This is one of my temporarily removed and now temporarily reinstated posts giving tutorials on Twitter. Please note that my forthcoming short ebook will do this much better and more conprehensively and more clearly! If I were you, I'd wait...
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Just a quick one - me doing you a favour rather than trying to tell you anything. I have removed my teacher hat for a few days.
Some of you are powering ahead as though born to tweet and others are taking it more gently. No problem - this is neither race nor competition. If you feel you're still quite a Twitter newbie and you'd like more followers, add a friendly comment to the bottom of this and if you do it right, you might collect some more. Do follow people back if you think they might be interesting or fun or nice or whatever. NB - this is only for people genuinely interested in books, writing and reading. And the comments will close when I think there are enough comments here.
ALSO, this is not an open-invitation to pesky spammers - any inappropriate (imho) comments will be removed. It is a genuine offer to help you make contacts. In your comment, say a little bit about yourself and include your Twitter name. TRY to keep your comment to around about the length of a tweet.
I'm going to be writing about hashtags, conversations and #FollowFriday in the next post in my Twitter series, scheduled for Thursday 16th Sept, so please make sure you're using Tweetdeck - I need you to have read this post and this one, before the next lesson can make sense.
(I am away at the moment - Brussels with Mr M, checking out the shops and chocolate possibilities in our first holiday for two years - but I have my trusty assistant, Catherine, keeping an eye on things. So, play nicely, please. And no, I'm not bringing you back any chocolate at all, OK?)
65 comments:
I'm always happy to meet new lit-type followers, for discussions and broadening horizons rather than the numbers thing. @ckingwriter
Nicola - if you see a DeNeuville shop, first call bank about an overdraft...
I'm not very good with Twitter, but your posts give me hope. So far my only tweets at @damyantig have been automatic posts of my blogs, but I'm inspired to do better now. Thanks for your as-always informative posts!
I purrowl through Twitter. It is not just for the birds!
Found the twittering fun so far. Thanks for the useful posts. I'm surprised at how frequently some people tweet though - particularly literary agents! How do they find the time?
And I'm still so new to Twittering, guess who forgot to add his hashtag? If you're interested, I'm #simonwhaley. Cheers!
Quite sure you will delete this comment as inappropriate (but maybe you'll relent as I've RT'd your post and said nice things). Bring me CHOCOLATE, dammit! You're SO mean with the chocolate (she keeps it all to herself, you know) :-(
@lucycoats
Finding these post invaluable, Nicola. (Oh, should be something in the post for you on your return.) @tom_vowler
I recently took to twittering live coverage of literary events. Talk about an interesting way to start networking. Great work you do, Nicola. @colingalbraith
Broaden your horizons and do follow for Middle East culture and literature: @hindmezaina @arablit @shjintlbookfair
I'm a writer based in Bangkok. During the recent red shirt riots, I tweeted a lot about events (using the #redshirts hashtag), and got quite a few followers on that, but I also want to start tweeting more for writing. I'm not sure my followers would appreciate the mix of tweets. Should I set up a separate account for the two worlds I live in?
Oops! Forgot to post my twittername: @bhabilis
Hi there, I'm @staffwielder. After meeting you at the Edinburgh festival, I have been reqdig your blog and findingit extremely helpful. I am really enjoying getting to meet other writers, and wouldappreciate any help meeting more. Looking forward to the nextblog! X
I'm a bit of a Twitter fiend, and always happy to get to know new bookish people. @kirstylogan
What a great idea. I'm relatively new to Twitter, but from being highly sceptical am now a convert. I love the banter and how so many people will pick you up and cheer you when you're a bit down. And it's great for hints, tips and support when you're an aspiring writer. Just tweet. @JackyHSF
I was skeptical at first but Twitter is a wonderful social network and I'm right in there, loving it.
@ebonymckenna
It is social networking, but some people skip the social part of it and move straight on to "Buy my book!"
#YALitChat is brill to follow, but the time zones probably aren't very kind to the UK.
Simon - that's your Twittername, not a hastag. So @simonwhaley.
It would be #simonwhaley if you were a topic. Perhaps you are? I'll follow you and find out!
@MARYMHOFFMAN
Good show (Twitter should pay you for marketing). Found following agents on Twitter v. enlightening and fun to tweet with like-minded people (not quite sane but no white coats hovering). I write and I study writing (as so-called mature student). This is me @hannahrhooton
These posts are invaluable. I'm still vague about Twitter but am keen to learn more. I'm @SallyZig, by the way: I've been writing for well over 10 years and only just have a published novel to my name. See what I mean about slow learner?
love all these twitter posts, and would love to meet some new twits! I've just had my first book published, and sold my second, so I'm tweeting about writing. I'm @sallywriter
Thanks to Nicola's lessons, I'm set up with tweetdeck, loving twitter and making new writer friends round the world. Love #amwriting hashtag. I'm @thatjuliacrouch. Only problem is it is yet another displacement activity - another thing 'just to take a look at' before settling down to the writing stuff.
