Welcome to Workshop Friday!
Today, we're diving into the Facebook strategy that's creating those meaningful connections, and honestly? It's so much simpler than you might think. We're talking about authentic documentation of your creative process—basically sharing what you're already doing as an author in ways that naturally showcase your expertise.
I'm genuinely excited to share some incredible success stories today, including a coaching client who recently got approved for Facebook monetization and another who doubled her following in eight months. And here's the kicker—they did it all by focusing on authentic content that documents their creative journey, not by trying to be someone they're not.
Okay, let's get real about Facebook for a minute. Most authors think the algorithm wants those polished, promotional posts that look like they came straight from a marketing textbook. But here's what's actually happening: Facebook is rewarding posts that get people talking—like, really talking.
The platform has gotten incredibly smart at spotting genuine engagement versus those fake "great post!" comments. When people save your posts, share them with their book-loving friends, or dive into the comments with their own stories and questions, Facebook basically says, "This is good stuff. Let's show it to more people."
And here's the game-changer I've been seeing with my clients: posts that document real moments from your creative process consistently crush promotional content. Like, it's not even close.
When you share a photo of research books scattered across your desk with genuine insights about what you're discovering, that connects with readers in ways that "Buy my book" posts just can't. Why? Because you're inviting them into your world, not trying to sell them something.
The magic is in documentation, not creation. You're not sitting there thinking, "What content should I make today?" You're sharing what's already happening in your creative life. And that feels natural because it IS natural.
Let me tell you about one of my coaching clients who completely transformed her Facebook game using these strategies.
She writes in a historical genre, and she was honestly struggling on Facebook. Her promotional posts were getting maybe three likes (and one was probably her mom), and she felt like she was shouting into the void. Sound familiar?
We completely flipped her approach. Instead of posting "My new book is available" (which, let's be honest, nobody really wants to see), she started documenting her research process.
Here's what changed everything: She posted a photo of these gorgeous historical documents she was studying, with a caption like:
"Spent the morning diving into 1800s correspondence between sisters, and I'm fascinated by how they discussed courtship. The formal language hides so much emotion—it's giving me ideas for how my heroine might express feelings without being too forward for the era."
That single post? Dozen of comments! Readers were sharing their own thoughts about historical romance, asking questions about her research, geeking out over historical details. It was like she'd accidentally started the best book club discussion ever.
The results were incredible. Within eight months of consistently documenting her creative process, Sarah doubled her Facebook following.
But here's what really matters: these weren't just random followers. These were engaged readers who genuinely cared about historical romance and the craft behind it.
Why Documentation Is Actually Easy
I've been watching this work with client after client, and here's why documentation is so powerful:
It showcases your expertise without being preachy. When Sarah shares her research discoveries, she's not lecturing anyone about history. She's sharing genuine excitement about what she's learning, and readers can see her credibility through her dedication to getting things right.
It creates natural conversation starters. People are curious about how things get made, whether it's books, art, or that amazing sourdough your neighbor keeps posting about. Documentation shows process, not just results, and process is inherently interesting.
It humanizes you as an author. Readers get to see the researcher, the problem-solver, the creative mind working through challenges. You become a real person, not just a name on a book cover.
It gives you endless content without the stress. As an author, you're always working on something. Research, writing, editing, plotting—documenting this work means you never run out of authentic things to share.
It makes book promotions feel natural. When readers are already engaged with your creative process, promoting your books feels like sharing exciting updates with friends, not making sales pitches to strangers.
I need to address something because I see authors get stuck here all the time. Authentic content doesn't mean you have to share your entire life story or post about every personal detail.
Authenticity means being genuinely yourself within the boundaries YOU choose. You get to decide what aspects of your life you share publicly, and honestly? You don't need to share much personal stuff to create amazing connections.
Here's your comfort zone guide:
Your Creative Process (This is your sweet spot)
* Research methods and cool discoveries
* Writing routines and the challenges that come up
* Editing insights and those "aha!" moments
* Your publishing journey updates
* Craft stuff you're learning and experimenting with
Your Professional Insights
* What you've learned about writing or your genre
* Publishing industry stuff you've observed
* Craft techniques you're trying out
* Reader feedback that surprised you (in a good way)
Your Curated Personal Moments
* Personal elements that actually connect to your author brand
* Your reading experiences and genuine book reactions
* Things that inspire your creativity
* Your workspace or writing environment
What You Absolutely Don't Need to Share
* Family drama or relationship issues
* Money problems or health struggles
* Anything that makes you uncomfortable
* Random personal stuff that has nothing to do with your creative work
Look, my client who doubled her following on Facebook? She never shares personal family content. Her authenticity comes from her genuine passion for writing craft, her honest struggles with plot problems, and her excitement about research discoveries. That's more than enough to create meaningful connections.
Five Ways to Document Your Creative Life
Let me give you some practical strategies that are working right now:
Strategy 1: The Research Share
Document cool stuff you discover during research, no matter what genre you write. Share photos of your research materials with insights about what surprised you or got you excited.
Example: Say you're a fantasy writer diving into mythology books: "Diving into Celtic folklore for my current project and just discovered that selkies weren't just Scottish—similar shapeshifter myths exist across coastal cultures worldwide. It's making me completely rethink my magical system..."
Strategy 2: The Process Post
Share your actual working moments with insights about your methods. Show your plotting process, your editing setup, your writing space—and explain why you work this way or what you're learning.
