Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Archive of ‘Twitter’ category
Of all social media outlets, Twitter is my favorite. Where else can I converse with my favorite soap-opera star and discover the latest political argument all at the same time?
In case you didn’t know, Twitter is a mecca for writers and creative minds of all types. And the advice! Everything from plots to conflict to character and submissions…well, check out these tweets below for yourself, then stop by and and say hi at Twitter. You can find me at @Buckeye_BethM.
Tweet you soon!
Six types of antagonist. Which is yours? tinyurl.com/bxwm9le
— K.M. Weiland (@KMWeiland) November 6, 2012
Writer’s Roadmap – Using Excel Keep Your Novel Organized wp.me/pU4r9-1OZ
— Jenny Hansen (@JennyHansenCA) November 7, 2012
Writers, do you know how to create “moments” so you don’t bore your readers? awe.sm/5lWeg #amwriting #writetip #writers #authors
— Susanne Lakin (@CSLakin) November 7, 2012
It’s NANOWRIMO Time! What is it & 25 things you need to know about it ow.ly/f4ZQo #wip #writegoal #WritingTip
— K. P. Kollenborn (@KPKollenborn) November 7, 2012
5 ways to increase conflict: bit.ly/VHvZjC @eileenwriter
— Elizabeth S Craig(@elizabethscraig) November 7, 2012
Make Point of View Work for You: Writing the Male POV wp.me/p3Ak6-Ia #amwriting #nanowrimo
— Kaye Dacus (@kayedacus) November 7, 2012
Be Inspired By This Intimate Look At Ian Rankin’s Writing Process via @fuelyourwriting bit.ly/T2cxhF
— Joanna Penn (@thecreativepenn) November 13, 2012
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Twitter Tuesday 2/15
Blog posts that caught my eye on Twitter last week:
Blogging Tips: 6 Types of Twitter Tools That Come in Handy: http://dld.bz/K247 (more Twitter, less writing-focused)
Publishing Perspectives’ Dirty Girls and Self-Publishing: The Tricks of the Trade (fascinating…how a million-selling author went to self-publishing) http://publishingperspectives.com/2011/02/self-publishing-the-tricks-of-the-trade/
Joseph Finder’s (and other authors’) writing desk at Joseph Finder’s blog: http://bit.ly/h52RhR
Adventures In Children’s Writings’ Writer’s Tools: Worksheets & More: http://dld.bz/cXmN
Elizabeth Gilbert’s discussion on creativity (a video–and I don’t do videos. But this one challenged my thinking. Well worth the time) TED Talks http://bit.ly/hYnRcE
Andrew Jack’s Writing: Ten Websites for Writers Ten Websites For Writers http://wp.me/pyMqx-cR
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Twitter Tuesday 2/8
I come across links to some of the *best* blog posts on writing via Twitter. Instead of hogging them all, like I did with that bag of Hershey Kisses last week, I think I’ll start sharing them on Tuesday. (Blog posts, not chocolate. Sorry…)
Here, in no particular order, are some of my favorites:
from Darcy Pattison’s Fiction Notes Blog: Character checklist: http://tinyurl.com/yzwo9op
from Freelance Folder.com’s Blog: 7 Tips for Using Your LinkedIn Profile to Land Great Projects http://bit.ly/hsBCnP
from Liz Michalski at Writers Unboxed blog: Full Boil or Slow Simmer? (on the writing process) http://bit.ly/ej875o
from Natania Barron’s blog: Six Ways Twitter Can Make You A Better Writer: http://t.co/CcP7gPI
from Kristen Lamb’s Blog: Non-Fiction and Using Your Uniqueness to Become an Expert http://bit.ly/fLe0fq
from Julie Isaac’s The Writing Spirit blog: How to Write Daily (Or Meet Whatever Writing Goal You Set) More Easily http://blog.writingspirit.com/2010/11/write-daily-part-1.html
Stop by these great blogs. Read one, read ‘em all. Tell ‘em I sent ya. Then, get yourself on Twitter to find more great reading of your own! (and Tweet me up while you’re there: @Buckeye_BethM)
Any of these posts really strike a chord with you? Which ones? Why? I’d love to hear your thoughts…
Friday, July 3, 2009
7/3 WIP Tip: Twitter for Writers, part 1
Let’s just say I didn’t have anything ready to go and am pulling this one from a…hat….!
