I’ve been a writer for half my life, but it wasn’t until after high school, during my gap year, that I started to consider how I could turn my passion for writing into a career. I began investing in myself as an aspiring author by joining writing organisations and institutions, participating in local author events, as well as attending workshops. In addition, I’d chosen to study writing and publishing and university, with a minor in communications (before later completing my masters with a major in marketing).
I knew from my gap-year studies that to make it today as a writer, I was going to have to embrace social media. Growing up, that wasn’t really my thing. Any free time I had was spent reading or writing. But I knew from my research and workshops that, regardless of if I was traditionally published or self-published – even more so if pursuing this pathway in particular – I was going to have to develop my online author presence, and that, though the goal of publishing was still years away, it was essential for me to start growing my online presence today.
It was during my time at university that I found my passion for social media marketing. Joining student media associations and founding a university writers’ club meant that I had to gain new skills in marketing these organisations to their respective audiences (and of co course, the best way to reach them was through social media!). Through these experiences, as well as my tertiary studies in communications and marketing, I gained a better understanding of marketing myself as a creative writer, and after implementing these teaching into my own practice, I saw a huge change in my following, as well as my post engagement.
However, anyone can start a social media account, and posting doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to grow your followers, or that these followers will even translate to future readers. Take it from me, it’s not as simple as posting a photo with a caption containing #amwriting, and you can only post a pic of a computer and coffee so many times before people get bored and stop liking.
So that is where this course comes in – Social Media 101: Curating Creative Content.
In this course we will be looking at curating different creative content to help keep your audience engaged, whilst also growing your online community. It will explore content across a range of platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram Twitter, and TikTok, looking at text-based, image-based, and video-based content creation, including posts, reels, stories, and more.
This workshop is perfect for writers starting build their online author presence, or even for more established writers who are wanting to grow and/or harness their skills in content curation for socials. While it can be stressful learning new techniques on these platforms (because let’s face it, social media is ever evolving), I do hope this course offers some tips and tricks to make the experience of social media marketing and content curation fun and enjoyable for you (as much as it is for me).
Social Media 101: Curating Creative Content – Short Course
Not sure how to engage your audience online? Stumped for what content you should be producing? It all begins with your author brand and identity, and this is key to nailing your marketing. As such this workshop will explore your author brand and how to make content that works to your advantage whilst also delving into the latest trends and how you can use these to engage with your target market.
Pre-course preparation
Basic understanding of social media
Course Type
Publishing / Marketing
Hours of Commitment
5 or less hours
Presenters Bio
Keighley Bradford is an Australian writer and creative industries professional based in Newcastle NSW. She has a background in writing, editing, publishing, marketing, and arts administration. Keighley has previously volunteered in various capacities in her local arts/literary community through writing organisations, writers’ festivals, and student media. Her short fiction pieces have won several awards, with her non-fiction articles also published in several publications. Her debut novel, “Once We Were”, was released late last year as part of her postgraduate studies at the University of Newcastle. Learn more at: www.keighleybradford.com.au
Course Dates: 2nd May to 5th June 2022
Cost: RWA-Member – $55.00 Non RWA-Member – $66.00
* Please note, there is a $0.50 Trybooking fee at checkout.
Venue: Online – Moodle
(Course attendees will be notified of access/login details via email from the RWA Academy Registrar a few days prior to the start date of the course)