Hi Bleeders!
I’m gonna be honest: this book launch has kicked my ass. Girl Gone Wild came out 16 days ago, and while there was A LOT of work to do in the lead-up, I’m now realizing I have months and years of work ahead of me in promoting this book. I find myself alternating between excited and exhausted—and eternally behind on my to-do list.
The long game of book launches is something I talked to Lu Chekowsky about in our recent Substack Live, but the real meat and potatoes was about how she’s managed to leverage TikTok to promote her upcoming book, Don’t Buy What I’m Selling (out June 9th).
We get into:
Why honesty—not optimization—is the most reliable marketing strategy
How to turn your book’s themes into ongoing social content
The TikTok video that unexpectedly took off for Lu, and why frustration can be a powerful hook
What kinds of posts actually travel (and why straight-up book promo usually doesn’t)
The spoonful of sugar approach to marketing your work
How to find your niche without boxing yourself in
Lu’s posting strategy (frequency, spontaneity, and not overthinking it)
Why messy, imperfect videos often outperform polished ones
The real time-suck of social media (hint: it’s not making content—it’s engaging)
How responding to comments builds actual community and future readers
The frustrating truth about tracking book sales from social media (and signals to watch for instead)
How to balance being a writer vs. content creator
Why “am I having fun?” might be the most important metric
If you’re struggling to figure out what resonates with BookTok readers (hi, me), or want to get started on TikTok but aren’t sure how, this conversation is for you.
And if you haven’t already got your copy, I encourage you to order Girl Gone Wild and save your receipt! I just got really cute branded tote bags, and I’m going to raffle some off later this month.
XO,
Courtney
Thank you Amy Benavides, Amanda Miller Littlejohn, Katie Trexler, and many others for tuning into my live video with Lu Chekowsky!
I’m teaching some upcoming classes you might be interested in:
How to Build a “Platform” for Writers Who Shudder at the Thought
Start a Newsletter to Supercharge Your Platform, Network & Business
12 Months to a Full Memoir in Essays Incubator: Write Your Memoir in a Year
So… ROLL CALL! 🗣️
What’s your relationship with TikTok right now: avoiding, lurking, struggling, or thriving?
