The Few REAL TikTok Success Stories for Nonfiction Authors!
One FREE Manuscript Review + October Meeting TODAY
See you tonight! Don’t forget to indulge in the Spooky Theme! I’m sure I’ll have some bones around.
Authors' October Meeting
Friday, October 25 · 5PM PST, 6PM MST, 7PM CST, 8PM EST
One Free Manuscript Review
I won a free manuscript review from editor Lori Galaske, who I met at the Bookmarked Festival, where I did a reading from Carcass. Since my book is past that stage, I’m passing it on to one of you! Aren’t you lucky you know me?
Lori writes:
The evaluation includes a read-through of the first twenty pages (5,000 words) of a fiction or nonfiction book length piece and an editorial letter, addressing strengths and weaknesses and offering suggestions. I will also include line and copy editing of those pages.
Email me if you want it! I’ll pick someone in about ten days. Preference will go to someone who hasn’t already received a free review (and if you have, maybe it’s time to start querying!)
Also, if you don’t get the aforementioned review, she has free samples too:
I offer a free sample edit of the first ten pages of a full-length manuscript (2,500 words) to any writer who is looking for an editor. I'll offer developmental suggestions, line-edits, and copy-edits to help you communicate your story or piece of nonfiction more clearly. Of course, I hope that you'll hire me as your editor for the full piece, but the first ten pages are free regardless. My goal is to help you reach yours!
Other notes:
💸FUNDING
Wellcome Collection Nonfiction Book Awards
Conditions: UK Health Writers with no book contract yet (and more, see link)
💸FUNDING AND MENTORSHIP
The Conversation Prize for Writers
Conditions: Academics who haven’t yet started their nonfiction book
Prize: ”£1,000, online publication of your article on The Conversation’s website, and mentorship for developing a nonfiction book from a literary agent from Curtis Brown and a Faber book editor.”
📝RESOURCE
Factual, the Fact-Checking Agency
Need a fact-checker? Hell, yes, you do.
But I mean, are you ready for a fact-checker now/soon? I suggest using Factual, which is a fact-checking agency that just launched. It was sorely needed; I just had to ask around on Facebook groups and stuff when I was looking. I got a great fact-checker, though, and I believe she should be included in the agency (I sent a referral.) Anyway, this will save you some time, and they’re all vetted.
I also explain why I believe a fact-checker is mandatory for nonfic nonmem books here:
PREMIUM: How much money I got to fund my book and where I got it
This is my first subscriber-only post! I deeply appreciate your support. All 7 of you. Very exclusive!
FEATURE:
The Few Successful Nonfiction Authors Whose TikToks Really Influence Their Success!
Despite the “all authors need social” nonsense, I can’t think of more than a few who sell nonfiction books that are relevant to their TikTok account. (LMK if you know of others!)
Here are some examples of nonfic authors who did a lot of TikTok as part of their nonfiction non-memoir book journey.
What the successful nonfic TT authors all have in common:
They have made a TON of content
None of it is cheap, boring, repetitive, or stolen. It all provides value to the viewer, just like good journalism.
They have varying degrees of writing experience, including very little professional general-audience content (like journalism). However, you could argue that writing TikTok scripts is writing experience, therefore they all have a lot.
Two of their books mention TikTok right on the cover!
What they did to gain this success, in order:
Built up a LOT of skills/knowledge
Built an audience on TikTok by making great, valuable videos
Got the trad book deal (because this is what I’m looking at)
Delivered a book that capitalized on both their audience and their skills/knowledge
Advertised it on their already-popular TikTok
The Creators:
John Green
(2.6 Million Followers)
Green wrote the non-fiction book of essays “The Anthropocene Reviewed.” However, an important bit of context is John Green does a lot of different media stuff and is probably most famous for his fiction books. (That just makes him a difficult example to look to, nothing wrong with that.)
Dan McClellan
(824k followers)
Wikipedia describes him as “an American biblical scholar and social media personality.”
He makes a TON of videos about the bible and religion from a scholarly standpoint.
His book “The Bible Says So: What we get Right (and Wrong) about Scripture’s Most Controversial Issues” comes out next year.
Notes:
- Hopefully, it will sell. (It’s not out yet; it's just pre-orders, so I can’t say. But he probably has his advance, so I’m sure he’s fine.)
-The cover does mention his TikTok account!
-McClellan has a PhD and very deep knowledge of the bible and religion.
Geodesaurus/Geo Rutherford
Author of Spooky Lakes
I think her account/book is the platonic ideal of merging book authorship and social media!
1.7 Million Followers (less than 1/4th of 1% of TikTokers have a million or more!)
Her videos and book are on the same topic, so if you like her social account, you’ll probably like her book (perfect job targeting the audience!)
The book “Spooky Lakes” is already a New York Times bestseller and has been for weeks!
Her cover also mentions her TikTok series.
Despite the “31 days of Haunted Hydrology” tagline, the videos are about the history and science of lakes around the world. (They’re bizarre and scary but not supernatural.)
She went to art school and used her art skills to illustrate the book beautifully. She doesn’t list formal science education or any particular work done with hydrology (I’m just adding context, no hate! I don’t have a science degree either unless you count an MS in science journalism.)
Interestingly, she is also selling merch! I wonder if that’s a good idea. (My merch does not sell well at all.)
But then, this is a little different than what most of us are doing because it’s an illustration-focused book.
Each Spooky Lakes Video apparently takes over 8 hours to make!
Give her videos and book a look!
PS. I made my own Spooky Lake video that Geo says she wants to visit now! You can see the TikTok version here (which is only kinda gross) and the IG version here (which has more graphic dead animals and blood!) FB has the same version as IG (graphic.)
It’s also sort of an interesting/sad story because it’s a really important National Historic Site with the oldest proof of human habitation in California, and now it’s full of garbage, and the quantity/context of the carcasses make me suspect some foul play.
Also, I asked Geo, and she is happy for other people to make Spooky Lakes videos!
Bonus: Madeline Pendelton
Don’t get jealous, get inspired!
McClellan, Green, Rutherford, and Pendelton are inspiring stories of people who developed and used multiple skills to create something great. They integrated both the book and social media in a smart and cool way!
It’s a bit disrespectful to act as though being an influencer/having a big social presence is something the creators are born with. Let’s retire saying social media “isn’t a real job” or “I could have that audience, but I’m not pretty enough!” It’s giving Lady Catherine claiming she “should have been a great proficient” at the piano if she had ever learned.
Look at how much work those people put into their social presence and their subject matter expertise! Good job to them!
Wow! That content is more like multimedia than a stand-alone book.
Yes, put me in for the manuscript review. If mine isn’t chosen, I’ll take advantage of her free 10-page offer. Thanks. Talk to you this afternoon. I’m off to take more pictures of seals.