If you’re not Twittering yet, you really need to be. These past two weeks, Twitter has been the difference between wallowing in thought on my WIP and finishing 52 pages.
Here’s how:
Every morning, I log on (through TwitterFox most mornings) to see what my tweeple have been up to.
Next, I visit #writegoal and type in my daily writing goal. This depends on the day and my state of mind. My default goal is 1k words, though the last two days I’ve been working on a guest blog post for next week. A few days my goal was just to work on my plot, find holes, events, etc.
After I work and finish my goals, (with occasional tweets in between to give my brain a rest and keep everyone on the edge of their seat as to whether or not I’ll make the goal LOL), I post my result back at #writegoal. I like to give folks encouragement and shout-outs if they make their goal. Writing is a lonely endeavor and it’s nice to connect with people who know how it feels to spend a day with words running rampant in their heads.
A few other fun writing things at Twitter:
#followfriday-each Friday, people make a list of fellow Tweeple they’re following for the day and retweet (RT) their posts. I don’t do this too often as I’m not usually in front of the PC all day, but it is a good way to find more writers with good tweets.
#writechat–held every Sunday between 12p-3p Pacific time. Just do a search for #writechat, save the search and get involved. All kinds of topics come up for discussion and input. Fantastic advice and resources, too. (I follow this one using Tweetchat…so much easier)
and a not-directly-related-to-writing-but-reading group on Twitter…
#fridayreads–here, folks post what they’re reading. On Fridays. I’ve gotten some great new books to check out this summer by following this list. Like I don’t have a big enough TBR pile.
Get over to Twitter and sign up. If you’re a writer and don’t have “hot” and “sexy pics” in your profile, I’ll be sure to add you. I’m @Buckeye_BethM. Say hi & ask for help if you need it. Twits are great people!
(Oh, and if you’re looking for the Twitter for Writers, part 2 post, you’ll be waiting a while. There isn’t one in the works, at the moment, but give it time. Something will come up!)
How do you use Twitter to make yourself a better writer? I’d love to know!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Ten Top Twitter Tips for Writers, Part 5
By now, you should be a Twitter expert! (I’m sure there’s a word for that…perhaps ‘twexpert?’) Let’s wrap up the series with two more great ideas to add to your Twerpertoire (ugh!).
9. Network off the ‘net
I belong to a group of Twitterers who happen to be local. They’re all marketing, internet, business-type folks who know more about social networking that I ever plan to learn, but their ideas and energy are contagious. They’ve started meeting in places around the city to network and get to know each other (also known as Tweetups), and as soon as my schedule allows, I’m planning to join them. There’s always value in putting names to faces, so I’ll do it as much for them as myself. Who knows who they might know locally that can help build my writing career?
You can take this a step further by twittering your book signing information, writing group meeting and conference details and any other events where you’ll be out in public.
10. Have Fun!
When I began Twittering, I did so solely from my standpoint of an author. I wanted to network with other writers, editors and agents—anyone in it for the writing. Along the way, I’ve followed (and am being followed by) an amazing number of folks more diverse and colorful than a bag of Skittles. One of my non-writing passions is all things culinary, so I’ve added a few foodies to my follow list. I also follow local news anchors and CNN (great for learning how to condense a huge post into those nebulous 140 words), language experts (to feed my linguistic nerdiness), a fabulous tarot card reader and teacher (who uses her card spreads to plot her stories) and Ohio State football fans from across the country (O-H!). I don’t follow everyone who follows me, because as you’ll come to see, some Twitters are downright annoying, lewd or weird (just like real life). Since the whole social-networking idea is to connect with those you’d normally not connect with in the bubble of your daily life, adding Twitters from all facets of life I find interesting accomplishes just that.
