Why You Should Be On Twitter

I'm going to make a pretty bold statement. Consider yourself forewarned:

If you are at all serious about writing, no matter what stage of the publishing process you are in, you should be on twitter.

I can hear some of you twitter naysayers already: But why twitter, Heidi? I'm already on Facebook, Google Plus, Pinterest, and Instagram. What is so special about 140 characters?

Read on and I'll tell you.



Twitter can make you a better writer
Honestly, isn't that enough of a reason right there? See for yourself:

Your characters need to lose something they can never recover. Something that changes them, or the story's pointless. #editortips
— Adrien-Luc Sanders (@smoulderingsea) October 15, 2012

There should never be a part of your book you label "boring, but necessary." If it's necessary, make it interesting. #editortips
— Adrien-Luc Sanders (@smoulderingsea) October 9, 2012

If you start thinking "Well I need to explain all this before the story really starts..." Stop. Look at what you wrote. Delete. #editortips
— Adrien-Luc Sanders (@smoulderingsea) October 9, 2012

Note: Adrien-Luc Sanders give amazing writing tips. Go follow him immediately.

Don’t describe your characters’ outfits as ifyou were filling out a missing-person report. One telling detail is enough. #FE2
— FakeEditor (@FakeEditor) September 26, 2012

Twitter gives you all the good dirt.
From contest information, to what agents and publishers are currently dying for - or sick to death of, query information, and even tips on other items of writerly importance, twitter spills it.

1hr left to sign up for #SpookPitch! Window closes @ 12:01am EDT tonight! …swritersworldplotbunnies.blogspot.com/2012/10/spookt…
— Jamie Corrigan (@saphirablue84) October 17, 2012

Someone PLEASE send me a really good witch story. Something unique, dark and rich. YA or MG. Thank u.
— Georgia N. McBride (@Georgia_McBride) September 25, 2012

Writers waiting on requested material: My clients come first & they just gave me quite a bit to read. Thank you for being patient.
— Sarah LaPolla (@sarahlapolla) October 16, 2012

FYI, the query box is 100% empty as of this moment. Requery if no response. Fulls, however, go back as far as 8/27.
— Mandy Hubbard (@MandyHubbard) October 17, 2012

In case you missed the news last week, I'mtaking a query hiatus until 2013, or the world ends, whichever comes first. michellewittebooks.com/agent/submissi…
— Michelle Witte (@michellewitte) October 15, 2012

Also. WRITERS (published and not): Excellent site on tax info for YOU: taxsolutionsforwriters.com
— Kathleen Ortiz (@KOrtizzle) October 16, 2012

Writing can be isolating. Twitter is where your friends hang out.
At least that's where mine are. Want to be a member of the club?

@franticsimple Congratulations, Heidi! Just read your fantastic news! You must be over the moon.
— Kim Baker (@kim_bak) October 16, 2012

@aprilmwall Well done. You have forced me to LOL.
— Heidi Schulz (@franticsimple) October 16, 2012

@franticsimple Hooligan
— Paul Adams (@adamspaulr) October 15, 2012

There are a lot more reasons why twitter makes sense for writers. I didn't even get into #AskAgent,  #WriteClub, or #indiechat but you can figure those out on your own. Just get over there and get tweeting.
Not too much though, you do still need to save time to, oh, I don't know, actually write something a bit longer than 140 characters.


 
PS: If you could use a twitter how-to, Business 2 Blogger recently posted a handy primer. Pop in and check it out.


PSS: If you'd like to follow me on twitter, I can be found here, saying things like this: 

What I said to my good friend today: "I'm sorry I kicked your cat. Please know that it was not as violently as I would have liked."
— Heidi Schulz (@franticsimple) October 16, 2012