It seems that everywhere you turn writers are being told that they need to build an online platform. They need a blog, a website, a Facebook page and, perhaps most importantly, a twitter account.
Here are six reasons I (@Caroline_S) have found twitter to be essential for new writers:
It is big and it is clever: The explosion in twitter users has made twitter the thing all the cool (mainly over 25s) ‘kids’ are doing. It’s new (ish) and to be honest its reputation as the best social media tool out there is well deserved. The simple fact that twitter is the latest trend is reason enough to get involved. The fact that is gives writers the chance to entice hundreds of new readers makes it, well…irresistible.
Conversation is King: Twitter’s biggest advantage is that it makes millions of people so damn accessible. Once a member of twitter, you can follow and interact with anyone else on the system. Now (for me) this isn’t about famous people, it’s about normal people and people that you can connect with and who you’re interested in. As a writer it allows you to make friends and build a following. However, it also allows you to interact with people that can help solve problems. For me, twittering isn’t about trying to get someone to buy my books, it’s about connecting and having a laugh. Need a bit of advice about grammar, or which publisher to approach or even the best type of dog food – twitter can help.
You might just bag yourself a book deal: A growing number of publishers and agents are using twitter. Most are open and ready to interact. This means that, for the first time, writers have the chance to skip the slush pile and go straight to the people that count. Build a relationship with the correct agent or publisher and you never know there might be a book deal in it for you.
Being on twitter makes you a more attractive writer: Publishers and agents are actively looking for writers with a controlled web presence. It apparently makes writers easier to market and makes it easier to sell books to book shops. This means that a decent following on twitter will actually make you a more attractive prospect when trying to place your book (but, like every aspect of social media, a new writer being aggressive, giving too much away or acting like a Diva may work against them, depending on the genre).
Solving problems and resources: There are many on twitter who spend all day simply tweeting out advice and links to quality resources. You name your topic and you will find a twitterer offering advice. There are tweets about writing, about getting published, about marketing your book, about grammar, about local events, you name it. So why pass up on all that free advice?
Laughing makes the world a better place: Twitter is fun, it’s easy and I find myself laughing out loud at so many of the 140 character updates that those I follow offer into the world of twitter. I can’t help but like best those who don’t take themselves too seriously and don’t try to make me buy something.
Really, any new writer who isn’t twittering - I’d like to ask why?
{ 37 comments… read them below or add one }
A very interesting and encouraging post!
I joined Twitter earlier on in the year, but didn’t get brave enough to do anything with it until May, on my birthday.
I was feeling very happy, had a great new haircut and decided to write my first tweet about that. I felt a bit self-conscious about it, but was soon encouraged when I first began to receive emails informing me that people were now following me.
A lot of these were people who I look up to, people who have given me so much wisdom and pleasure in their blogs, stories, articles and novels.
I started to encounter some of the very interesting people that they interact with, I found a few friends that have taken the plunge, and I generally found a very informative, sympathetic and funny bunch.
As a new writer, I highly recommend it.
Twitter: @tangledallyThanks so much for your comment. Twitter is hard at first, really hard. I found the 140 characters really difficult and also couldn’t believe that anyone would actually want to follow me! I think I joined in 2007, but just dipped and dabbed for ages. I’ve been lucky, so far, and have conected with like-minded folks. Long may it last!
x
I’ve already realised its potential. I’ve been a Twit(ter) for only a couple of months and have already built up a following and have even sold a few copies of my book, Eden!
Twitter: @wisebird2009I love it. As you’re said, not because you can interact with the successful and famous but because I’ve met many new authors like myself.
I’ve bought books from unknown authors, read really interesting blogs from authors-in-waiting and made loads of friends.
Twitter reaches out to everyone, and I for one, am loving every minute of it!
Twitter works on so many levels. I guess it’s very much of the moment, but for now it’s really working for lots of different people. I look forward to following you
You’re right, I’m sure. And yet the more people tell me I should use twitter, the more I turn into a five year old going ‘but I don’t wanna!’.
I’m sure I wouldn’t be on facebook if I hadn’t accidentally signed up way before I’d even heard of it. One of my cousins invited me and i’d signed up before I knew what I was doing.
I realise that if I ever get any success, though, I’ll probably have to (unless of course something else has taken over by then!). But I’ll revel in my twitter-less status until then.
(The only thing that made me want to join was when Trent Reznor had an account.)
Hope you are OK honey. We’ve not talked in forever! Will email soon.
But it’s so much better than facebook! And Chuck P twitters too, so many writers do.
But I’m not here to convince people to twitter, honest, and I respect your desire not to. For me, it’s about having a giggle and connecting with lots of people.
Let me know when you eventually join
but I’m already there on fb, and many of the people i connect with (cousins, largely!) have only just hit fb. it’ll be decades before they all go over to twitter.
i’ll let you know if/when it happens
I’m a writer who is also a new Twitterer and blogger, so it is very interesting to read what you have to say about web presence. Contrary to my initial fear (I referred to myself as the Howard Hughes of the internet, suffering from web-hermit-itis) this former web-cluse is now having a great time!
I’ve decided to seperate my Facebook life from Twitter by reserving Facebook for friends, photos etc. while using Twitter specifically to connect with anything regarding authors, editors, agents, and writing advice in general. Not just an excellent resource but a connection platform as well. I’m thrilled with it!
Twitter: @HowDidUGetThereI think the seperating of lives is a really good idea. I have very strict boundaries about things I don’t put online, all to protect my family and to keep a positive focus on building a platform/brand. It all sounds very calculated, but it isn’t. Really, I just go with my instincts. I don’t use Facebook as much now, not going out and looking for friends on there and I think Twitter is ideal for any new writer
Hi
Twitter: @RKCharronThanks for another terrific blog post!
