I serialized a book on there back a few years (started 2015), and it did well. Eventually I published it through a small traditional indie press and consider Wattpad to have been instrumental in that accomplishment. (The algorithm has been messed with so much I think it's in the bot equivalent of a loony bin.)
Thanks Shelley. That’s my impression - it was great and now not so much. But with so few outlets to reach readers, especially YA/ crossover it feels like a bet worth trying. We shall see. I’m #93 in Gothic today! 😂
I've tried Wattpad. All I got were comments like "wow you're a talented and incredible writer. I can help promote your book with an amazing cover. Contact me at ....." Obviously a spam bot.
This is why I've stopped trying to build my subscription list here. However, I do like it as a way to publish short stories, serialised etc. I just direct potential readers here. I have a long game mindset. I don't care if it takes me five years.
Most people simply don’t read, if the only audience left is other authors then so be it. At least they are enthusiastic readers, what does it matter who buys your book?
It won’t be long until reading is such a weird niche hobby that only people who have a diehard love for literature will disconnect from their the AI wearables long enough to risk a drop in dopamine and crack open a short story collection. Those people will be so few and far between that we’ll be lucky if any human eyes ever pass over our stories. Our society is a dumpster fire, our culture trampled, and a new dark age is rising. Illiteracy is sky rocketing.
If a student cannot get through an entire book in college are they likely to become recreational readers? That is the mass market dissolving and falling down the drain. Those people will never become part of the audience, they are on another track entirely and it’s only going to get worse from here.
So, write for people who actually read, just find your niche.
I know I went a little more general than your points about indie authors but I think that’s the context at least.
If we lose 100 million performative readers, did we really lose anything at all?
What I am really trying to say is that the Venm diagram of readers and writers is about to become a single circle, whereas right now there is still some separation between the two. That this is maybe not an issue of marketing, but rather an indication of a greater social change occurring.
Great essay, but many comments also make valid points. I don't see bios on social media that scream "I'm a reader and NOT a writer. Market to me!" Really, social media is not a marketing panacea, tho I know a few (all women which is another matter) who have had success (such as it is) with it. But it is a box you have to check and I've made a few real friends among the indie writer crowd..
Plenty of lists online Reddit is a good source for finding these people, but also looking at the posts that don’t have a lot of engagement believe it or not because Susan who’s bought a crime novel in Sainsbury’s isn’t putting loads of hashtags about book community on it
I love this article and hits in exactly what I am struggling with. I have been working on my self esteem and I have to make sure I remind myself why I do this. I want to get things out in writing and not for clout. I got to remind myself of that sometimes
This was my EXACT experience on indie fantasy twitter. The ONLY posts that received any kind of engagement there were concept art pics (which had to be done up by a pro a la Felix Ortiz) or cover reveals (also done up by said pro). Good luck if you wanted to build actual community. Getting the hell outa there was the best thing I did for myself.
10000% and then some. I’ve been indie publishing since 2011 and these groups have only become more insidious. The snake eating its own tail is a metaphor I’ve also used to describe the “how to succeed on substack” writers marketing to other substack writers.
Writers read, yes. But at the end of the day, you have to decide who your real, actual, _reader_ is.
And that’s also why I roll my eyes all the way out of my head when common writing advice says to share “writing tips” or “behind the scenes of your process” with your audience. (Most) readers. Don’t. Care. All you’re doing is patting yourself on the back and showing off to other authors.
Exactly why I'm not doing it anymore. Now I'm trying to find where the readers are. It ain't Twitter! They're out there, just gotta find'em! Through Mojeek, I found the Northeast Florida writing scene. Figured I'll look into that space once I'm ready.
Interested in Mojeek search, how utilized to find the northeast Florida writing scene. Florida def lacks creative fraternity for writers living away from the major cities - Jax, Orlando, Tampa, South Florida - thanks for posting this info.
First, I'll tell you this. It was completely by accident if I discovered them. Mojeek index its own search engine, so you won't get answers the same like Google or Bing. I wasn't even looking for the website, just discovered it on accident, was shocked to see it.
The first thing I did was think about the kind of people that would like my product - it took me about 6 months. Then i test it on platforms like threads, youtube etc. Writers actually have the skillset that most marketers already study for. Understanding, human empathy and a passion for the product they want to sell and ...copywriting skills.