These Twitter tutorials have made the whole process on getting going far less confusing - and I am really enjoying the creative buzz amongst so many writers. @zannahkearns :)
This is a great series of posts! Marissa and I discovered Twitter a little later than blogging (May 2010, I think), but found it is a great way to disseminate and get hold of the craft information and writing support we all crave. We started out slowly, too, and are grateful to every one of our 1135 followers. Followers mushroom if you genuinely care about what you put into the Twitterverse, you'll see. It's been an amazing journey, and we hope every one of you has as much fun with it as we do. There are great friends out to be found out there!
Martina (and Marissa) = @4Kidlit
Adventures in Children's Publishing: Two YA & kidlit writers in search of readers...and the information, tips, market info, etc. we find along the way...
Very helpful Nicola, thank you!
I'm @authorkatherine because Twitter already has several Katherine Roberts - I'm the one who writes fantasy for children and loves horses. Hope to see some of you there!
Am bookmarking this to add people in 5 weeks time, as I am ridiculously busy until then and won't be on the computer. So if c_smith_atr appears on your twitter feed in a few weeks, I'm not a random spammer.
Thanks for this series, Nichola. I have been tweeting from some months after a fashion.
My issue is one of time management. I know it is possible to pre-write tweets and send them out at set times, but that seems to defeat the object.
I hope you address this issue later on. @DavidDOCT
Hoping your having a great time on your holiday Nicola!
I'm not that much of a newbie to Twitter now, so I hope it's OK to give my Twitter name…
@SpiderGriffin
:-)
I'm new to the twitterverse, so your posts really help. I have a children's bokk releasing soon, and am using your advice to help get the word out.
Ray
@indimendumpster
Twitter is a great place to share information and to get information.
@cfmjewels
Oh, and some here might find the conversations found under the hashtag #amwriting interesting.
Thanks for the opportunity to get connected. A YA writer and voracious reader living in the isolated foothills of the North Cascades (Washington State, USA), I welcome writer/reader association. With the help of an SCBWI Grant, I am working on getting my first novel published. @AngelinaCHansen
I'm still fairly new to Twitter, and your posts have really helped me understand how to make the most of it. I especially liked your info about Tweetdeck. I tweet about the craft of writing. Thank you! from @HP4Writers
Thanks Nicola. Your trip sounds like fun - I am hoping to visit Brussels too for a chocolate top-up next spring en route to a work conference in Germany.
My twitter name is @ceciliapeartree. I am quite surprised by the way I've found myself using twitter, which is mainly to filter media stuff I am interested in - although I'm currently writing some mystery novels, I think my mind is trying to push me back to sci-fi, as most of my news and re-tweets seem to be to do with science, the environment etc.
Thanks to you for getting me going with Twitter, Nicola. I am loving all my new connections with writers all over the world. I work on a small English-speaking island in the middle of Germany and it means a lot to me to connect with people who also care about writing, and writing in English. My handle is #charlwrites
Brilliant stuff Nicola, thanks. I've been flapping around randomly tweeting for a month or so now. Having read through your advice I feel a lot more in control. Looking forward to the next instalment! @DaveCousins9000
I'm a big reader and hopeful novice illustrator/writer. I've been tweeting into the void, feeling rather silly. So far, I've had some strange people follow me (do I block them?) Also, I feel like a lurker a bit :( Hopefully, I can improve. Maybe I chose the wrong twitter name! @mishdevilish
I put off tweeting as a potential time suck until one agent chastised me for not having a megaplatform (for fiction, mind you!). I put a toe in with Nicola's help.
I'm an editor (not publishing) by trade, a writer by choice, and a farm girl by design.
@phoenixsullivan
Does anyone else feel like you're writing a singles ad here? :o)
I found The Bookseller on Twitter thanks to Nicola and have just woken up to Tweetdeck. I can also recommend @lucycoats and @maryhoffman as wise guides to the world of blogging and Tweeting. It's a whole new world... @karenball
Hello,
We'd love some more people to see our illustrated collection about foxes in mythology at: twitter.com/FoxGospel
Finding the blog mighty helpful in getting to grips with the new media side of things and would very much enjoy chatting to any other writers dipping their toe in these murky waters.
I love this blog. I'm a writer working on her first ever round of agent's edits - so on a step learning curve there too. Love twitter but it can get overwhelming sometimes too. @LisaSommerland
Hi again,
Thanks Nicola, you are amazing.
Also, I find Tweetdeck makes following topics so much easier - and also finding out who is trying to talk to me with a separate 'mentions' column. V handy to replying to people.
Still not quite sure what I can make of Twitter, but Nicola has explained what other people get out of it!
I am a writer and freelance editor, mostly of children's books.
@Anna_Bowles
I spotted this blog on someone's blogroll and had to check it out. It's fabulous! I'm loving the wit and snark in your posts. Fun stuff!
I also like that you blog about issues relevant to writers, like the "Twitter for Authors" series. I'm very interested in building my brand through social media, so topics like that are helpful to me. Looking forward to following you and learning more!