Now that you know the inside secrets to using Twitter to your writing advantage, how are you making it work for you? Let us know!
Curious about how Twitter can help your writing? Stop by these posts for more ideas:
1. Build Networks and Personal Relationships
2. Get Involved in Conversations
9. Network off the ‘Net
10. Have Fun!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Ten Top Twitter Tips for Writers, Part 4
I’m almost done sharing a full week of ways to boost your writing career with Twitter. How many have you tried?
1. Build Networks and Personal Relationships
2. Get Involved in Conversations
7. Tease ‘Em
8. Challenge Yourself
7. Tease ‘em
You know you’ve always wanted to be a tease. Now’s your chance. Twitter is an excellent way to get your work to readers. Tweet an approved excerpt, title or blurb with a link to your site. If you’ve got a long excerpt, tweet a line or two each day with a link to your book, website or blog. Tweet your public appearances and book signings. Tweet an excerpt of your blog posts and link back to your blog.
An extension of this is to add Twitter updates to your social network sites and blog via plug-ins and apps, short for applications. You can do this by going to the “Settings” then “Account” tab at Twitter and following the “You can also add Twitter to your site here” link below the “More Info URL box. Likewise, you can also set up your Blogger, Facebook, MySpace, TypePad and other social sites to update twitter through the use of applications (apps) or plug-ins. If you can’t locate the necessary apps or plug-ins at your social site, try a Google search.
8. Challenge yourself
Sometimes you need a little extra push to get you over a hump or a mental block. Tweet that you’re putting yourself on a deadline or giving yourself a challenge, say, to finish chapter 12 by lunch. Work in a few periodic breaks to update your status (or download a Twitter app like TwitterFox for your browser to update your status without the temptation of reading Twitter posts) and let folks know when you’re done and if you met your goal. For some, this is just distraction, but for those who thrive on competition and public humiliation, it may just be the ticket. If you’ve got other writer-friends on Twitter, you may be able to convince them to join you in your challenge. Never hurts to ask.
What kind of writing challenge works best for you? Set page output? Finishing a chapter? A specific number of scenes? Just getting to your writing on some days? Do share–we love hearing about your goals.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Ten Top Twitter Tips for Writers, Part 3
For your consideration, two more Twitter-for-Writer tips, bringing our total to 6. Did you catch 1&2 and 3&4?
5. Practice writing short
I wasn’t joking when I said I saw you cringe at the mention of 140 characters or less. That’s all, folks. Cut through to the heart of the message. Like a Tootsie Pop, cut through the sugar and get to the chewy. (42 words right there. You can do this!) Practice makes perfect.
6. Cull writing prompts
Another benefit to 140 characters, from your perspective as a reader not a Tweeter, is the likelihood of another post sparking your own ideas. This is where following Tweeple and conversations that interest you personally is great advice. Any post is fodder for a story, a character or an article. A recent tweet about pancake syrup is stuck in my head, ready to be a story or character quirk.
Be sure to stop by the other 8 TwiTips for Writers…
1. Build Networks and Personal Relationships
2. Get Involved in Conversations
5. Practice Writing Short
6. Cull Writing Prompts
What’s the most interesting Tweet you’ve seen recently? Fess up. You never know what it might spark…
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Ten Top Twitter Tips for Writers, Part 2
Two more tips in the Ten Top Twitter Tips for Writers series up for your consideration. Did you miss yesterday’s tips?
Ten Top Twitter Tips for Writers, Part 2
3. Ask Questions
Everyone has an opinion, a thought, an answer or something to say about almost every topic. The most popular Twitterers are those who get discussions flowing by asking questions. Ask about research, craft, ideas, promo, marketing…anything writing-related to get Tweeple thinking and tweeting back. You can also pick the brains of experts on subjects you’re seeking info for if you hook up with the right folks. I’ve been fortunate to find a number of fellow Twitters willing to share advice and insight I’ve needed on topics as varied as cooking, website development, space travel and sports teams (not necessarily in that order).