That is a sensible thing to do and I think just looking at your audience both positively and critically seeing where people are actually looking for their books looking for the content they consume is the best thing to do
William, this post articulated so much of what my writer friends and I have privately noticed about book marketing. You hit the nail on the head! I could have highlighted the whole piece. Thanks for sharing.
By commenting here, am I attempting to get validation from other authors? Haha I kid, but I know exactly what you're talking about. I'm trying to reach readers, but it's definitely hard... they have their likes and popular TBRs that a lot of them dont have room for indie authors, even when given the book for free (but you better believe they're paying for that 5th copy of that 40 dollar special edition Fourth Wing they found at Target).
Good article.. This is also an unfortunate reality in underground comics. There's basically an ecosystem of Tupperware parties. Where everybody is selling to each other. There's nothing wrong with that, everybody is getting comics.. but to get read, ya basically have to get into an established paper or magazine, to get the benefit of distribution. In the meantime, you have both talented artists (& hacks), sharing obscurity in the same holding pen.. Lots of times, illustrators aren't good at both creating and marketing. They can require different personality types. peace
I agree with this, totally, in fact. It's really hard to find and reach readers (who, let's face it, find their books through recommendations from their friends, listicles, and BookTok or browsing in the bookstore.) One reader at a time. That's my philosophy. And try to get those readers to tell their friends.
This is a great post and oh so true. I think paid ads, sadly, are the way to go. I haven’t mastered those yet either, but I’ve heard others that have had success.
The question is, Where are the readers at? I though they might be here on Substack but nope not here.
You bring them here from out in the real world. One by one...
Where do you get your books from? There is your answer.
Exactly and most readers real life readers aren’t involved in any communities they’re just browsing casually
A very casual social media user
Wattpad. I am putting my serialised book up there. I am already #3 in ‘pagan’. Wow! (I have 20 reads so fuck knows how their algorithm works). 😏
I serialized a book on there back a few years (started 2015), and it did well. Eventually I published it through a small traditional indie press and consider Wattpad to have been instrumental in that accomplishment. (The algorithm has been messed with so much I think it's in the bot equivalent of a loony bin.)
Thanks Shelley. That’s my impression - it was great and now not so much. But with so few outlets to reach readers, especially YA/ crossover it feels like a bet worth trying. We shall see. I’m #93 in Gothic today! 😂
Nice!
I'm trying Wattpad as well. So far, I would have to say, not productive.
I've tried Wattpad. All I got were comments like "wow you're a talented and incredible writer. I can help promote your book with an amazing cover. Contact me at ....." Obviously a spam bot.
According to the stats on Wattpad, 80% of my readers are in Pakistan and Nigeria.
You’re not the only person to say that
I've been getting quite a few messages from beautiful women wanting to be my very special friend. Such an ego boost.
On Instagram I get messages from 60 to 70-year-old men asking me if I’ve only fans…
This is why I've stopped trying to build my subscription list here. However, I do like it as a way to publish short stories, serialised etc. I just direct potential readers here. I have a long game mindset. I don't care if it takes me five years.
Most people simply don’t read, if the only audience left is other authors then so be it. At least they are enthusiastic readers, what does it matter who buys your book?
It won’t be long until reading is such a weird niche hobby that only people who have a diehard love for literature will disconnect from their the AI wearables long enough to risk a drop in dopamine and crack open a short story collection. Those people will be so few and far between that we’ll be lucky if any human eyes ever pass over our stories. Our society is a dumpster fire, our culture trampled, and a new dark age is rising. Illiteracy is sky rocketing.
If a student cannot get through an entire book in college are they likely to become recreational readers? That is the mass market dissolving and falling down the drain. Those people will never become part of the audience, they are on another track entirely and it’s only going to get worse from here.
So, write for people who actually read, just find your niche.
I think it’s already happened
Amen. https://www.whitenoise.email/p/nobody-reads-anymore
Thanks those statistics are harrowing
They really are
I know I went a little more general than your points about indie authors but I think that’s the context at least.
If we lose 100 million performative readers, did we really lose anything at all?
What I am really trying to say is that the Venm diagram of readers and writers is about to become a single circle, whereas right now there is still some separation between the two. That this is maybe not an issue of marketing, but rather an indication of a greater social change occurring.
You’re not wrong
Great essay, but many comments also make valid points. I don't see bios on social media that scream "I'm a reader and NOT a writer. Market to me!" Really, social media is not a marketing panacea, tho I know a few (all women which is another matter) who have had success (such as it is) with it. But it is a box you have to check and I've made a few real friends among the indie writer crowd..
