This post by Yvonne Ventresca originally appeared on the UncommonYA blog.
I love Twitter but I’ve recently corresponded with several people who are reluctant to try it or who wonder how to best use it as an author. Below is a collection of six links that may help.
The Basics
If you think that RT stands for Romantic Times or Rotten Tomatoes, start here: “How to Use Twitter In A Way That Won't Get You Kicked in the Face” by Lynne Kelly (@LynneKelly). Her primer begins with setting up an account and ends with some information about marketing.
Basics and Beyond/Q&A
Debbie Ridpath Ohi (@inkyelbows) has developed a comprehensive twitter guide for writers and illustrators in an easy-to-use Q&A format. Simply click on the question to find more information. For example, learn the answer to “My new book is launching! How can I tell my followers about it without spamming them?” and “Be honest. How effective is Twitter in selling books, REALLY?”
Twitter Etiquette
You remember the feeling of being picked last for a team in gym class? Yeah, Twitter can feel like that. If you’re having trouble getting followers, check out “This Is Why No One Follows You On Twitter” by Amy-Mae Elliott (@AmyMaeElliott). She points out some things you might be doing that could discourage interaction.
The Philosophy of Followers
While everyone wants some followers, don’t be afraid of not amassing thousands. “The point of Twitter, at least in my experience, is having the right kind of followers. Followers who get invested in YOU, not in being one of your numbers,” says Scott Tracey (@scottjtracey). This is an older post via @sarahpinneo’s website, but still a relevant look at what using Twitter can mean to an author.
Clutter Control
You understand the basics and you’ve got meaningful followers, but your feed is a mess. How do you manage the onslaught of tweets? “As the user, it is your responsibility to take control of your Twitter feed and what’s in it,” says Lisa Mason (@somedsatisfied). In “Making Sense of Twitter- Uncluttering Your
Feed,” she offers some tips to streamline your Twitter experience.
Help! I’m Afraid Twitter Is Taking Too Much Time
It can be tempting to tweet yet again instead of revising a chapter of your WIP. But creating tweets shouldn’t be the only writing you get done. Emlyn Chand (@emlynchand) offers ten timesaving tips for using Twitter so you’ll have more time for your real writing.
An Addition
After UncommonYA ran the orginal article, I came across another site to include: Drowning in Tweets: A struggling author tries to understand Twitter by Scott D. Southard (@SDSouthard). It's worth reading just for the "Guess The Genre" game he made up.
Do you have a favorite Twitter-related article that would help authors? Mention it in the comments or tweet the link to @YvonneVentresca.
If you think that RT stands for Romantic Times or Rotten Tomatoes, start here: “How to Use Twitter In A Way That Won't Get You Kicked in the Face” by Lynne Kelly (@LynneKelly). Her primer begins with setting up an account and ends with some information about marketing.
Basics and Beyond/Q&A
Debbie Ridpath Ohi (@inkyelbows) has developed a comprehensive twitter guide for writers and illustrators in an easy-to-use Q&A format. Simply click on the question to find more information. For example, learn the answer to “My new book is launching! How can I tell my followers about it without spamming them?” and “Be honest. How effective is Twitter in selling books, REALLY?”
Twitter Etiquette
You remember the feeling of being picked last for a team in gym class? Yeah, Twitter can feel like that. If you’re having trouble getting followers, check out “This Is Why No One Follows You On Twitter” by Amy-Mae Elliott (@AmyMaeElliott). She points out some things you might be doing that could discourage interaction.
The Philosophy of Followers
While everyone wants some followers, don’t be afraid of not amassing thousands. “The point of Twitter, at least in my experience, is having the right kind of followers. Followers who get invested in YOU, not in being one of your numbers,” says Scott Tracey (@scottjtracey). This is an older post via @sarahpinneo’s website, but still a relevant look at what using Twitter can mean to an author.
Clutter Control
You understand the basics and you’ve got meaningful followers, but your feed is a mess. How do you manage the onslaught of tweets? “As the user, it is your responsibility to take control of your Twitter feed and what’s in it,” says Lisa Mason (@somedsatisfied). In “Making Sense of Twitter- Uncluttering Your
Feed,” she offers some tips to streamline your Twitter experience.
Help! I’m Afraid Twitter Is Taking Too Much Time
It can be tempting to tweet yet again instead of revising a chapter of your WIP. But creating tweets shouldn’t be the only writing you get done. Emlyn Chand (@emlynchand) offers ten timesaving tips for using Twitter so you’ll have more time for your real writing.
An Addition
After UncommonYA ran the orginal article, I came across another site to include: Drowning in Tweets: A struggling author tries to understand Twitter by Scott D. Southard (@SDSouthard). It's worth reading just for the "Guess The Genre" game he made up.
Do you have a favorite Twitter-related article that would help authors? Mention it in the comments or tweet the link to @YvonneVentresca.
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