Example: Mystery writer with a plotting board: "Color-coding my red herrings and actual clues is keeping me honest about fair play mystery rules. Green for real clues, red for misdirection, blue for character development. My readers should totally be able to solve this!"
Strategy 3: The Reading Connection
Share books you're reading with genuine reactions, focusing on what you're learning as a writer. What's working well? How does it relate to your own work?
Example: Romance writer reading literary fiction: "This literary novel is teaching me so much about building tension through what characters DON'T say. The way the author creates romantic tension through silence is brilliant—definitely going to experiment with this technique."
Strategy 4: The Problem-Solving Post
Share writing challenges you're working through and how you're approaching them. Readers love seeing the thinking behind the craft, even when you don't have all the answers.
Example: Historical fiction writer: "Wrestling with how much historical detail to include without killing the pace. My editor suggests weaving facts through character actions instead of straight exposition. Testing this in chapter three and we'll see how it goes..."
Strategy 5: The Celebration Share
Document your creative wins, big and small. Finished a tough chapter? Got helpful feedback? Had a breakthrough? Share it with genuine enthusiasm.
Example: "Just figured out why my protagonist felt flat—she was reacting to plot events instead of driving them. Completely rewrote chapter five and she finally feels alive on the page! Sometimes the solution is simpler than you think."
For each post you create, try this formula that's been working incredibly well:
Visual Component: A photo of your workspace, research materials, or even just a simple text graphic with a relevant quote.
Story Share: What's happening? What did you discover, learn, or experience?
Craft Connection: How does this relate to writing, your genre, or the creative process?
Conversation Invitation: End with a question that encourages your audience to share their own experiences or thoughts.
This approach showcases your expertise naturally while giving people multiple reasons to engage with your content.
Your Quick Wins for This Week
Quick Win 1: Spot Your Documentation Opportunities (2 minutes)
Make a quick list of five things you're currently working on that you could document: research you're doing, challenges you're solving, techniques you're trying, books you're reading, or processes you're figuring out.
Quick Win 2: Create Your First Documentation Post (2 minutes)
Pick one thing from your list and create a post using the formula above. Take a simple photo and write a caption that tells the story, connects to your craft, and asks a question.
Quick Win 3: Plan Your Week (1 minute)
Schedule 2-3 documentation posts for next week, focusing on different aspects of your creative process. Consistency beats perfection every time.
Level Up Your Documentation Game
Once you get comfortable with basic documentation, here are some ways to take it further:
Create ongoing series like "Research Rabbit Holes," "Writing Craft Discoveries," or "Behind the Scenes of [Your Current Project]." Series content keeps people coming back for more.
Use Facebook Stories for real-time documentation—share immediate discoveries, workspace setups, or breakthrough moments, then save the best stuff to highlights.
Get involved in Facebook Groups where you can share documentation-style content with readers who are actively looking for craft insights and behind-the-scenes content.
Cross-pollinate your documentation across platforms, adapting the format for each one (longer captions work great on Facebook, more visual focus on Instagram, etc.).
How to Tell If It's Working
Keep an eye on these things to see if your documentation strategy is paying off:
Are people actually engaging? Look for thoughtful questions, people sharing their own experiences, or folks saving your posts for later.
Is your reach growing? Are your posts reaching more people organically over time?
Are you attracting the right followers? New followers should be genuinely interested in your genre and craft, not just random accounts.
Are conversations getting deeper? Comments should be generating real discussions, not just quick "nice post" reactions.
Are you getting professional opportunities? Other authors, industry folks, or potential collaborators should start engaging with your content.
What Not to Do (Learn from Others' Mistakes)
Don't document everything. You don't need to share every single moment. Choose highlights that provide genuine insight or value.
Don't forget to explain why it matters. Always make clear why something is interesting or relevant to your creative work.
Don't skip the craft connection. Link your documentation back to writing, your genre, or the creative process.
Don't post and ghost. Respond to comments and keep conversations going that your posts start.
Don't stress about perfection. Authentic documentation includes struggles and imperfect moments—that's what makes it real.
Here's the thing about documentation strategies: they build momentum over time. You're not going to see massive results overnight, and that's actually good news because it means you're building something sustainable.
The authors seeing the best results are those who make documentation a natural part of their creative routine, not an extra thing they have to remember to do. When sharing your process becomes as automatic as doing the work itself, you've created something really powerful.
Your creative process is genuinely interesting to readers. When you document it authentically and consistently, you create content that makes both Facebook's algorithm and your actual audience happy. And that's when the magic happens.
Facebook engagement that actually connects isn't about being more entertaining or more vulnerable—it's about being more generous with sharing the insights and enthusiasm you already have for your creative work.
The most successful authors on Facebook are just documenting their genuine creative journey in ways that feel natural to them. They're not performing authenticity; they're simply sharing what genuinely excites them about their craft.
Your research discoveries, writing challenges, and craft insights? That's valuable content that readers actually want to see. When you document these things authentically, you build the kind of engaged community that supports real, long-term author success.
Next week, we'll dive into TikTok's shift toward longer-form content and how authors can use this change to build authority through educational content that actually helps people.
Want help developing your personal Facebook strategy? Our one-on-one coaching sessions can help you figure out your unique documentation opportunities and create a system that actually fits your life. Check out our WORK WITH US page to get started.
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