Live streaming is a great way for authors to connect with and grow their audiences of readers. With a live streaming platform, you can reach fans all over the world and interact with them in real-time via video, live chat, commenting features, and more.
With several platforms to choose from, you might be wondering where to start or how to effectively engage a live audience. For inspiration, we looked at authors on Instagram Live, YouTube Live, and Facebook Live, and found nine exciting examples of live experiences you can create for your own audience!
1. Live stream a writing session
Abbie Emmons uses YouTube Live to host writing sessions. Each session, she walks viewers through several writing sprints with short breaks in between to chat about her stories. She encourages other writers to share what they’re working on in the live chat!
2. Host a live signing
Brandon Sanderson hosts live signings while answering reader questions. He and a guest moderator take questions on Reddit, which can be an easier way to moderate a live Q&A than parsing a busy chat feed.
3. Spotlight a fellow author’s work
Barrett Laurie’s AuthorTube channel features critique groups, virtual launch parties, and even karaoke sessions! In this live stream, he celebrated his fellow author Tiffany Russell, who answers thoughtful questions about her work and treats readers to an exclusive reading. Both speakers engage with live comments from the audience throughout the video!
4. Share a talent or skill!
Television host and cookbook author Melissa d’Arabian streams live cooking classes. In this one, she welcomes her readers into her holiday cooking process, taking a few minutes at the start of the session to talk about her latest book. She responds to viewers’ comments at the end.
5. Go live with a special guest
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Emma Straub shares her platform with booksellers from around the country. She uses Instagram Live to have casual conversations about their favorite books and exciting upcoming releases. Followers who missed the live stream of these chats can find them under the reels tab of her Instagram page.
6. Teach a workshop
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To celebrate her upcoming book Healing Through Words, Rupi Kaur took to Instagram Live to host a writing workshop, then posted a recording for those who missed it. During the workshop, she walked participants through some of the exercises featured in her book.
Here’s the post she made to invite her followers to the workshop:
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7. Host a read-along
Morgan Lee hosted a weekly series of virtual read-alongs for the first book in her Seedlings trilogy to build buzz for the upcoming release of books two and three. In this installment of the series, fellow author S.D. Huston joined her to read and discuss the first 13 chapters of the book. Morgan also hosts weekly writing sprints!
8. Lead a book club
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Elizabeth Gilbert uses Instagram Live to host the Onward Book Club. She invites guest authors (and occasionally filmmakers) to discuss their latest works. In this example, she’s in conversation with Kemi Nekvapil discussing Kemi’s latest book, Power: A Woman’s Guide to Living and Leading Without Apology.
9. Celebrate an accomplishment!
A new release isn’t the only milestone you might use as an excuse for a live event! Bethany Atazadeh used YouTube Live to celebrate hitting 30,000 followers on her YouTube channel. She fields questions from her audience and also touches on frequently requested topics!
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Click to tweet: Getting started with live streaming to promote your books? @BookBubPartners compiled a great list of examples of the types of events you can create! http://bit.ly/3HmXHSa #bookmarketing
Click to tweet: Authors: live streaming is a great way to reach large audiences and engage them in real time. Check out these creative examples for inspiration! http://bit.ly/3HmXHSa #writingcommunity
Have you used live streaming to connect with your readers? Tell us which platform you use in the comments!
