Have you ever thought of following an indie TikTok author account? With so many traditionally published writers showcasing their book sales and their famous names to readers online, it can seem odd to think that there are writers who are not represented by an agent.
Truth be told, the publishing world is changing, and there are more and more writers who end up being agentless. For a growing number of them, it is a choice rather than a fatality. Indeed, finding an agent means writing content that publishers will want to print and sell, which, unfortunately, can feel a little samey for many readers. There’s a big gap between traditional publishers and where people who enjoy reading books are mentally. As a result, many stories get turned down by agents because the traditional publishing system is out of tune with its contemporary society.
Indie writers are looking for their audience elsewhere, away from the path of traditional publication. On the flip side, this means that you can find plenty of unique, unexpected, and creative books to read, devour, and love. But, in the meantime, independent authors need support to make it work, and that is where Tiktok has become one of the preferred platforms to reach their readers and put their own face out there.
What’s an Independent Author?
Indie authors work without the marketing support of an agent and the budget of a traditional publisher. That said, it doesn’t mean their writing isn’t worth publishing.
Where can you buy non-traditionally published books? Typically, they will be available from digital marketplaces, Amazon being a favourite as many authors can join the Amazon publishing program that prints their books on demand.
More and more non-agented authors choose to work within a hybrid publishing system with companies that will help them get their books on the shelves of high street bookstores and independent bookshops.
How Do Tiktok Authors Create a Strong Online Presence?
Many don’t have a strong online presence compared to the likes of social media influencers like Khaby Lame and Bella Poarch, but they can still share their message with a few hundreds to thousands of followers.
The formula is universal and used by most indie authors on Tiktok:
- Create a TikTok profile with a clear profile picture, bio, and information about their genre/WIP.
- Use keywords relevant to your writing genre and target audience to optimise your profile for search.
- Share a mix of personal and professional content to give readers a glimpse into your life as a writer.
- Utilise TikTok’s features such as hashtags, challenges, and duets to increase your visibility.
- Share your TikTok content on other platforms like Facebook, YouTube and Instagram to reach a wider audience.
Why You Should Follow Indie Tiktok Authors
- You help promote their content further
- You support independent artists
- You’re likely to come across a fantastic book you wouldn’t have heard of otherwise
- You get a candid and honest view of what it means to be a writer in 2024
- Many indie writers interact with their audience and respond to direct comments and messages
- You can follow their evolution over the years
- You can request videos that would interest you
10+ Indie TikTok Fiction Authors to Follow Now
There are so many independent writers on TikTok that it can be tricky to figure out who to follow. Here’s a curated list in no particular order of over 10 TikTok author accounts you don’t want to miss.
Andy Darcy Theo
You can find Andy under the handle @andydarcytheo. Andy has always been passionate about books, and his passion for reading has fuelled his love of writing. His YA fantasy series has been in the work for 10 years. The first book of his series, The Light That Blinds Us, came out in April 2024. The second book is already available for pre-order!
Caitlynn Barr
You can find Caitlynn on TikTok @caitlynnbarrwrites. This indie fantasy author with a feline writing partner is releasing her fantasy book, Witches and Weavers on Amazon. She’s already working on the second book too. She’s been sharing her journey into writing it with her followers.
Kimberley Ann Bastian
Kimberley shares her content on TikTok under the name @elementverse, in reference to her fantasy series The Element Odyssey. All 3 books of the series are available on her author store on Etsy as well as an additional short story companion which you can find on Amazon Kindle. She’s already working on another series!
Helen Garraway
Helen shares her fantasy fiction on her TikTok platform @helengarrawayauthor. She penned a number of fantasy books, including The Sentinal and The SoulMist series, which you can find on Amazon. Based in Berkshire, Helen frequently showcases British landscapes and lifestyle in the background of her videos.
Paula Lafferty
You’ve probably heard of Paula, @paulalafferty on TikTok. She rejected the isolated approach to independent writing and reached out to the public to kickstart her first fantasy book, La Vie de Guinevere, which will be available for purchase end of October 2024. Her platform allows her to give insights into her publishing journey.
Christian Francis
This independent horror writer is not new to the world of writing. Christian, @christianfrancisauthor is an accomplished author with several books under his belt, including The Devil and The Deep and The Dead Wood, a YA horror. He’s also renowned for sharing his views about writing and independent publishing in general with his followers, typically while walking his dog.
Noemi Russel
Noemi, or Émi, is the author of The Quiet Sun, an enemies to lovers romantacy available for beta-reading. You can find her relatable musings about the writer’s life as well as her journey from aspiring author to future bestseller, as she puts it herself, under @noemiwrites.
Jen Drapp
Jen, @jendrappauthor, is an enthusiastic reader and writer of romance and fantasy. She has already written many books, including Eye of the Falcon and Elemental Stalking. Her meme-fuelled TikTok platform is hyper-relatable and laid-back, and it’s no wonder that this trained nurse and nursing Professor understands best what’s going on in her audience’s head.
Rachel Gears
Rachel, @rachelmgears, is one of the most prolific content creator among the TikTok authors. She’s dedicated to creating a video per day as well as editing her first adult fantasy, Then Came the Flames. Her honest updates are a mix of life, writing, book recommendations, and mental health awareness as an author.
Martin Dukes
This UK-based author, @martindukeswildestdreams, has been writing for as long as he can remember, but he waited until after retirement to dedicate all his time to writing. Leaning on his love of the English language and his fascination for European history, Martin has already written over 10 books, including The Chronicles of Toxandria, Britannia, and The Alex Trueman Chronicles series.
Amanda Nelson & Lisa-Marie Potter
This AZ-based duo of writers, available on Tiktok under the handle @nelsonpotter, are friends passionate about stories, reading and writing them. They’ve already published their first co-written story in Moments Between Online Magazine, and are currently busy with their first fiction series, Plus One series, for which they already have completed the writing of 2 books and are working on the third.
Celine Domenech & Paul Newman
This international UK-based writing tandem, which you can find under @teanytraumas on TikTok, are working on the promotion of their first YA fantasy book, The Dead Shadow, first book of the series The Shadow of Phaedrus. Their Tiktok platform is typically updated by Celine, and shares insights about writing, the fantasy genre, and how their neurodivergent minds perceive the world around them.