Wednesday, April 27, 2011

The Twitter Effect

I was once told that it's important to have an ego boost and that I should submit articles to newspapers and work to get good grades so that I feel like I'm accomplishing something.  I haven't submitted any articles but I have worked hard to get good grades and I think that statement really is true.  So is twitter and ego boost or false inflation?  I have not used twitter until a couple weeks ago and I started following as many writers, editors, and publishers that I could find.  Just by following a lot of people I have gotten over 700 followers in that 10 days.  At first I was feeling really good about myself but then I started to wonder how much stock I should put into twitter.  I think it's good to take both to heart and not lean too much either way.  Having a lot of people follow you is not just an ego boost but it's very important for networking especially for self publishing online writers.  But we shouldn't let it boost us up too much to where we think that we are better or more talented than we actually are.

11 comments:

  1. Nice blog. You make valid points here. Sometimes it seems like a popularity contest.

    I read your profile and your question.

    I think everyone has a story and we are called to write...only a few have the strength to actually do it. Go for it J E Boldt!

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  2. Yes, I believe those of us who write are born as writers. How else could you explain the crazy need we have for writing as much as breathing? And if we had to make a choice between writing or breathing....?

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  3. Hey, lovely blog.
    As to twitter and facebook: I hated it! As you, I've reluctantly signed up, but I made wonderful online friends and it's an important tool to get your books sees.

    Are we born as writers? Don't know, some just need an outlet and write and write, but that doesn't mean they are good. Writing is a talent, it's like singing, some love to sing, but can't hit a straight note. I think we're born with it, all we need is to find out if we have it or if we're just singing missing the notes.

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  4. I've made some great friends on twitter too... and I do think it's important to help build up a rapport with other writers and readers. Surely the more followers you gain, the more likely you are to grab their attention when trying to encourage people to buy your book (I hope so, anyway!!).

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  5. You make some great points to consider. I think writing is a talent and the essential element, storytelling, is much more difficult to master than accurate punctuation.
    Twitter is interesting. Followers seem to fall into four categories: introspective, extroverted, self-seeking or just seeking to make contact.

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  6. *waves* Cool blog!

    Twitter is only useful if we are actively interacting with each other which was the more difficult part for me. In the beginning I felt I had to consciously insert myself into Tweets but its rather second nature now. Twitter is not a place for lurkers so it can be difficult for some rather introverted writers to use it to its full potential.

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  7. I've seen that happen to people. I like to say, you need to love the process because that may be all you get out of it. :)

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  8. Good point. A lot of our social networking tools have that danger. There's this unwritten rule about reciprocity that means that a lot of people follow you because you followed them. Or because they want you to follow back.

    Luckily, I don't tweet and blog for an ego boost. ^_^

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  9. You have done great on Twitter 700 in 10 days is very impressive. Well, at to me. I don't know if you're born a writer, but when that story swells up inside of you it has to be told.

    @Stella You're right some love to sing, but they can't hit a straight note. However, they can learn to play an instrument, write lyrics and music, and many other things. But when you love it that much, you can't stay away from it. With writing you got publishers, editors, teachers. And if all else fails be a life long student. But if you love it, you don't let it go.

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  10. The new twitter makes it so much easier. Took me a year to get that many.

    I've met a lot of really interesting people on Twitter.

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