Owl impressions, 2000s vs 1900s, and reality TV show edits

Missed February 2026’s TikTok trends? Check them out here.

TikTok trend #1: Editing content like a reality TV show

TikTok creators are taking inspiration from reality TV’s dramatic editing style to turn everyday moments of high-stakes entertainment. In this trend, creators edit ordinary footage like commuting to work, going on vacation, or chatting with friends as if it were part of a reality show trailer or episode intro.

Videos often open with a fade from black, dramatic music, quick cuts, and suspenseful pauses that build tension. The text on the screen is typically “Editing our family vacation like a reality TV show” or “Editing cooking dinner like a reality TV show.”

Authors could tap into the reality TV trend by dramatizing moments from their writing life. They could edit footage of themselves struggling through writer’s block, racing to meet a deadline, or reacting to an unexpected plot twist as if it were part of a reality show episode.

Dramatic music and quick cuts could build tension around small but relatable moments. Authors could showcase waiting for edits from a publisher, refreshing sales dashboards, or opening a box of author copies.

TikTok trend #2: My impression of an owl

In the owl impression trend, creators film themselves doing an impression of an owl, but with a twist. Videos typically start with a line like, “This is my impression of an owl if it were…” followed by a celebrity, personality type, or specific group of people. The creator then performs a dramatic “hoo” while mimicking that person’s voice, accent, or mannerisms.

There are countless variations online, from celebrities like Jennifer Coolidge and Barack Obama, and even specific characters like “an overstimulated millennial mom owl.”

Authors can easily adapt the owl impression trend by turning common writing or reading personalities into “owl characters.” For example, an author could do an impression of an owl who just finished a 900-page fantasy novel, an owl waiting for their editor’s feedback, or an owl who stayed up all night reading.

They could also adopt their own characters, mimicking the characters in their book as owls. Examples: “This is my impression of an owl if it were Atticus Finch.” Or a romance reader owl, or an owl discovering a plot twist at 2 a.m. You get it!

TikTok trend #3: What year were you born?

In this trend, creators ask groups of people, often a friend group, coworkers, or a sports team, a simple question on camera: “What year were you born?” Once the person answers, the video cuts to exaggerated edits that dramatize the age gap.

If someone says a year before 2000, the video will cut to ancient history visuals, museum clips, or jokes about dinosaurs. If the answer is after 2000, creators add baby photos and audio or cartoon edits.

Authors can adapt the What year were you born? trend by turning it into bookish or publishing humour. For example, they could ask fellow writers or readers the question and then cut to edits that reflect different reading eras.

Someone born in the 90s gets edits referencing historic books or classic series, while someone born in the 2000s gets edits referencing children’s and baby books.

Authors could also flip the format to ask questions like, “When did you start writing?” or “When did you first read this series?” and then add humorous edits that reflect how long someone has been in the writing or reading world.

Tag me on Instagram if you used any of these to plug your writing life or book!

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