I have dived into twitter...and I love that it is a quickee means of communication. But, quick as it is, I still find it hard to fit in the time!
Robyn M Speed
www.robynmspeed.com
Visited Hotel Chocolat 1st time yesterday. OH MY GOD. New followers wd be lovely: @PsychicDancer, writer, both official- and self-published.
I have a twitter account and have tweeted a little - but I am really unsure about how to get the most out of it - I would *love* some more people to twitter with....
Hannah
@whirlochre
6'2", eyes of brown, only here for the sex.
Might have written that in my 20s, but now I'm older, it's mainly fiction-related stuff. And cooking.
I have to admit I joined twitter because of Nicola's ravings about how awesome it is, but I haven't really got into the swing of it yet.
I write YA fantasy (mostly) and blog a bit too.
@Dragon_Pen
Got on Twitter a few weeks back and seem to be having some networking success. My follows are pretty evenly split between writing and NASCAR (still hoping for a career combining the two).
@genettewood
This is a great idea Nicola. I'm quite new to twitter but it's rapidly become my latest obsession. I've picked up so many great writing tips through my lovely friends on twitter.
All the best
@jude_roust
Hi, i'm @hazeltrees, otherwise known as michael and i am writing a gardening journal, if any other writers would like to join tweets then please let me know...
Still learning about twitter - this series is really useful Nicola. I'm not such a prolific twitterer as you but happy to hear from new people interested in books, reading and writing. @strachanlinda
It's so nice of you to do these series, Nicola - they're very useful!
@Alexandra_Croco
I love tweeting so much I may have to give up my job to spend more time on twitter. The zeal of the newly-converted.
@Sian_Rowland
Sigh. Thanks to you, dear Lady Of the Shoe, I've found another diversion that keeps me from work. Considering that I have three authors whose books are about to be released in the next few months, I blame you. Therefore, I demand chocolate.
@behlerpublish
Blimey - I go away for a few days and come back to find 54 comments and new people to follow. Bear with me while I trawl through you all to make sure there are no delinquents. Ah, Lynn, i see you there...
A few comments to reply to;
Simon - re finding the time, I use down-time, such as when I'm having a coffee break or waiting for a bus. Requires an internet-enabled phone, though. And, as someone else pointed out, it's @, not #!
Damyanti - have fun!
Lucy - I'm not that easy.
colin - thanks.
Rupert - I do!
Tom - there WAS - thank you!!
Bailish - hmm, interesting question. It depends how political the tweets were, I suppose but I tend to think that a) writers tend to be interested in politics and current affairs, too but b) if you're more confortable keeping things separate, a separate account would be good. Lots of people have more than one.
Ebony - yes, the BUY MY BOOK aspect sucks and needs to be handled very carefully, just as amongst friends you meet physically (if you know what I mean).
Hannah - ooh, good idea! (re being paid by twitter!)
Sally Z - taking it slowly is not a problem at all.
Sally C - well done!
David - I totally agree about it defeating the object to schedule tweets. Time management - hmm, I'm NOT the expert!
geitje - no need to block people, unless they actually annoy you. Lurking isn't forbidden, tho! (But it's friendlier not to...)
Phoenix - your agent shouldn't have chastised you. But I'm glad she did!
LC GAnt - what's your Twitter name?
Erghh, I now have a really sore neck from writing down everyone's twitternames and am off to follow you all now. But I will soon unfollow anyone who seems only to self-promote - so i hope you won't!
Hannah - you need to put your Twitter name, or I can't follow you.
EVERYONE - if I haven't started following you by tomorrow morning, PLEASE remind me by adding another comment. I am in a rush and may have missed some.
I don't tweet often, but have an open ear for all things writerly.
@jp_hollis
@coreyjpopp Freelance writer trying to break into fiction. Part-time college instructor. Technology Director.
Hi, I'm a tweeter and have always had a dream to write, tired and left it due to family/work/studying constraints, but now I want to actually try again, so would love to follow/be followed by people with the same interest. I'm also pretty new to blogging, so bear with me :)
I'm jane_lou on twitter
I'm fairly new to twitter and found these blog posts of yours from someone I follow! They are very helpful! My twitter name is @megankbickel.
Thanks for the great info!
Sorry, I forgot to include my Twitter name in my comment! *headdesk* It's @lcgwriter Thanks for following :-)
Hello,
This is a great idea. I'm a British writer based in Vancouver. I tweet occasionally but mainly follow other people on the literary scene, magazines, events and what-not. So useful.
@jacbateman
I write twitter fiction, generally a tale a month, often with a humour and/or specfic bent. October is steampunk. @Louise_Curtis_
I'm a non-fiction writer, commercial copywriter and marketer who occasionally does author publicity. Hey, you need many strings to your bow when you live in the Lakes! Please come tweet @mabhmac
I'm an aspiring urban fantasy writer currently following other pre-published writers, writers, agents, and a few editors. I'm still figuring out Twitter so looking for followers as well as like minded people to follow.
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