How to Have Fun on Twitter

Some people don't use Twitter because they're not comfortable with computers and have trouble using the service. Others have considered Twitter and decided they don't have time for or interest in doing more social networking. For this post, I'm assuming neither is true. Instead, you simply don't understand why some people think it's so fun. Here's how to have fun on Twitter.


If you haven't already done this, you first need to sign up for Twitter. Once you've created your account and are signed in, click on "Settings" in the top right-hand corner and fill in the information. Use your real name (not your User ID) in the name section so that your friends can easily find you, and make sure to list some of your interests/hobbies in the bio section.

If you need a basic orientation to using Twitter, read The Ultimate Guide for Everything Twitter and/or The Beginner’s Guide to Twitter.


Idea 1: Click on the "Find People" link in the top right-hand corner. Search for "Mr. Tweet" and click on the "follow" button. (@MrTweet is at the top of the search results.) Mr. Tweet will recommend people to you who have similar interests. Follow other people in your industry or with similar hobbies or people who just sound interesting to you.

In "Find People," also try searching for the names of your friends or favorite celebrities. Or search for your favorite non-profit organization and follow their tweets.


Idea 2: Start networking in your industry. Try a web search for Twitter directories. For example, if you're interested in the publishing industry, check out A Directory of Book Trade People on Twitter and A Directory of Authors on Twitter.

Pick a few people that sound interesting and start following them. Feel free to interact with and occasionally ask questions of professionals doing business tweeting but don't bug anyone or they may block you.

In my case, I can rarely travel to writer/publishing conferences. I can usually find out what's going on at those conferences, though, by following an agent, publisher, or writer who's going to the conference. Conference attendees often report on what's going on. Hashtags (see below) also help with this aspect of networking.


Idea 3: Go to WeFollow. If you love to hear news as it happens, type #news in the search box at the top of the page. The search will bring up a list of news stations that are on Twitter. You can click a name to look at their Twitter feed and see if you like it. If so, you can click on the follow button (assuming you're still signed in to Twitter). You can find interesting people on WeFollow by typing in key words of topics that interest you.


Idea 4: Install a Twitter application like TweetDeck or Twirl so that you receive updates as they happen in real time. You don't have to have the application going every moment of every day, but it's so much easier to interact with people and follow events in real time.


Idea 5: Follow hashtags using Twazzup or other Twitter search engines. Hashtags are word(s) or acronyms with # attached to the front. They are a way to talk about certain topics with people who share an interest but who don't follow you.

Hashtags aren't standardized, so you'll find people tweeting using the #book or #books hashtag and #giveaway or #giveaways hashtag, etc. Search for hashtags on topics that interest you, but try several variations when randomly searching. Here are some ideas:

Have trouble coming up with things to say? Then answer other people's questions by attending a chat like #writechat or #followreader or #litchat. (You can find more chats on all subjects at Twitter Chats.

Are you interested in outer space? Search #space or #NASA. Or you can follow an astronaut, @Astro_127, who's getting ready to launch in July and who will Twitter from space.

What to see history being made? Follow #iranelection or someone like @persiankiwi or @LaraABCNews. (Though this topic is getting quiet now.)

Want to talk books? Follow #reading or #books and chime in with what you're reading.


Idea 6: Here are a few social "rules of thumb" that may make Twitter more fun for you.

(1) You don't have to follow a stranger just because they follow you. Look at their Twitter page to see if they're talking about things that interest you and update their Twitter page at a rate that you're comfortable with. If so, follow them. If not, don't follow them. You won't hurt their feelings if you don't follow strangers back. However, family, friends, and people that you've asked to follow you will probably get a bit miffed if you don't follow them back.

(2) Tweet about what interests you, not about what you're doing. (I know what the prompt says, but that's a relic from Twitter's not-so-distant past.) What interests you will probably interest others. On the other hand, people rarely care what you're currently doing unless it's interesting. Twitter isn't about entertaining other people with brilliant tweets (though it's great if you can do that). It's about talking with people who share your interests.

Since you'll probably ask: Yes, you may occasionally talk about the weather, what you ate, and other mundane topics, but try to refrain unless they really matter or are interesting. For example, "I just had the best Italian meal of my life at a local restaurant named ____" or "Wow, I just heard the tornado sirens go off. Gotta go!"

(3) Ask simple questions of your followers to get to know them and make friends. If they take the time to respond, say something back even if it's just "thanks for responding!" I discovered that what tea I'm drinking can start quite a discussion. Experiment, but try to vary things from day to day so you don't get boring.


Now, go out, experiment, and have fun.

Social Networking, Marketing, Publishing

Andrew Zack wrote The Lie that is Bookscan.

Nathan Bransford wrote about querying your novel when it's like a best-seller.

Barry Eisler wrote It's The Marketing, Stupid about writing your author bio.

Chip MacGregor wrote Ten Marketing Questions Authors are Asking.

Charlotte Abbott wrote Do Twitter and Blogs Really Drive Book Sales?

Jennifer Fulwiler wrote about How To Build Traffic on Your Blog (Part 1).

Brian Clark wrote Is Commenting on Blogs a Smart Traffic Strategy?

Mr. Tweet wrote 10 Tips For Managing Twitter As Your Usage Increases.

A Variety of Topics

Nathan Bransford has created a Writing Advice Database of his previous posts.

Brian Clark wrote The Inigo Montoya Guide to 27 Commonly Misused Words.

Rachelle Gardner wrote about The Dreaded Author Platform and Questions to Ask an Agent when you get "the call."

Arsen Kashkashian, a book buyer for a store, wrote Random House's Hail Mary Pass about deciding which books to purchase for the store and how many.

Beirut wrote 25 Hard Learnt Twitter Survival Lessons: Dos and Don’ts!

Promotion, Revision, and Query Letters

Colleen Thompson wrote about "Secrets” of the Selling Romance Synopsis.

Alex Sokoloff wrote about Top Ten Things I Know About Editing.

Nathan Bransford wrote a Revision Checklist.

Since we're into revision/editing today, I'll include an old post of mine on How I Revise.

Jessica Faust wrote about how self-publishing affects your querying.

Rachelle Gardner answered the question: Query via Email or Wait for Conference?

Maria Schneider wrote about A Pain Free Method of Self Promotion.

Brandilyn Collins posted a bunch of respectful rants writers had about reader behavior...so now you know what to look forward to.

Booksquare University has a video explaining The Truth About Twitter (i.e. what it's good for).

Backups and writing

Sarah Rees Brennan wrote Because It Really Could Happen To You about backing up your author blog/website just in case someone hacks into it.

Clarkesworld magazine has an interview by Jeremy L.C. Jones called The Story is All: Ten Fiction Editors Talk Shop.

Jessica Faust has posted Publishing Dictionary Expanded.

Agents, Marketing, and Good Writing

Nathan Bransford wrote about Taking a Chance on a Young Agent and A Day in the Life of a Book Marketing Manager.

Victoria Gallagher wrote about why good book titles are important for good covers.

Kristin Nelson wrote about The Number One Thing important to good book openings.