I know I resisted because I worried it would become another potential time suck (I still worry about that). But then my freelance idol, Michelle Goodman, assured me it was a worthwhile pursuit. Jenny Cromie and Michelle Rafter blogged about all the cool things you can do with it. Andy Drish gave me a friendly nudge. Even my boyfriend, who is not into blogging or social media but read about it in a news article, asked why I wasn’t doing it.
So now I’m on Twitter.
You can follow me here: @UrbanMuseWriter. I promise not to post inane things like “I’m eating a grilled cheese sandwhich” or “just got home from the gym.” But I am enjoying the creative challenge of writing something meaningful in less than 140 characters. And the fact that there’s so much going on, it’s totally acceptable to miss things. I wish I were that way about Google reader, but I’m thorough to a fault when it comes to reading blogs.
If you’re new to Twitter like I am, then you’ve joined at an exciting time! I’m totally digging other people’s inaugaration tweets. Plus, @mariaschneider just posted two great lists of people to follow on Twitter: 25 good follows for freelancers and 25 publicists/agents/authors. Many more Twitter resources to follow, I’m sure.
What do you mean no post-workout tweets?
Just kidding.
My pet peeve: people who post what they're cooking for dinner that night or what wine they're uncorking. First of all, TMI. Second, if you're tweeting from the East Coast hearing about food & wine while I'm still at work is unappetizing. Just saying.
Michelle Rafter
On Twitter @michellerafter
I’d make an exception for food and wine writers, but yes, I can see why that could be annoying to people on the West Coast.
I can’t find you on Twitter, it tells me that @UrbanMuseWriter doesn’t exist.
I’m @AmySueNathan and I post a lot of writing related links and ideas.
Hi Susan,
Welcome to the mad mad world. Twitterland is also famous as a timewaster (like the examples you said as not to do).
Glad to know that you too have joined twitter. Hope to see a flow of creative juices through 140 characters.
(Meghna)
I gave in and joined twitter a few months ago and love it! It’s interesting seeing what people find annoying.
I do a good deal of blogging about food, so I tweet about it as well. Also I started a new exercise regimen and have tweeted about it. The encouragement that I’ve gotten from people after my workouts has been really helpful to me.
Welcome to Twitter-world! I finally said “uncle” on January 1 and joined the twittering universe of freelance translators and writers. I linked it into my blog and viceversa. I also linked it to my Facebook page. That way, I only have to updated my status in one place. Oh, and I just started following you. (I am @language_news).
Thanks for everyone who’s following me!
If food and fitness are your areas of interest or expertise, then you probably have interesting things to say about it. I just meant that I’d like to avoid giving my followers a boring blow by blow account of my day (I’m getting up, I’m eating a bagel, I’m checking my email…) My hope is that anytime I tweet an update like that, there will be some nugget of humor or an interesting link. At least that’s my goal…
You all can tell me if I drop my end of the bargain!
Did everyone see this story about a key influencer on Twitter?
http://www.davidhenderson.com/2009/01/21/key-online-influencer/
great stuff.
@Craig Peter Shankman blogged about that, too! I understand how someone would do that, thinking they were being snarky and funny, but comments like that can have a hugely unprofessional impact on the poster and their company.
I’ve already twittered your article on 50 Ways to Find Writing ideas, spreading the wealth
@BookingAlong Thank you! I haven’t checked my Google Reader yet, so I didn’t even know that was up.
As a relatively new blogger, Twitter seemed a whole other world to me. Never the less I signed up but when faced with the page ‘post your first Twitter’, my mind went blank. I too would hate to find myself posting my 140 characters describing my food for the evening, etc, but with the encouragement I’ve found here I think I’ll be giving it another go soon. Look out for Creative Ink twittering soon.
I recently joined Twitter and am enjoying it. I uupdate it with ping.fm. Do you know it?
You can take 10 minutes to set it up so whenever you create a new blog entry, it pings twitter and other social networking sites like delicious or facebook or whatever you want to update. It’s all automatic and I usually forget I’m even using twitter.
I have my blog and Examiner.com page set up for it, so it all happens automatically. Then I can log in separately if I want people to know what wine I’m uncorking and what I’m easting on the East Coast.
I’m familiar with ping.fm, but I’m holding off before adding any automated updaters, because I want to be more selective about my links and customize the intro text.
I kinda understand Facebook as a networking site, though I don’t like its interface, but I gotta admit, I just don’t GET twitter. I don’t get addiction to texting either. Maybe I’m too old
Good post Susan. And I hope you’re enjoying Twitter.
I had a Twitter account for a long time, and it sat idle. I didn’t get Twitter. Now I get it, and don’t know what I’d do without it!
-Jenny
http://www.thegoldenpencil.com
@Gene: I was skeptical, too, but I’m really enjoying Twiter. It’s like having a virtual community of officemates, only I can tune in when I need a little comaraderie and tune out when I need to focus. I’ve also found interview subjects on Twitter thanks to Michelle and Jenny’s tips!
Welcome!!!
kristenfischer