Promoting Yorkshire Authors

PYA has a presence on Mastodon - the Distributed Social Network giving Worldwide Visibility of your Posts

You might have noticed on Facebook that your feed is populated with adverts, suggestions for friend, group and page follows and less posts from the people you've taken the trouble to befriend. Twitter (X - if you must) has content that I find unhealthy and unfriendly - not something I want to see any more.

Many social network users are moving to other networks - BlueSky is one that has become popular but I think you might want to consider Mastodon instead because it isn't and never will be owned by a single company where profit (yes, not a dirty word) is paramount and the network's users are the product to sell and sell to. For these networks their algorithm decides what you will see and is always geared towards keeping your eyeballs glued to their network. It has to be like that because social networks are competing with each other; their stock market value comes from their current active user count.

Mastodon is different. It's a decentralised social network that functions similarly to Twitter (now X) but is built on independent servers called instances. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to join and engage effectively.  

Joining Mastodon  

Choose an Instance  

Mastodon is made up of different instances (servers), each with its own rules and community. Some are general (like mastodon.social), while others cater to specific interests (e.g., writing, tech, art). You can explore instances at [https://joinmastodon.org](https://joinmastodon.org).  

Create an Account  

Once you choose an instance, sign up with your email and password. Some instances require approval, while others let you join immediately.  

Set Up Your Profile  

Add a profile picture and header image.  Write a bio that reflects your interests and use #tags in your bio so that people can find it - like #Writer #Teacher #Engineer. Include links to your website or other social media. Your first post should be an introduction and use #Introdction to identify it as such. 

Getting Started  

Learn the Basics  

• Toots: Mastodon’s version of tweets. You can post text, images, or videos. Always include a caption with images and videos to help those with sight issues.
• Boosts: Similar to retweets, these help amplify posts.  
• Favorites: Equivalent to likes, but they don’t affect visibility.  
• Hashtags: Essential for discovery since Mastodon deliberately lacks an algorithmic timeline - hurray!  

Follow Interesting People  

Find accounts by searching for topics, hashtags, or by following people from other platforms who have shared their Mastodon handle. @FediTips or #FediTips is a good account that will help you get to grips with Mastodon.

Engage with the Community  

Reply to posts and start conversations - be nice.  Use content warnings (CW) for sensitive topics.  Respect the rules of your instance.  

Growing Your Presence  

Use Hashtags Wisely. Hashtags help others discover your posts. Popular ones include #WritingCommunity, #AmWriting, #IndieAuthor, and #BookMarketing.  

Post Regularly  

Consistency helps you stay visible. Share updates about your work, ask questions, and interact with others. Checkout #FensterFriday (for posts on Friday), #Caturday (posts of cats on Saturday) and #SilentSunday for posts without an explanation. Posts like these will help you discover new followers.

Join Discussions  

Reply to and boost posts from others to build connections. Unlike algorithm-driven platforms, engagement on Mastodon is more about conversation than reach.  

Explore Other Instances  

You can follow people from different instances, and if needed, you can even migrate to a different instance without losing your followers.  

Staying Active  

Check the Local and Federated Timelines:  

• Local timeline: Posts from users on your instance.  
• Federated timeline: Posts from across connected instances.  
• Participate in Challenges and Events: Many writing communities host weekly prompts, word sprints, and discussions. 
• Use Lists to Organise Feeds: If you follow many people, lists help keep track of specific topics.  

Final Tips  

Mastodon is about community, not about your post going viral. Engage authentically, respect others, and focus on meaningful interactions rather than follower counts.

Promoting Yorkshire Authors has a presence on Mastodon and we post about the PYA Espresso Newletter, Blog updates, Events, tips and news that might be of interest to our members. Please do follow us - it is a closed group so you won't find us by searching - you have to follow the PYA Account. In common with Mastodon conventions you'll find us at @PromotingYorkshireAuthors@MastodonApp.uk (the first part is our username and the second our instance).

Mastodon Apps

There are a number of Android and iOS Apps to allow you to interact with Mastodon or you can use the instance link in a browser (like https://mastodonapp.uk) too, if you wish. I use Tusky, but you might want to research which is the best App for you.  

• Here's a Mastodon Instance used by users in the UK: mastodonapp.uk
• Here are some Mastodon instances tailored for writers:
• Writing Exchange (writing.exchange): stablished in 2017, this is a stable, long-running Mastodon instance for writers. It's an inclusive community that welcomes all, as long as you're kind and respectful to others. The platform aims to provide an environment where you feel comfortable enough to participate freely and authentically.
• Mastodon.art (mastodon.art): hile primarily focused on visual arts, Mastodon.art also welcomes writers and other creatives. It's a friendly home on the fediverse for all things creative, operating on a community-owned and ad-free platform.
• Mastoart.social (mastoart.social):  creative space for sharing art and being part of a friendly creative community. Hosted in Germany, it runs on 100% green energy and is open to various forms of artistic expression, including writing.
• Zirk.us (zirk.us): his instance focuses on literature, philosophy, film, music, culture, politics, history, and architecture. It's ideal for readers, writers, academics, or anyone wanting to engage in conversations about the arts and humanities.

Each of these instances offers a unique community and focus. When choosing, consider the specific community guidelines, the type of content shared, and the overall atmosphere to find the best fit for your writing interests.