4. Share the Writer’s Mind
I haven’t figured out why, but people find something mystical about the mind of a writer. Along with the normal questions (where do you get your ideas? How do you research? How do I write a query letter?), I’ve fielded some that really make me wonder (What special food do you eat? How can I get an editor to buy a book I haven’t written? What kind of ink do you use in your fountain pen?). The normalcy and knowledge of the writer’s life fascinates others, including our fellow writers. Tweet a glimpse of the writer’s life to keep them interested. Make sure it’s not too mundane, but don’t give away any of our magic secrets, either.
What magic writer’s secrets would you share with Twitterers if you weren’t bound by the author’s code of conduct? Comments welcome!
More food for (Twitter) thought:
1. Build Networks and Personal Relationships
2. Get Involved in Conversations
3. Ask Questions
4. Share the Writer’s Mind
Monday, March 23, 2009
Ten Top Twitter Tips for Writers, Part 1
Today’s tips are simple yet effective ways to get yourself started on Twitter:
1. Build networks and personal relationships
This is a no-brainer, considering it’s the main reason for the existence of social networking. The thrill of push-button publishing can sap your attention away from doing real work on Twitter and replace it with ridiculous accounts of your life that interest no one but yourself. Instead, seek out fellow authors, readers and even editors to connect with and follow. Make your networking time about establishing your online persona if you want to stand out from the crowd. A bonus to adding followers to your Twitter list is that many of them network cross-platform, meaning they may also follow you through Facebook, MySpace, your blog or other virtual connections (these folks are fondly referred to as Tweeps).
2. Get involved in conversations
There’s value in living as a lurker as long as at some point, you get yourself off the couch and into the game. While some people tweet for the thrill of instant gratification, others post to get a reaction, a thought or involvement. Give ‘em what they want by talking back. Skip the long response—short and personal is what they’re seeking. The more value you find with others’ tweets (and tell them), the more they’ll be likely to interact with yours.
Want more? Check out the other articles in the series:
1. Build Networks and Personal Relationships
2. Get Involved in Conversations
How do you use Twitter as an author? Share your insight…leave a comment.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Ten Top Twitter Tips for Writers
This week, I’m kicking off the first topic in a series of writer-related articles on social networking in general, social networking programs in particular. Each day, you’ll get two more tips to make the most of your social networking time.
I’d love your thoughts, ideas and suggestions–as comments–sharing how you use social network sites to advance your writing career. Let’s get started with Twitter.
Ten Top Twitter Tips for Writers
Even if you’re in-the-know about social networking, keeping up with all the twists, turns, apps and add-ons can be enough to make you mad. Tweet this, Stumble that, Blog him, Facebook me…. Taking hungry middle school students on a field trip to a candy factory is less overwhelming (and far more De.li.cious).
If you’re overwhelmed by all the ‘net terms being tossed about like Dum Dum suckers at a holiday parade, don’t despair. The social networking boom is good…actually, great…where writers are concerned. Think of every new bit and byte of technological connection as an open invitation to bring readers, reviewers, editors and colleagues to your virtual doorstep. The world is a huge place, and these programs have the potential to make your career more than just a name or a website—they create a ‘person’ in the minds of those you’re networking with.
Twitter, in a candy-coated (nut)shell, is a service that allows users to send and receive ‘Tweets’ (posts/updates) of 140 words or less. Yes, that’s correct: 140 words or less—I saw you cringe. That’s the beauty of Twitter: short and sweet.
Signed up? If not, visit Twitter.com and get yourself a free account. Once you’ve established your Twitter-self, check out these 10 ways to maximize your Twittering time. (two new tips added each day! Come back for all the good stuff!)
1. Build Networks and Personal Relationships
2. Get Involved in Conversations
It's pretty simple, really. I'm a writer who loves writing about writing, and sharing all the tricks of the trade with other writers. And when I'm not writing, I'm thinking about writing. I have a hunch you know what I mean :)