Five Reasons Twitter is Great for Writers

Networking is a difficult thing to do when gas prices are high. I’d love to meet and discuss literature with all of the writers of the world, but alas, my car would probably die before I made it to the Grand Canyon, and my fancy jet is in the shop. Luckily, the Internet has provided many tools for aspiring writers to network and share a dialog with the world. Twitter is just one of them. Despite its reputation as a time-vampire, many companies are adopting Twitter to get the word out about their products. So why not use Twitter as a way of showcasing your writing?

5 Reasons Twitter is Great for Writers

Reason 1: Networking is great, but we aren’t getting invited to the right cocktail parties lately.

The future has left me a bit disappointed. The fact that we don’t have rocket-powered jetpacks, is in constant competition with a nagging desire for robots who will cook me pancakes for breakfast.

Nonetheless, I’m delighted to know that we do have the ability to seamlessly connect with contemporary authors, and share our love of books with the world. A quick look on Twitter will connect you to established authors and up and comers alike, and all for free! Not to mention the most important part of getting people interested in your book, developing a readership.

To make Twitter work for you as an author, you have to compose really clever tweets, which for writers should be a piece of digital cake. When you share content you’ve created (blog posts, articles, pictures, videos of your cat playing piano), you’ll gain followers who will be willing to share their own experience as writers.

Reason 2: Despite what your English professor has told you, Tweeting is writing.

Whether it’s good writing is entirely up to you. It’s a fun and perfectly harmless way to spread your clever bursts of writing out among the Internet. In fact, writers will find that the 140 characters or less form known as a tweet will challenge them not only to be clever, but concise as well.

If you can manage to compose at least 10 of these, you’ve officially defeated writer’s block. In an extreme blockage, tweeting can provide a support system of other writers dealing with the same thing.

Reason 3: Publishers large and small make the best of the blue bird’s call.

Everyone from Penguin to Harper Collins has a Twitter account now. Even small literary presses, and online journals can be found sharing industry news, submission deadlines, and distinguished awards that will make your grandma so proud of you.

There are even a few Twitter users who’ve made a social media art form out of the literary web, such as Cellpoems and Pentametron, to name a few.

Reason 4: I’ve got this new book out, but whose gonna’ read it?

I strongly advise you to join Twitter for its benevolent rewards, and not simply for the purposes of shameless self-promotion. However, if you’ve created a loyal band of tweeple you’d like to retain, begin marketing yourself before that soon to be bestselling book comes out.

Twitter may also be the best place for those considering self-publishing. You have at your fingertips the ability to connect with millions of readers, send links to your new book, and even generate your own buzz without the aid of an agent.

Reason 5: Literary Agents are using Twitter as a way to draw in new talent.

Reputable magazines like Writer’s Digest tweet about agents eager for your beautifully edited manuscript on a regular basis. You’ll also be able to shop around for publishers you may be interested in, get links to their websites, and find out whose accepting submissions.

Writers are also realizing Twitter is also a business card for the digital age. It’s an informal way for people to contact you and develop a rapport that may open up some interesting leads in your writing career.

In short, opportunity tweets but once.