It’s really frustrating, and sometimes it’s the people without the bio that are more interesting
Perhaps, of course. But other than hitting them randomly, or reading (potentially) thousands of posts, how would you know?
Plenty of lists online Reddit is a good source for finding these people, but also looking at the posts that don’t have a lot of engagement believe it or not because Susan who’s bought a crime novel in Sainsbury’s isn’t putting loads of hashtags about book community on it
The people you need to find
I love this article and hits in exactly what I am struggling with. I have been working on my self esteem and I have to make sure I remind myself why I do this. I want to get things out in writing and not for clout. I got to remind myself of that sometimes
I wish you all the luck in the world
This was my EXACT experience on indie fantasy twitter. The ONLY posts that received any kind of engagement there were concept art pics (which had to be done up by a pro a la Felix Ortiz) or cover reveals (also done up by said pro). Good luck if you wanted to build actual community. Getting the hell outa there was the best thing I did for myself.
Oh, I know how you feel. Believe me on that one.
10000% and then some. I’ve been indie publishing since 2011 and these groups have only become more insidious. The snake eating its own tail is a metaphor I’ve also used to describe the “how to succeed on substack” writers marketing to other substack writers.
Writers read, yes. But at the end of the day, you have to decide who your real, actual, _reader_ is.
And that’s also why I roll my eyes all the way out of my head when common writing advice says to share “writing tips” or “behind the scenes of your process” with your audience. (Most) readers. Don’t. Care. All you’re doing is patting yourself on the back and showing off to other authors.
Exactly why I'm not doing it anymore. Now I'm trying to find where the readers are. It ain't Twitter! They're out there, just gotta find'em! Through Mojeek, I found the Northeast Florida writing scene. Figured I'll look into that space once I'm ready.
Interested in Mojeek search, how utilized to find the northeast Florida writing scene. Florida def lacks creative fraternity for writers living away from the major cities - Jax, Orlando, Tampa, South Florida - thanks for posting this info.
First, I'll tell you this. It was completely by accident if I discovered them. Mojeek index its own search engine, so you won't get answers the same like Google or Bing. I wasn't even looking for the website, just discovered it on accident, was shocked to see it.
Thank you, I’ll give it a try.
Exactly
The first thing I did was think about the kind of people that would like my product - it took me about 6 months. Then i test it on platforms like threads, youtube etc. Writers actually have the skillset that most marketers already study for. Understanding, human empathy and a passion for the product they want to sell and ...copywriting skills.
That is a sensible thing to do and I think just looking at your audience both positively and critically seeing where people are actually looking for their books looking for the content they consume is the best thing to do
William, this post articulated so much of what my writer friends and I have privately noticed about book marketing. You hit the nail on the head! I could have highlighted the whole piece. Thanks for sharing.
This honestly means a lot thank you so much
By commenting here, am I attempting to get validation from other authors? Haha I kid, but I know exactly what you're talking about. I'm trying to reach readers, but it's definitely hard... they have their likes and popular TBRs that a lot of them dont have room for indie authors, even when given the book for free (but you better believe they're paying for that 5th copy of that 40 dollar special edition Fourth Wing they found at Target).
Oh yeah I’ve actually seen people fight over copies of that book
Good article.. This is also an unfortunate reality in underground comics. There's basically an ecosystem of Tupperware parties. Where everybody is selling to each other. There's nothing wrong with that, everybody is getting comics.. but to get read, ya basically have to get into an established paper or magazine, to get the benefit of distribution. In the meantime, you have both talented artists (& hacks), sharing obscurity in the same holding pen.. Lots of times, illustrators aren't good at both creating and marketing. They can require different personality types. peace
So true I think it’s very common in most creative industries
I agree with this, totally, in fact. It's really hard to find and reach readers (who, let's face it, find their books through recommendations from their friends, listicles, and BookTok or browsing in the bookstore.) One reader at a time. That's my philosophy. And try to get those readers to tell their friends.
This is a great post and oh so true. I think paid ads, sadly, are the way to go. I haven’t mastered those yet either, but I’ve heard others that have had success.
I think in 2025, it’s really the only option
I felt the same way, but I decided to take some action. I'm still trying to find the right audience for my book. You can read my post about it here: https://jtswan.substack.com/p/finding-the-right-fans?r=2y33ep