From Zero to Fans:
Growing Your Audience on Written and Beyond
From Zero to Fans:
Growing Your Audience on Written and Beyond
You Own Your Voice. Now Help People Find It.
You’ve written the work—now it’s time to find the humans. Growth on Written doesn't rely on traditional publishing clout, follower counts, or chasing algorithms. Instead, it rewards intentional creators who show up authentically, use their tools wisely, and invite readers into something real.
This guide walks you through how to grow your audience from scratch, build fan relationships that last, and turn passive followers into superfans—on your own terms, and at your own pace.
Method 1
Building a Magnetic Author Profile
Building a Magnetic Author Profile
Your profile isn’t just a landing page—it’s your creative storefront. It's often the first moment of contact between you and a potential reader, so make it count.
Write a bio that sounds like you
Skip generic labels like “aspiring author.” Instead, speak in your tone and voice:
“Mythpunk weaver of queer fae drama.”
“Soft apocalypse writer who believes in haunted coffee shops.”
Make it weird. Make it specific. Make it yours.
Use visual identity intentionally
You don’t need a polished logo or pro headshot. A clear, recognizable avatar + a banner that reflects your style, genre, or vibes is enough. Consistency helps readers recognize you across drops.
Pin strategically
Pin your most accessible, most popular, or most “you” work. You’re giving readers a front door—make sure it’s wide open.
Link to your outside world
Got a newsletter, a personal blog, or a chaotic art-filled Tumblr? Link it. The more ways fans can find you, the more deeply they’ll connect.
Most important thing? You decide how you show up. No house style. No brand police. Just you, presented with clarity and intent.
Method 2
Using the Feed:
Posting with Purpose
Using the Feed:
Posting with Purpose
The Written feed is one of your most powerful tools for growing your audience—if you use it well.
Here’s what happens automatically:
Publish
When you publish a new work, it automatically appears in your followers’ feeds.
Comment/Resell
When you comment on or resell a book, that activity may appear to others depending on settings.
But that’s just passive visibility. To grow your presence, post actively.
How often should you post? Aim for 2–4 times a week. You don’t need to be constantly loud, but consistent presence matters. Think quality signals over noise.
Questions or polls (“Which title should I go with?”).
Drop announcements and teaser trailers.
Links to outside appearances (interviews, features).
Shoutouts to readers or resellers.
What shouldn’t you post?
Only “buy my book!” posts. It reads as spammy fast.
Overlong rants. Keep posts punchy unless the story demands more.
Pro tip
Use consistent titles or formats for recurring posts. For example, a “Monday Moodboard” or “Sunday Story Sneak Peek” helps followers know what to expect and creates repeat engagement.
The feed is your stage. Show your process, show your vibes, and show up often enough that people start looking for your next post even before you publish it.
Method 3
Discoverability on Written:
Getting Found in the Feed
Discoverability on Written:
Getting Found in the Feed
Written offers tools that reward thoughtful, consistent use. You don’t need to game the algorithm—you just need to show up with intent.
Use tags and categories strategically during publication
Tag for genre, theme, and mood in ways that readers might search. Think like your audience. "Surreal," "slice-of-life," "magic school," "post-cyberpunk"—these are more meaningful than just "fiction."
Structure your works using series
A well-organized series helps guide readers from one work to the next. It creates a sense of progression and investment.
Stay active on the feed
Posting updates, thoughts, visuals, or behind-the-scenes snippets increases your chances of showing up in others’ feeds. Treat it like a microblog.
You don’t need to release weekly to stay visible—just stay present. Share your process. Drop a line. Let people into your world.
Include visuals when you can
A single quote with good typography, a character sketch, or even a blurry photo of your notes can make a post pop.
Method 4
Talking to Your Early Fans Without Scaring Them Off
Talking to Your Early Fans Without Scaring Them Off
When people first start engaging with your work, respond thoughtfully. Don’t ignore them—but also don’t flood them with links or pleas.
A simple thank-you comment can go a long way. Ask follow-up questions like, "What part stuck with you the most?" or "Would you want to read more in this world?"
Avoid making every post a sales pitch. Share ideas, moods, personal updates, or questions.
Let your personality shape the tone of your feed.
Offer small exclusives or sneak peeks. Bonus PDFs, handwritten notes, deleted scenes—these low-effort extras can make fans feel like they’re getting something special for being early. We’re planning to add a storefront feature in one of our future releases that will automatically suggest options for creating merch.
Let them co-create. Ask your readers to vote on titles, character names, cover variants, or even the fate of a side character. Put up a poll: “Should it be ‘The Salt Widow’ or ‘The Drowned Keepsake’?” Share three alternate cover sketches and let them choose. Ask, “Does this character scream ‘Juno’ or ‘Riven’?” You can even get weirder: let them pick the epigraph, name the pub in Chapter 2, or decide which cryptic postcard your protagonist finds first. These micro-decisions make readers feel like they’ve left fingerprints on the story—and they’re far more likely to share something they helped shape. Co-creation isn’t just fun. It makes fans invested—emotionally, creatively, and often financially.
Method 5
Off-Platform Growth: Bringing the Outside World In
Off-Platform Growth: Bringing the Outside World In
You don’t have to be a social media master to grow. You just need to be findable and authentic in the places you already show up.
Mention Written in your link-in-bio
Put it in your Twitter/X, Instagram, or Linktree. It should be as easy to find as your Etsy or Ko-fi.
Tease drops with visuals and quotes
A quote, a visual, a line of weird banter from the story—whatever invites curiosity.
Start an email list or use our author's feed frequently
Even if it’s ten people, that’s ten people who care enough to hear directly from you. Even if you only have ten subscribers to your feed, that’s ten people you can talk to directly about new releases, events, or behind-the-scenes content.
Collaborate
Team up with other authors for themed bundles, cross-promotion, or shared universes. It expands your reach without needing anyone’s permission.
Method 6
Designing for Loyalty: Turning Fans Into Superfans
Designing for Loyalty: Turning Fans Into Superfans
If readers buy one of your books and enjoy it, you want to give them a reason to return. The goal is not just discovery—it’s retention.
Tell interconnected stories
Revisit characters. Expand worlds. Let stories echo across your catalog. Fans love feeling part of something bigger. They’re not just reading stories; they’re entering a world.
Reward early ownership
Early buyers could get bonus material, early access, or collector perks.
Use scarcity smartly
A “Summer Solstice Edition” or a “10-copy teaser drop” can generate excitement without pressure. Limited editions, rare formats, seasonal releases—these all increase excitement and long-term value.
Celebrate your fans
Shout out readers in your feed. Highlight fan art or feedback. Readers who feel seen stick around.
Encourage resale
If you allow resale on limited editions, every trade becomes free marketing—and you earn from it, too.
You build your own fandom, one thoughtful move at a time. No trends. No middlemen. Just stories and the people who love them.
Method 7
You Don’t Need to Go Viral—You Just Need to Show Up
You Don’t Need to Go Viral—You Just Need to Show Up
There’s no growth hack, no secret formula. Just consistency, clarity, and the courage to be yourself on the open page.
Every story is a signal. Every post is an invitation. Every reply is a seed.
You are not just building an audience. You are building a world—and inviting people to live inside it.