.
Short video with an on-screen list
2. 10 [subgenre] books to read if you loved [bestselling title]
Why it works: Readers search for this exact shape, and naming a bestseller brings in that bestseller's readers. Put your book among titles from other authors in your genre. One author on r/selfpublish says 1 or 2 of their 10 picks are their own, and the other authors share the post because it promotes them too.
Short video with timed text
3. The [number] tropes in [Title], one per beat
Why it works: Readers search by trope, so each trope you name is a keyword your video answers to. One author on r/selfpublish says the more tropes they list, the longer viewers stay. End on the cover so the last thing a viewer sees is the book.
Carousel
4. Read [Series] in this order: where to start if you're new
Why it works: Readers ask which book comes first in the comments, and readers look up reading orders for series with a prequel, a novella or a spin-off. A saved order answers that question once, in a form people can keep.
Your desk and your draft
Behind-the-scenes clips show a real person doing the work. Most of these need only your phone and what is already on your desk.
Short video
5. [Number] sticky notes later: where [Title] is now
Why it works: Revision is the part of the job readers never see, and a desk covered in notes shows it. Film the desk where you actually edit. Counting the work in pages and chapters gives viewers something concrete to follow.
Short video, read aloud
6. The deleted scene from [Title] I wrote for [character]
Why it works: Readers of a series want more time with a character. A cut scene gives them that, and you already have it in your file. Read a short passage aloud so the viewer hears your voice, not only the text.
Long-form video
7. Write with me: [N] words on [Title], [location]
Why it works: Readers watch writing sessions to see how long a draft takes. A timer, a word count and a place are things a viewer can follow from start to finish. Film the session you were going to do anyway.
Long-form video
8. What I'm working on this [month] as a full-time author
Why it works: Readers want to know how a writer's time splits between drafts, edits and promotion. Naming each project and its stage explains a late book without sounding like an excuse. Use it when you are juggling more than one project.
Publishing milestones
These are the steps readers never see: rejections, the cover brief and release week. Each one happens once per book, so plan the video before the day arrives.
Short video
9. My querying update: [N] no's, [N] full requests, and what I changed
Why it works: Writers in the query stage search for honest updates, and they share them. A rejection with the fix you made attached is useful to them, and it shows readers that the book was revised, not rushed. This applies to authors querying agents.
Short video with screen capture
10. The brief I gave my cover designer for [Title]
Why it works: Cover design is one of the most asked questions from indie and hybrid authors. Showing the one-page brief and the references you sent lets readers see the choices behind the art. Name the designer only if they agree to it.
Short video
11. Acting out a scene from [Title] on release week
Why it works: A scene acted out is the fastest way for a reader to hear your voice. Bookbub's round-up of authors on TikTok notes that Tessa Bailey acts out scenes from her books to mark releases and book birthdays. It works for a countdown too.
Carousel
12. My editor's first note on [Title], and what I changed
Why it works: Editing is the part of publishing most readers never see, and most authors find it hard. A carousel of the note, with the editor's name removed, shows what a revision looks like in practice. Check your contract and your editor's agreement before you post any of their notes.
Readers talking back
Readers already make videos about your books. These posts answer them and invite the next comment.
Short video (Stitch)
13. Stitching a reader who said [quote about your book]
Why it works: A reader's reaction already has its own viewers. A stitch puts your reply in front of both audiences. Ask the reader first, and skip the clip if they say no.
Short video
14. Reading fan mail on camera
Why it works: Readers like to see the person behind a book, and fan mail is a real reaction from a real reader. Read only the part the sender would want said aloud. Cover names, addresses and anything personal before you film.
Short video
15. Which ending would you have picked for [Title]?
Why it works: Readers argue about endings in the comments. Offering two endings you actually considered, without showing the one you chose, starts that argument on your post. Use endings you really drafted.
Best practices for TikTok as an author
How often to post
No platform gives a number that is safe to copy, so treat your first month as a test. Start with three videos a week, each from a different idea on this page, and keep the ones that readers save or send. One r/selfpublish author queues ten posts at a time, while a r/writing commenter says results swung so much that timing looked like luck.
Tools that help
- Canva: Build a cover animation or a quote card, then export it as an MP4. An r/selfpublish author makes a 5 to 10 second animation per book this way.
CapCut: Edit greenscreen trend clips with your cover or a character image on top. An r/selfpublish author says these are the easiest videos to make, but they get the fewest shares.- TikTok Studio: Check which videos keep viewers watching. Analytics sit in TikTok Studio, so you do not need a Pro account to see them.
Buffer: Queue posts for TikTok, Instagram and Facebook on the days you film in batches. One r/selfpublish author schedules ten at a time.- Sycamore: Add word-synced captions to a talking clip, such as a reader reaction or a write-with-me session, before you export it.
Do
- Film on the desk you already work at, with the stack of pages and the sticky notes you already have.
- Keep a running list of the questions readers send you, and turn the best three into videos.
- Put the book title, genre and release date in the caption, since that is what a reader searches for.
- Use sounds TikTok already offers, and skip AI-made music. Readers on r/selfpublish pushed back on it.
Don't
- Don't show a reader's name, address or private message without asking them first.
- Don't post drafts, edits or editor's notes until you have checked your contract or your editor's agreement.
- Don't post a gifted or sponsored book without saying so. The FTC asks for a clear disclosure of any material connection.
- Don't add a website link to your profile before you reach 1,000 followers. Until then, put the title and link in your bio text.
More content ideas
More TikTok ideas: Auto Detailers, Bootstrapped Tech Startups, Craft Breweries and Bars, DJs and Live Wedding Bands, Doctors, Electricians and Plumbers