I found Twitter helps keep me enthused about writing, even through the “this is dreck” phase. I love that (most) of my favorite authors are on Twitter. They are my movie stars. Plus I have found new writers and new books. I’ve bought more books because of Twitter than ever before. Also I’ve been introduced to great blogs, like yours.
Yes, I am an as-yet-unpublished author, and I am on Twitter.
It helps to know that even the NYT Bestselling authors go through the same things that I do when I write.
And the great sassy, witty, fun Tweets make me grin for hours.
Love and best wishes,
twitter.com/RKCharron
xoxo
Thanks for your lovely comment and for confirming everything that I love about Twitter. It’s a bit magic, isn’t it, how people can connect across continents?
x
Excellent post Caroline - My Twitter Account has been inactive since June - but you’ve inspired me to start Twittering again! x
Twitter: @MandymandFabulous! Look forward to seeing you over there
Yes, but… if I get on Twitter, I’ll never finish the damn book!!!
I use it as a reward, so many words or so much editing and then I get to ’speak’ to people on Twitter. It stops me being so insular!
I am a total Twitter convert, having dismissed it initially for all the reasons folk do (ie. why do I want to read what people are having for breakfast?). Of course there are tweets that I don’t care about, but there are so many gems to make up for it. Plus I’ll never forget the time I was in mid-flow on my new novel and had a total brain-block so I tweeted something like: ‘what are those doily thingies you put on the back of armchairs called?’ and within seconds half a dozen people had replied ANTIMACASSARS! There are some things you just can’t Google.
Twitter: @EmilyGaleI’ve had similar for Stretch Armstrong and for the TV prog ‘Sorry’ - Twitter is magic!
I’m finding it a bit frustrating at the moment but I plan to sit down next week and read the wonderful book I won (ooohh, I wonder where I got that!!) and, hopefully, all will be come clear
. I’ve just got too much to do and too little time to do it in!!
(Looks like I have three new art commissions
)
C x
Twitter: @Mrs_B33It does get easier, it really does. I think many people give up before then, so keep going. And yay to 2 new art commissions! x
From a different perspective - as a frequent traveller, Twittering and more specifically, reading Tweets keeps me in touch with whats going on and it makes the world seem a much smaller place.
The worst bit is companies who see Twittering as a distraction (as if we would!) and set their firewalls to stun.
The best bit, tho’ is reading other Tweets and then making up silly replies
Twitter: @brommanI love your tweets and your replies. You make me smile!
But Caroline, you did not need twitter! If you have talent and can write, someone will publish you, just like you got published!
but blogs were the place to be then, I just didn’t realise that my very own cyber-scout was watching
The publishing world is changing all the time x
I twitter but don’t have time to do it all day like a lot of the people I follow because i work full time. Any advice for people like me?
Twitter: @DJKirkbyI don’t think I know anyone who twiters all day, just when they’ve a few minutes to spare or waste and I think many do it from their phones. I do. As you’re already on twitter and you’ve already a following because of your lovely blog, my advice is too keep doing what you’re doing! You’re building your own brand and your online platform in a very clever way. Try and connect with more people on Twitter, by taking some time to look for more people who interest you. It’ll be organic, so just go with the flow. Then tweet as and when you can - don’t be so hard on you! You’re already on twitter and I enjoy seeing you there
x
Good post. I agree.
Twitter: @nikperringFabulous!
Alright, alright, I’ll look into it!!!
let me know when you’re on there…
Great post - I am on Twitter but for some reason they have suspended my account and they are taking their time with unsuspending it!!
Twitter: @Lily SheehanWhy have you been suspended? Have you been naughty? Liz F was too and she lost all her followers. Twitter can be a bit random at times.
Twitter certainly has opened up my eyes to the world! LOL From @TeeMonster ’s initial and gentle introduction for me came a following of 110 followers in the space of only a few months! It’s incredible and still fun, and it has encouraged me to dust off my mews and coax it out of hiding! The story I have has been bouncing in my head for many many years and its only just now that I’ve picked the pen up again and started slowly scraping the tendrils of the story back to comprehension. Twitter: @Lisa107b
Twitter: @lisa107bAn excellent post - I keep spreading the word amongst my writing friends that they really *must* sign up to Twitter if only for the advice from people’s blogs! All in all Twitter is a fantastic resource that is far easier to use than Facebook - I do the same separation thing - Facebook is for family and close friends so I can share photos and private stuff, Twitter is the public face.
Twitter: @heidi_colthupGreat little piece; I use Twitter to steer people to my site every time I have a new piece up.
Twitter: @lx69Nice post, and great comments. I know many folks who sign up for Twitter and then throw up their hands in despair. It seems so banal and pointless at first. But stick with it for a while and you will soon discover just how valuable it is. Choose the right people to follow and it’s like being plugged into the publishing world. How can a writer pass up an opportunity like that?
I’m using Twitter now to do the #fridayflash. We post flash fiction each Friday on our blogs and tweet the links on Twitter. It’s been a wonderful experience, both in getting my stories read, and in learning so much from other writers. There is a lot of talent out there.
Twitter: @jmstro~jon
Lisa Morrison - happy writing! I’m so glad that twitter made you want to write.
Heidi Colthup - having a public face and giving yourself strict rules and boundaries is the key. Sometimes I am so tempted to post a photo of my kids on here, but I can’t - it’s against my rules.
(S)wine - thank you! I love that so many people use Twitter to the best possible ends.
Thanks for the great article Caroline- I just joined Twitter a few days ago and already have connected with a lot of writers, both published and unpublished. I can definitely see the potential. I just discovered tonight #amwriting as a way to force myself to keep writing when I’m tired, bored, frustrated, etc. I’m still learning, but enjoying the ride!
Twitter: @JessicaCapelle