Unleash Your Inner Social Media Rockstar: A 90-Day Content Calendar for Authors

 

In today's digital age, a strong social media presence is no longer a luxury for authors; it's a vital tool for connecting with readers, building a loyal community, and ultimately, selling more books. But who has the time to conjure up fresh, engaging content every single day? Fear not, fellow wordsmiths! This 90-day social media content calendar is your secret weapon to a consistent, strategic, and impactful online presence.

This template is designed to be a springboard for your creativity, offering daily prompts that you can tailor to your unique voice and genre. We've optimized these ideas for the "big three" platforms for authors: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

 

Getting Started: The 3 Pillars of Author Social Media

 

Before diving into the daily prompts, let's establish the foundation of your content strategy. Your posts should generally fall into one of these three categories:

  • Connect (Building Your Brand): This is where you let your personality shine! Share your passions, your writing journey, and what makes you tick. The goal is to build a genuine connection with your audience, making them feel like they know the person behind the books.

  • Engage (Fostering Community): Spark conversations, ask questions, and encourage interaction. This is about creating a two-way street where your followers feel heard and valued.

  • Promote (Selling Your Books): This is the ultimate goal, but it should be done with finesse. We'll weave in promotional content naturally, so it doesn't feel like a constant sales pitch.

Your 90-Day Social Media Content Calendar

Here is a day-by-day guide to conquer your social media for the next three months. Mix and match, adapt, and most importantly, have fun with it!

Day

Theme

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

1

Author Introduction

Write a detailed post introducing yourself. Share your "why" for writing and what you love about your genre. Include a high-quality photo of yourself.

Post your favorite author photo. In the caption, share three fun facts about yourself. Use relevant hashtags like #AuthorLife and #WriterWednesday.

A concise and engaging tweet introducing yourself and your books. Pin this tweet to your profile for the first month.

2

Favorite Quote

Share a quote that inspires you (writing-related or otherwise) and explain its significance to you. Ask your followers to share their favorite quotes in the comments.

Create a visually appealing graphic with the quote. In the caption, ask your followers to tag someone who needs to see this.

Tweet the quote and tag the author if they are on Twitter.

3

Workspace Wednesday

Post a picture of your writing space. It doesn't have to be perfect! Authenticity is key. Talk about your writing routine.

Share a Reel or a carousel of photos showcasing your writing nook. Add some trending audio to make it more discoverable.

A quick snap of your desk with a witty caption about your current writing struggles or triumphs.

4

Ask Me Anything (AMA)

Announce an "Ask Me Anything" session for later in the week. Encourage your followers to submit their questions in the comments.

Use the "Questions" sticker in your Stories to collect questions from your audience.

Tweet that you're hosting an AMA and include the date and time. Use the hashtag #AMAAuthor.

5

Book Excerpt

Share a short, compelling excerpt from one of your books. Choose a passage that will leave your readers wanting more.

Create a beautiful graphic with a snippet from your book. Use an eye-catching font and background.

Tweet a single, powerful line from your book.

6

Weekend Reads

Ask your followers what books they are reading this weekend. Share what you are currently reading as well.

Post a picture of the book you're reading. You can even include a cozy beverage or snack in the photo.

Start a thread of book recommendations for the weekend.

7

Sunday Reflection

Share a personal reflection on your week, your writing journey, or something that inspired you.

Post a calming image (a landscape, a cup of tea, etc.) and write a thoughtful caption.

A simple "Happy Sunday!" tweet with a positive message.

8-14

Themed Week: Your Genre

Dive deep into your genre. Share interesting facts, recommend other authors in your genre, and discuss common tropes.

Host a "Genre Q&A" in your Stories. Create a "This or That" template related to your genre for your followers to share.

Run a poll asking your followers their favorite trope within your genre.

15-21

Themed Week: Character Spotlight

Introduce one of your main characters. Share their backstory, their motivations, and a fun fact about them.

Create a "Character Aesthetic" mood board. Use the "Quiz" sticker in your Stories to see how well your followers know your character.

Tweet a memorable quote from your character.

22-30

Content Mix

Continue with a mix of behind-the-scenes content, book recommendations, and interactive posts like polls and quizzes. Announce a giveaway for the following month.

    

 

Month 2: Deepening Engagement and Driving Excitement

 

Now that you've established a presence, it's time to deepen your connection with your audience and start building anticipation for your work.

Day

Theme

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

31

Giveaway Announcement

Announce a book giveaway! Clearly state the prize, how to enter, and the deadline. Use a visually appealing graphic.

Post a stunning image of the prize. Use the caption to detail the entry requirements (e.g., follow, like, tag a friend).

Create a concise tweet with the giveaway details and a link to a more detailed post if necessary.

32

Behind the Scenes: Research

Share an interesting tidbit you discovered during your research for your book.

Post a photo or a short video of a location that inspired your setting or a historical artifact related to your story.

Tweet a fascinating fact you learned while researching.

33

"Two Truths and a Lie"

Play a game of "Two Truths and a Lie" about your book or a character. Have your followers guess the lie in the comments.

