I Can’t Face Facebook
Facebook makes me crazy, so I never go there which is bad because I have a page there. Also, that’s where my tweets come from, so when I don’t go there, there are no tweets. Which is okay because Facebook stuff makes for lousy tweets. Mollie says I can stop, which is good since I really already have just from being overwhelmed, but I feel guilty. Which leads me to Twitter. 140 characters. I wouldn’t have to do it that often. And you don’t have to answer tweets, right?
How do you feel about Twitter? What do you like about it, either as writer or follower (or whatever they call people who read other people’s tweets)? How much damage could I do to my career tweeting whatever comes to mind randomly? What’s the best advice you could give somebody (say, oh, me) who’s contemplating doing it? “Don’t”? That’s what I thought.
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I agree with both Jennifer and Elizabeth. I hate Facebook and I've never used Twitter, but I need to get my name as an author known. I find it scary that people need to advertise their every move to the world on a public site and I only use Facebook to talk to friends (real ones to whom I am not geographically close) and to advertise my books. My lack of FB friends must be why my marketing doesn't get me far. I do think that people who tweet on the spur of the moment can do immense harm to their reputations. Jennifer, you are well enough known not to have to worry about the publicity angle. We indie authors who need to self-publicise are the ones who need to look at social media, but I still cringe...
At least twitter doesn't have so many adds, and it doesn't keep changing your privacy settings on you. That's nice.
Twitter is good for social media. I like the fact that on twitter you can lock your tweets which means you can decide who sees what you say or post like a picture. I've been on twitter for a few years, it's how I keep up to date on my sports and things my friends that aren't on facebook are up to.
You don't have to reply to anyone or anything on twitter that you don't want to. There is also a blocking option. So that is always handy.
Hope this helps. :)
I am a convert to Twitter. Didn't like it to start with, now prefer it to Facebook. It's electronic people watching, if you like - with all sorts walking past. I pick up interesting blog articles, have a giggle at the funny tweets, find new books to investigate. It also helps your audience connect with the person behind the book, but then again, a blog does that just fine. Better, because tweets are not permanent.I reckon it's only a necessity for YA writers. For everyone else, it's an added extra, but don't worry about tweeting inappropriately. If you've got enough impulse control to stop it coming out of your mouth, then chances are you're not going to type it either!
