Are you, like me, an aspiring writer, a seasoned author, and/or a book lover? Do you want to connect with others like us?
Look no further. I invite you to embark on an exciting journey – come join me in the thriving community of writers and book lovers on Mastodon. It really is a good place to make friends and hang out with no algorithm to please.
The benefits of Mastodon apply to almost every community, niche, or interest but I will be focusing mostly on those of us that love books – both writing them and reading them.
In this post, we will explore the incredible benefits of being part of this unique platform and share how engaging with the community can bring out the best in your writing aspirations.
Introducing Mastodon: A haven for authors, writers, and book lovers
In case you have been living under a rock for the past few years, you probably know that MAstodon is rapidly becoming the new Twitter. Due to its open design, the negative things that have been happening on Twitter are hard or impossible to make happen on Mastodon.
Mastodon is an open-source social media platform – which means no one can “own” it. This alone could explain how Mastodon has become a refreshing alternative to traditional networks.
There is no algorithm to please because you are the algorithm. You choose who and what you subscribe to. You choose what you filter or block. You choose if a post should “go viral” by sharing it so your followers can see it (we call that boosting).
But there is more.
Mastodon is decentralised by design with various communities running different parts of it. You can follow, interact with, and see posts from servers (also called instances) all over the Internet. In other words, Mastodon runs pretty much like it is one website even though it is lost of them. For this reason, it provides a more intimate and engaging space for writers, artists, and creatives to connect, share ideas, and build meaningful relationships. Keep reading for a few choice servers you might like to join.
Follow this link to see a curated list of authors on Mastodon.
Unleash your writing potential on Mastodon
Within the Mastodon community, writers can tap into a treasure trove of inspiration and support. For example, The Must of Last Resort (a blog on the Author Buzz UK network) has an account that boosts and shares writing prompts. There is a whole community around writing prompts and microfiction.
I truly believe you can find a supportive network on Mastodon that helps you grow as a writer. If you need somewhere to start, I’m @lordmatt@mastodon.social.
Connecting with like-minded book lovers
Mastodon’s design principles lend themselves to building niche communities. This is great for us. It makes it much easier to connect with people you want to connect with. You could, for example, join dedicated UK instances to immerse yourself in discussions about literary events in our country, discover collaborative projects that ignite your creativity, and maybe even have a chance for a real-world meet-up. Keep reading as I’ve got a list of suggested instances further on.
The Mastodon community is your gateway to a network of writers and readers who share your interests and aspirations.
Here is a poll I ran recently on Mastodon – all sorts of people were only too happy to chat with me about their book-buying habits and love of public libraries. My fellow book lovers shared the poll far and wide putting it in front of roughly 7 times as many people as follow me directly.
Supporting each other’s writing journey
As with most things in life, the amount you get out of something generally reflects what you put in. The same is true of all the bookish communities on Mastodon. Offer support and encouragement and you will find others offering the same to you.
Writing can be a solitary pursuit but, on Mastodon, you need never feel alone.
The Mastodon community’s supportive and encouraging nature is truly remarkable. Share your successes, discuss your challenges, and celebrate milestones with writers who understand the unique struggles and joys of being creative.
Together, we can inspire, motivate, and uplift each other to reach new heights.
Showcasing your work to a receptive audience
Your writing deserves to be seen and appreciated. As you continue to engage with others like us, you will find that Mastodon provides an ideal platform to showcase your work to a receptive audience. After all, it is not the quantity that counts but the quality. Following a million people is possible but you will quite likely never see anything you care about. On Mastodon, you need only connect with people you find interesting.
The upshot of there being no magic numbers to chase (unlike on certain other social media sites) is that those who follow you do so because they are receptive to what you share and say.
Share excerpts from your latest novel, poetry, short stories, or blog posts. Engage in writing challenges and prompts, and witness your creativity flourish as you receive feedback and encouragement from fellow bookish friends.
Getting Started: Join the community on Mastodon
Joining Mastodon and immersing yourself in the UK writing community is simple.
- Find an instance you can vibe with (there is a short list further down)
- Sign up (or apply to join)
- That’s it. You are in. Find people to follow and enjoy.
Mastodon communities you might like to join
- creativewriting.social – a community interested in creative writing
- mastodon.me.uk – a smaller community of UK users
- indieauthors.social – guess who this one is for…
- mastodonapp.uk – a slightly larger UK Mastodon home with 11k users
- mastodonbooks.net – a place for people who love books
- bookstodon.com – also for book lovers
Still stuck choosing where to set up your home base?
Perhaps try instances.social a wizard for picking a Mastodon home.
Conclusion
Don’t miss out on the incredible opportunity to connect, learn, and grow within the vibrant writing and bookish community on Mastodon.
Join us today and embark on an enriching adventure that will take your writing to new heights.
Remember, your writing matters, and Mastodon is the platform where your voice can truly shine. Start your Mastodon journey today and become part of a vibrant community that celebrates the art of storytelling. Happy writing!
Check out the Author Buzz UK blog for more tips, news, and insights into the world of authors and books.