How to Build an Offline Author Career in 2025
How to be a fiction writer without social media, how to get published without social media in 2025
The Publishing Industry Lied To You
Over the last two months, I’ve had four clients move into the prep phase for publishing. Two self-published, and the other two wanted to try for traditional publishing.
You might have heard the rumor floating around about authors being rejected for having less than 5000 followers on a newsletter, or not making the recommended follower count on a given social media. Publishers are now hunting down authors with existing platforms to increase their chances of initial sales; i.e., the safe bet.
I watched one client almost break down into tears when a rejection letter came back recommending that she ‘build her brand’ before trying again. Nothing to do with the quality of her manuscript; just her social media presence.
But what if there was a way to build yourself a career that didn’t require constant social media marketing and actually allowed you to sip tea off-grid somewhere and put out a bestselling book on your own time?
Platform Panic
Around 2010, publishers facing shrinking marketing budgets began pushing promotion responsibilities onto authors. Social media was exploding, self-publishing was disrupting traditional models, and suddenly "platform" became publishing shorthand for "this author can sell books without us spending money."
But here's what they didn't tell you: Fantasy readers don't discover books through author tweets. The two big platforms for authors to promote their books and grow their fan bases are BookTok (TikTok) and Bookstagram (Instagram). And even these are shrinking into small, fractional fandoms of mostly YA and adult rom-com books, leaving anyone who doesn't write for those audiences to wonder how they're going to promote their books.
As marketing expert Thomas Umstattd Jr. observes: "As I work with bestselling authors, I have noticed that the more successful an author is, the less time they tend to spend on social media. What makes you a successful writer is… wait for it, your writing! You can't Facebook or TikTok your way to publishing success without first being a good writer.”
So why do agents still ask about platform? Because it's an easy metric to measure. Follower counts are concrete, and community connections are nuanced.
How to Build Your Offline Career
As publishing professional Jenn Hanson-dePaula explains: "For fiction, traditional publishers are not centered solely on the number of social media followers. They are looking for the story. They're looking at the writing. They are looking at what is it that the marketplace is looking for, is searching for.”
Publishing runs on relationships and reputation. Always has. Social media created the illusion that online metrics matter more than industry connections, but it's backwards.
When publishers need to decide between two similar manuscripts, they don't choose the author with more followers. They choose the author whose work they trust will find its audience. That trust comes from demonstrated understanding of the fantasy community - not viral tweets. It’s not actually about the number of followers, it’s about your ability to cultivate community and connect with people.
Just like Jenn Hanson-dePaula said; a publisher’s job is connecting the market to what it’s looking for. They want to convince you that it’s your job to do that, but it isn’t. You just need to provide proof that the market already wants you.
Start With SFWA
Join the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association immediately. Not for the credential (though it helps), but for access. SFWA's private forums connect you with 2,500+ industry professionals. Their convention suites provide intimate networking opportunities you can't buy.
I've watched debut authors have coffee with Hugo Award winners in SFWA suites. Those conversations lead to manuscript recommendations, agent introductions, and publishing opportunities that no amount of social media engagement can create.
Become a Bookstore Regular
Find your local independent bookstore that carries fantasy. Start showing up to every author reading. Not to pitch yourself - to genuinely support other authors and build relationships with booksellers.
Booksellers are the unsung heroes of fantasy publishing. They hand-sell novels to readers, influence purchasing decisions, and often have direct relationships with publisher sales reps. When they know your work and believe in it, they become your most effective marketing team.
Work Conventions Strategically
Forget about expensive booth space or panels. Volunteer instead. Work registration tables, help with logistics, assist other authors with their events. You'll have natural conversations with industry professionals while avoiding the pressure of formal networking.
I know authors who met their future agents while checking badges at WorldCon registration. You just have to be in the right room at the right time.
The Part Nobody Talks About: This Takes Longer
I won't lie to you. Building authentic industry relationships takes 12-18 months before you see significant results. Social media can create the illusion of faster growth.
But here's what social media can't give you: sustainability. The authors I know who built careers through community relationships don't burn out. They don't stress about algorithm changes or content creation schedules. All they do is write books and deliver them when they’re done.
What Now?
As literary agent Laurie McLean predicts: "So if social media apps are not the best way to promote your books, what is? My prediction is that self-published authors especially will fall back on the tried and tested methods of appearing at writers' conferences, teaching workshops, securing blurbs, making videos, and posting relevant content.”
Your publisher wants proof you can connect with readers. Readers are smart, passionate, and connected: they value authenticity over polish, substance over marketing speak. When you build relationships within these communities - through conventions, bookstores, writing organizations, and genuine engagement - you're building a career.
That fantasy writer crying into her latte? She's now six months into volunteering at local literary events and has attended two regional conventions. She's resubmitting to agents in January, and this time she won't be talking about follower counts.
She'll be talking about the fantasy community she's become part of, the industry professionals who know her work, and the readers who are already excited about her novel.
Be a part of your own community.
The Myth Dimension is a social media for authors that helps fiction writers post, publish, and promote their works. Join the Discord and become a beta tester today: https://discord.gg/852pvxQxhQ
