Using pen and paper, I endlessly wrote and rewrote my very first creative writing. It needed to be of good quality; my handwriting needed to be legible. I was representing my school, after all. Next, my carefully folded story was placed into an envelope and hand-delivered to the competition committee. Only they read it. Sending this to more people would have required significantly more paper, more ink, and more physical effort. That was back in the 1990s when social media was still unknown, even to the creative writing world. Today, sending that same story to thousands of people is now as easy as clicking a button.
Our lives have been significantly altered by social media. This naturally alters how we share our creative work. But to what extent has social media affected creative writing? And what is the best social media for creative writers.
Nowadays, it’s standard for authors to have multiple social media presences, and for good reason. Reasons we are about to explore.
The Start of Social Media
The 1980s and ‘90s internet expansion enabled the creation of online communication platforms such as CompuServe, America Online, and Prodigy. These brought users into the world of digital communication via email, bulletin boards, and real-time chat. And hence, the first social media networks were created.
The first social media sites emerged with the brief Six Degrees profile-uploading service in 1997 and then Friendster in 2001. Millions of users flocked to these basic platforms, which offered email registration and simple online networking.
In 1999, LiveJournal’s launch propelled weblogs, or blogs, an early form of digital social media, into wider use. At the same time, Pyra Labs launched its Blogger platform, later bought by Google in 2003.
The year 2002 saw the founding of LinkedIn, a professional networking site whose worldwide user base surpassed 675 million by 2020. Today, it is still the top choice for both job hunters and recruiters seeking qualified talent.
Myspace debuted in 2003. Its global popularity exploded by 2006, becoming the most visited site because of the feature that lets users share music on their profiles. However, it was overtaken by Facebook in 2008. Myspace’s 2011 sale to Justin Timberlake for $35 million didn’t prevent its decline.
In 2012, Google+ debuted as Google’s effort to enter the competitive social media scene. But in 2018, a data breach compromised nearly 500,000 Google+ users’ private information, which marked the end of a difficult period.
How Social Media Affects Creative Writing
Social media offers various advantages to the creative industry. However, it does harbor some unprofessional habits.
Its effects extend into creative writing through:
- Worldwide Promotional Opportunities
Social media enables global networking and widespread exposure for all writers, which makes it easy for people, for instance, in China, to access content from the small Caribbean island of Grenada. This worldwide access offers benefits to both readers seeking engaging stories and professionals. It allows publishers, agents, and influencers, no matter their location, to build relationships with writers, which leads to collaborations and marketing opportunities.
- Engaging Directly with Readers
Social media enables writers to engage directly with their audience and develop a fanbase. This is possible through digital channels which offer continuous, direct interaction, unlike traditional book tours and signings. It allows writers to create a warm, personal relationship with their audience.
- Instant Feedback and Active Participation
Through social media, writers can observe their audiences’ live reactions to their content. From the moment of posting, viewers can review and comment. This enables creative writers to understand their content’s impact and modify their marketing strategy or even revise their story.
- Poor Diction and Grammar
Poor grammar and diction might result from the casual tone of social media. Its embrace of abbreviations and slang facilitates faster, simpler posts. However, the use of these non-standard forms can become habitual even for writers, impacting their professional work.
- Distraction
As anyone who has limited their social media access to five minutes and still scrolled through posts 1 hour later would know, social media can be addictive. For writers, this distraction can make it difficult to concentrate on work, especially if you freelance remotely.
Social Media Platforms for Writers
If you’re wondering what social media platforms are best for writers, according to SocialBee, the top ones are:
- Bluesky
dole777 / Unsplash
It’s great for building a community and getting readers involved directly with its clean, user-friendly interface.
Ideal for community building, hosting book launches, and engaging readers.
Perfect for visual storytelling, showcasing book photos, inspirational quotes, and building connections with fellow Bookstagrammers.
Helps build professional credibility, connect with publishers and authors, and share writing, books, or industry-related articles.
Ideal for crafting bookish mood boards, sharing engaging visuals to boost blog and book sales, and offering inspiring writing advice.
Perfect for connecting with younger viewers through captivating videos, joining popular trends, and using BookTok to increase exposure.
Ideal for sharing quick updates, and engaging in real-time discussions, and literary conversations.
Perfect for extended content, such as book trailers, writing analysis, author chats, and reading group videos.
Conclusion: Social Media Effects on Creative Writers
Social media’s impact since its inception is undeniable. We’ve all witnessed its effect on the creative sector, such as creative writing. It offers global promotion, immediate feedback, active reader participation, and direct engagement. Unfortunately, it also encourages poor grammar and diction and distracts many writers.
Looking back, I realize how differently my first writing experience could have unfolded with social media. Perhaps I could have reached a wider audience. Or perhaps the social media presence of other writers could have swayed me in the path of writing much sooner. Maybe, if social media was around, that first piece of writing might still exist today. Nevertheless, social media has successfully implemented itself in society and will forever be a part of creative writing.
Social media is changing the way we communicate and the way we are perceived, both positively and negatively. Every time you post a photo, or update your status, you are contributing to your own digital footprint and personal brand.
Amy Jo Martin
References
(2020). The Evolution of Social Media: How Did It Begin, and Where Could It Go Next? Maryville University. https://online.maryville.edu/blog/evolution-social-media/#history
Anastasia. (2024, May, 1). Social Media for Writers: Best Platforms and Strategies, SocialBee. https://socialbee.com/blog/social-media-for-writers/.