I've been on Twitter for a few months; never really tweeting or following anyone. About two weeks ago, I had a bit of an awakening; thanks to Jeanne Bowerman's brilliant article in November's Writer's Digest. With a renewed understanding of what Twitter was all about, I started on a quest to make new friends who think and feel like me (because-let's face it-I didn't fall in love with my husband because of his passion for books). Since I have started writing actively, I have found myself to spend my time alone (as Jeanne expressed too), locked away sitting in an office, trying to write, edit or at least, get inspired.
In the last year, I have been swimming in the muddy waters of revision; sometimes not knowing where to turn to get a boost, sometimes just to start liking my own writing again. How could I possibly look at it with the eyes of a reader? I couldn't not at that time. I started sending chapters to my sister a few months ago and I am still at it, but although she is great at pinpointing the problems as well as giving sound advice, she's not here by my side to give me personal boost every other minute. It took me months to get through half the manuscript. Now with the help of the links that the awesome people I am following, I have found renewed inspiration and courage and stopped hating my style!
That was the first part of the battle. My personal life had never suffered such a great loss, as it did since this novel started gobbling up all my personal time. I have absolutely zero girl friends that I see on a regular basis. I have guy friends, because my husband is out there more, to make and maintain friendships. All while I'm typing away and cringing at the shoulder pain that is now moving down my spine like my head and waist can't decide which one should use the muscle.
Am I whining about the loneliness too much? I know. It is what it is. To write, you have to enjoy alone time and I do. I am certainly not lonely. These damn characters sneak around in my head 24/7. Then again, who am I kidding? I need someone to tell me what to do ever so often. I need a real person. I'm miserable when I can't write. If I stopped, I would feel jittery and incomplete for the rest of my life. So, I need cheerleaders, fellow sufferers and other writers to tell me it's all going to be OK. Seriously, I need to give you a bit of background here.
Before I could write, I insisted on leaving hand-drawn notes for people, they looked like comic strips. When I was six and had just learned to write (please give me a chance here, it's just one paragraph), I asked my mom to let me use her typewriter. It was an old fashioned one that would almost take a finger off if you missed a key. On this typewriter, I wrote a plea to all the people of the world (I still have the copy, I think). It was about how adults should stop consuming too much and think of the landfills and pollution they are never going to live to see, but will ruin the lives of their grandchildren. There was even a paragraph addressed to children, who should think about what toys to ask for and consider the waste they are creating. I wanted to post this on buildings around the city, but not knowing of a photocopier, I tried to type copies and soon lost interest in the task; like a normal, healthy child.
The main point is, I had a passion for writing to move people then and I do now. I have written since the moment I could and I will continue to, that is why I can't stand not writing. My recent revision block was affecting my psyche severely. Then like an angel (he definitely doesn't look like one) my mailman dropped off my copy of Writer's Digest. The whole issue is about Writing and the Web. Jeanne's article really spiked my interest in meeting these people that were talking to each other on Twitter. I realized I was missing out on the action. Good, network-worthy, intelligent conversations were being tweeted away without me. I had to stop the toe-dipping and become a smart tweeter.
How do you become a smart Tweeter?
There is no guide to success on Twitter. I wouldn't be the one to write it either, my following is still quite modest. I observed some expected tendencies and I am sure if you're reading this chances are, you have too.
Smart tweeters like to follow these types of people who:
- have shared interests
- retweet and link back
- tweet with valuable links to blogs and sites, make sure to only #hashtag in the correct interest groups
- be kind, polite and always helpful
- tweet intelligent facts, quotes, your own words (but keep to the very interesting, funny or informational)
- do all of this, not because you want to be rich and famous, but because it feels awesome to be a part of a community of brilliant minds.
Smart tweeters DON'T follow those who:
- follow Justin Bieber
- tell us they brushed their teeth, they slept with their ex or they have athlete's foot (actually just go away, don't follow us because we will NOT follow back)
- spam
- link to products they are trying to sell
- tweet to scam and con people into crap
In my two weeks, this is what I have learned. The most important point of all that is to be willing to put aside personal greed and get out there to share your web surfing adventures and ideas. You could be the one inspiring someone to write the next bestseller or Pulitzer winner. You never know. In the process, you just might end up making a ton of well-connected and truly amazing friends. I have just started and I can't wait to see what will happen next.
I needed to find a solution and Twitter was my solution. I am getting to know many people, just by following their blogs and their tweets, many of which have given me the kick to get back into groove. That damn fickle groove. Better get back to that novel before I need to tweet some more.
