With the coming of the digital age, social media networks have become the platform for writers to expand their influence, connect with readers from across the globe, and broaden their writing capabilities.

Some wordsmiths from the literary community are skeptical about the effectiveness of these online tools. However, a lot of writers are coming down from their ivory towers and are trying to show the world that Facebook and Twitter can propel you to greater heights, if you know how to use them properly. Check out this article to discover the famous writers who use social media and how they utilize it to achieve success.

1. Creating deep connections with readers

Even though Paulo Coelho has already touched the hearts of millions of readers with his thought-provoking and soulful books like The Alchemist and Brida, he still yearned to understand his followers around the globe. That is why the Brazilian writer decided to open up a Twitter and Facebook page.

Coelho is an active blogger who writes an average of 50 posts a month to connect with his readers and endorse his written pieces. On top of that, his Facebook and Twitter pages are filled with his raw thoughts and feelings that help readers build a deeper and stronger connection towards their favorite author, and also with his works. He currently has more than 8.5 million followers online.

2. Raw honesty online

When you hear the name Stephen Fry, you might easily associate this British gentleman with high culture and classical masterpieces. So it was very unexpected when he suddenly joined Twitter in 2008. What’s more surprising is that he amassed millions of followers by creating inspirational and intelligent thoughts using 140 characters or less.

The reason why this author and playwright has become successful online is that he is not afraid to show raw honesty in his posts. Even though his tweets have had their fair share of angry backlashes, Fry still manages to maintain an intimate connection with his followers.

He also showed that social media is a powerful tool for expressing emotional thoughts.

3. Intense adoption of social media

Margaret Atwood, an exemplary female writer of the 20th century, adopted social media in ways that other wordsmiths would dare not do.

She created a collaborative written piece called The Happy Zombie Sunrise Home, and it was released on Wattpad, an online social reading hub. It was even advertised exclusively in social media networks, gaining 90,000 readers and more than 150 interactions. In addition, Atwood also wrote several stories at Byliner.com and utilized online networks to finish the last story in her MacAddam trilogy.

Atwood is a long-time defender of social media. She believes that these websites help improve literacy and creativity.

To wrap things up

Some people think that social media is not an effective tool to increase your influence and improve your writing skills. However, these great wordsmiths have proven them wrong. Websites such as Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest can all help you with your writing endeavors. You just need to be creative and resourceful in using them.