Twitter…
Twitter now is under new management. While I expect some changes as a result, compared to other social media sites, authors will find Twitter the easiest one to use. Unlike my political blog at pubprogressive.com (I post my more political articles there now), Twitter is a mixed message board for me: I mix political tweets with ones about reading, writing, and publishing.
First, let me say that it’s the best way for authors to learn to write blurbs and construct “elevator pitches.” They can learn to distill the important information into concise, to-the-point messages.
Tweets allow prospective readers to decide if your fiction is something they want to try and old fans to keep up with what you’re doing in your writing life. Even political tweets (I have more of those than explicitly book-related ones) show that your books might contain some important themes readers can identify with (no author can appeal to everyone…or should).
Unfortunately, a certain orange-skinned, straw-haired moron gave Twitter a bad name, weaponizing it. Authors might want to avoid his example, of course. That doesn’t mean writers can’t treat controversial themes in their tweets—that shows a writer doesn’t write fluff like cozy mysteries, bodice rippers, or escapist fantasy. Authors who show they’re human with reasonable opinions can attract more readers!
As with all of a writer’s social media presence, those people who follow the writer on Twitter are super-important. A writer doesn’t have to pander to them—they can follow and unfollow as they see fit (a writer has no control over that)—yet they’re the writer’s immediate audience on Twitter. Something attracted each one to follow, and Twitter is good about letting the tweeter know what that is.
A writer needn’t tweet a lot. Responding to readers and other authors’ tweets can be a lot of fun and a good way to gain followers. Saying what works in for you, helping another author, and so forth is a worthwhile activity in any meeting of readers and writers, and that’s what Twitter is, a meeting place where ideas are exchanged and information is shared. The less you peddle your books and the more you socialize, the better off you’ll be.
Most of all, an author should just relax and enjoy the tweeting. Rest assured it can be relaxing and a lot more fun d than editing or other marketing!
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“Esther Brookstone Art Detective” Series. Six novels now…and soon to be seven. Books one and two are from Penmore Press, #3 is from Carrick Publishing, #4 and #5 are from Draft2Digital, and #6 is a free PDF download. All ebooks are available most everywhere quality ebooks are sold, and you can order print versions for one through three at your local bookstore. Defanging the Red Dragon, #6, can be obtained by visiting my “Free Stuff & Contests” web page at this website. #7, Intolerance, is coming soon and will also be a free PDF download. Sound confusing? Blame Covid—the pandemic played havoc with this series! I won’t apologize for something Covid did. Get vaccinated and help end the pandemic!
Around the world and to the stars! In libris libertas!
