Bluesky for writers and authors
Writers do well on Bluesky because the feed is words in order. Threads, replies and timing are the craft; the figures are free.
Why writers are on Bluesky
The book, poetry, journalism and newsletter communities are active, live in their own feeds and starter packs, and reward people who post consistently and reply generously. Bluesky's 300-character posts and threads suit a writer who can make a line land.
Setting up
- A bio that says what you write and where to read it, with the link.
- The feeds for your genre or beat, and the starter packs; ask into the packs.
- A custom domain handle if you have a site: it is a byline.
What to post
Lines from the work, the thing you noticed today, a thread when there is more to say. A thread is found by its first post, so the hook and the tags go there, and Updrift's Planner splits a long post into one with the tag line on the first post on its own. A link to the piece goes out as a tracked short link so you can see which post brought readers.
When to post
Readers read in the evening and at the weekend on their own clock more than at other times in Updrift's figures, but measure your own: each post's first day, by the hour it went out, free for one account.
Hashtags
One or two for the genre and the community tag it uses, on the first post. The hashtag table shows which of yours beat your usual.
Replies
Replies are where readers become followers. The Inbox keeps the replies and mentions you owe in one place, oldest first, and on a paid plan you answer them there.
Tracking free
Followers by the hour, which post brought readers, who reposted it, a link page for your books and newsletter with clicks counted per link. All free for one account.
What a paid plan adds
- Duo: the Planner with threads split properly, your best posts back on their own, tracked links per post and the Inbox answered in place.
- Works with Claude on paid plans: ask which posts grew your account, or plan a month around a launch.
- Every paid plan is 7 days free with a card; Duo is £7 a month for two accounts and the Planner, Studio £12 for five and a team. All the plans.
See your own figures, free.
Followers by the hour, the posts that landed, your best hours and how your hashtags do. One account, no card, for good.
The Planner, the Inbox and the full What works report come with a paid plan, 7 days free. See the plans.