Use your Stories to present the three statements and have your followers vote on the lie using the "Poll" sticker.

Tweet the three statements and ask your followers to reply with their guesses.

34

Reader Q&A

Go live on Facebook or Instagram to answer reader questions in real-time. This is a great way to connect with your audience on a personal level.

Announce your live Q&A in your Stories beforehand. Save the live video to your profile for those who couldn't attend.

During your live session, have someone monitor Twitter for questions using a specific hashtag.

35

Fan Art Friday

If you've received any fan art, share it and give credit to the creator. This is a wonderful way to show appreciation for your readers' creativity.

Create a dedicated "Fan Art" highlight on your Instagram profile.

Retweet fan art and express your gratitude.

36

Shelfie Saturday

Encourage your followers to share pictures of their bookshelves with the hashtag #ShelfieSaturday.

Share a picture of your own bookshelf and talk about some of your favorite books on it.

Start a thread of "shelfies" and comment on your followers' collections.

37

Inspirational Sunday

Share a story about a challenge you overcame in your writing career. Be vulnerable and honest.

Post a picture that represents your journey as a writer and share your story in the caption.

Tweet a motivational message for other aspiring writers.

38-44

Themed Week: Your Writing Process

Take your followers through your writing process, from brainstorming and outlining to drafting and editing.

Use a mix of posts, Reels, and Stories to showcase each stage of your process.

Share daily tips and tricks related to each stage of the writing process.

45-51

Themed Week: Worldbuilding

If you write fantasy or sci-fi, dedicate a week to exploring the world of your story. Share maps, character lineages, and unique cultural details.

Create a carousel post with a map of your world and close-ups of key locations. Use your Stories to share "fun facts" about your world.

Tweet about the unique rules or magic system in your fictional world.

52-60

Content Mix

Continue to engage with your audience through polls, quizzes, and open-ended questions. Share user-generated content and remind your followers about the giveaway.

    

 

Month 3: Strategic Promotion and Sustaining Momentum

 

The final month is focused on strategically promoting your work while maintaining the strong community you've built.

Day

Theme

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

61

Giveaway Winner Announcement

Announce the winner of your giveaway. Thank everyone for participating.

Post a celebratory graphic or a video announcing the winner.

Tweet a congratulatory message to the winner.

62

"If You Like, You'll Love"

Recommend books, movies, or TV shows that have a similar theme or tone to your own work.

Create a visually appealing graphic with the covers of the recommended media and your book.

Start a thread of recommendations based on a popular book or movie.

63

Testimonial Tuesday

Share a positive review or a testimonial from a reader.

Create a beautiful graphic with the review. Tag the reader if they are on Instagram.

Tweet a screenshot of a glowing review.

64

Work-in-Progress Wednesday

Share a sneak peek of your current work-in-progress. This could be a snippet of a scene, a character sketch, or a hint about the plot.

Post a short, intriguing video of you working on your manuscript.

Tweet a cryptic clue about your next book.

65

"Ask the Character"

Host a Q&A session where your followers can ask questions directly to one of your characters. You'll answer as the character.

Use the "Questions" sticker in your Stories and answer the questions in character.

Run a Twitter Q&A with a dedicated hashtag for the character.

66

Book Birthday

If it's the anniversary of one of your book's releases, celebrate it! Share a memory from the launch day and thank your readers for their support.

Post the cover of the book and share some behind-the-scenes stories about its creation.

Tweet a "Happy Book Birthday" message with a link to purchase the book.

67

Sunday Snippet

Share another tantalizing snippet from your book.

Create a "tap to reveal" Story where the excerpt is gradually unveiled.

Tweet a single, impactful sentence that will leave your followers wanting more.

68-74

Themed Week: Pre-Launch Countdown

If you have a book launch coming up, this week is all about building hype. Share the cover reveal, pre-order links, and exclusive content.

Use the "Countdown" sticker in your Stories. Go live with your cover designer or editor.

Run a poll asking your followers which character they are most excited to meet.

75-81

Themed Week: Virtual Book Tour

Collaborate with book bloggers, podcasters, and other authors for a "virtual book tour." Share links to guest posts, interviews, and reviews.

Go live with a fellow author for a joint Q&A session.

Take over another author's or a book club's Twitter account for a day.

82-90

Launch Week and Beyond

This is the big week! Post frequently, share reader photos with your book, and celebrate every milestone. After the launch, continue to share reviews and engage with new readers.

Host a virtual launch party on Facebook or Instagram Live. Run a launch day giveaway.

Live-tweet your launch day experiences. Retweet every mention and photo from your readers.

Pro-Tip: Use a scheduling tool like Buffer or Hootsuite to plan your posts in advance. This will save you a significant amount of time and ensure a consistent posting schedule.

 

Platform-Specific Optimization

 

  • Facebook: Ideal for longer posts, and engaging with reader groups. Videos and live streams perform well here.

  • Instagram: A visual platform. Focus on high-quality images, Reels, and Stories. Utilize relevant hashtags to increase discoverability.

  • Twitter: Perfect for short, snappy updates, engaging in conversations, and using trending hashtags.