I love twitter. It reminds me of text messaging [which I also love] and honestly I’m not sure what I ever did without it!
I started out just tweeting about paper craft stuff (and following fellow artists), but soon I found that there was also a world of writers (and very cool readers and book bloggers like Miss Smexy!) that I could follow. I will never forget the first time an author replied to me – I freaked right out. You see, as a dedicated book lover I’m more likely to get star struck over an author than some actress. The notion that I could actually chat up one of my favorite authors?! Intoxicating.
Over the last few years I’ve been following authors and loving it. Some are hilarious, some talk about the research they’re doing for works in progress, some share photos, and others share all kinds of things. I’ve found fabulous new chocolates (Zoe Archer), laughed a lot at inappropriate things (Victoria Dahl), won an autographed copy of a new book (Elizabeth Hoyt), and generally gotten to know more about the authors I read.
To me that is the best thing – that you can get to know, sometimes even have conversations with the writers that you love. I have some suggestions to share with you, so here’s a few lists to get you started:
5 reasons to follow authors on twitter:
·Insider information about works in progress, first peeks at new covers, info on upcoming releases and blog appearances.
·Giveaways of books, sometimes ARCs too!
·Get to know the person behind the books. Preference in food, pictures of a girls night out, and details about the author.
·Authors are readers too. Twitter is the only spot I’ve found where authors openly share recommendations and books they’re reading and love. Example: Both Courtney Milan and Zoe Archer are authors I discovered early on via recommendations and notes about their upcoming releases from other authors on twitter!!
·Interaction with authors. Some authors (I won’t name names!) never reply to me, no matter what I might ask. Others are absolutely fantastic about responding and participating in conversations with their followers.
10 suggestions for authors on twitter:
·Go ahead and talk about your book(s)! Just be sure you talk about other stuff too.
·Same tweets every day (“well, time to start writing” “guess it’s breakfast time”) are boring. You’re a writer! Mix it up.
·Insider info/peeks into process/etc. is great!!
·Talk about your author friend’s books too… but only if you like the book. If I pick up a horrible book that I can figure out you suggested only because you like the writer (not because it’s good) I’m gonna be mad. Also? Makes you seem fake.
·Pick your boundaries. It’s ok to not talk about your family, political beliefs, or personal life – you can still share about favorite food, movies, and other superficial stuff that lets us know you without prying.
·Reply back to your followers. It doesn’t have to be every time, but if a question is asked or it seems appropriate don’t ignore your followers.
·Know that replies from authors = big happy every time. I follow you because I like your writing, so when you talk to me it is a very good thing.
·Beware the bitter tweet! I understand it might stink if someone else is getting a better advance or you feel that your publisher jacked you on something – but think twice before you post about it.
·Appreciate the followers you have, and don’t worry about what number you are at. If you’re active, engage in conversations, and say interesting things you’ll get more followers. Just have fun with it!
·Giveaways are very cool – especially if it’s a signed book or something I can’t just run out and buy. You don’t have to do tons of them – but once in a while it is very cool.
15 authors I suggest checking out:
Who are your favorite authors on twitter? Do you have suggestions? or if you’re an author on twitter, where can we find you? I’d love to hear who your favorites are and why – and perhaps add more authors to my follow list! I can be found at http://twitter.com/mayf – I’ll see you on twitter!
Great post May!
I also love:
@moirarogersbree
@monicaburns
@caramckenna
@theaharrison
@inez_kelley
@shannonstacey
I could keep going.
The biggest thing for me is that Twitter is just not for promo. I love to hear about the books coming out etc..but if an author ONLY promos it is boring. I’ve stopped following a few because of that. Engage your audience – and give us promo stuff along the way.
I love getting replies from authors too! :) Makes my day :)
I followed an author but way too much shameless promotion and not to much interaction with her followers . I found that she way always saying the same stuff on twitter. So I did what I needed to do :( I unfollowed her
I’ve done this a few times too. Boring is what it is! :)
Yeah, an author tweeting nothing but promo is the quickest way to run me off, too. I actually check out author profiles, and if I don’t see replies to other people, I don’t bother following them. Twitter is about conversation, to me! If I want a one way announcement system, I’ll follow their blog or newsletter.
I don’t mind if an author isn’t on Twitter a lot..but when they are on, tweet something entertaining.
I also like Twitter giveaways from authors :)
Some of my favorites:
@christinadodd
@inezkelley
@maiseyates
@gailcarriger
@moirarogersbree
@victoriadahl
@laurendane
Some are dirty, some are funny, and some are dirty & funny! Woo hoo!
I like all of those tweeters too!
oh I see some new-to-me authors to check out! AWESOME!
For me a big thing is that the author can use it as a promo tool, but they can’t see twitter as just a promo tool. There’s gotta be a balance, they have to have some genuine interest and be active.
How funny! I found both Courtney Milan and Barry Eisler because my VERY favorite author/Twitterer Victoria Dahl was tweeting about them. Then Courtney did a book giveaway and I won Zoe Archer’s Warrior from her and fell completely in love with her, too.
Now they are my four very favorite authors and I’m open to more :)
This right here is why I love Twitter!
me too!!! If not for twitter, I’d have missed out on some AMAZING reads…
My author twitter feed is huge…I created a separate twitter account for it.
There should also be a list of things authors should not do on twitter. I provide it below:
Things Authors should NEVER do on Twitter:
– get into a verbal slap fight about their book or the writing behind it (seriously can we all learn from Jim Butcher’s wank from last week)
– Speak badly about another author
– Speak badly about booksellers/vendors/bookstores/etc.
I agree on all of those.
Jim Butcher had a tweet melt down last week? Must go investigate.
Oh yes, he had a big big BIG meltdown. I understood parts of his issue, but when someone tries to facilitate it calmly and all you want to do is turn it into a fight and can’t even be bothered to see it objectively, I’ve got to draw a line in the sand. After reading the slap fight, he went on my DNB list.
I so totally agree – while I like “I’m a regular person” authors on twitter I also expect a level of professionalism. It’s not just authors either – I will un-follow anyone who’s spending their 140characters bashing people they work with or whining about work/jobs/etc…
Beware the bitter tweet!
ROFLMAO! I keep hearing this in a James Earl Jones voice.
Finally someone blogs about this subject. The thing that really attracted me to Twitter was that authors are people too. They talk to me directly and I love it because I am a people also. I have mentioned Twitter to several of my friends that did not understand the benefits of networking on Twitter. Recently I talked to an author about the very high prices of Kindle books. She checked on the matter and got back to me with an answer. All I can say is TWITTER AWAY!
The talking back and forth thing is what I love about Marr. I unintentionally got writing advice because she reacts like a friend versus someone unknown.
My favorite writers?
@melissa_marr
@KelleyArmstrong
@Jeaniene_Frost
Especially when they’re talking back and forth.
Marr has the best random info tweets ever. When she was researching fairy legends it was always awesome to see what she’d come up with. After reading Marr, you know why she’s such a good pairing with Frost. It’s like walking into a Cordelia and Fred conversation. And Armstrong seems to be the middle ground with the same sense of humor and perspective of self.
OMG you must add Dakota to that list @DakotaCassidy she is great fun on Twitter and if you watch SYTCYD or Idol or Dancing with the Stars or Bachelor/Bachelorette she is usually tweeting during them and is so funny. Well more with Idol and the dating shows but still she’s funny and always tries to reply back.
Jaye Wells is another good one too, @jayewells and you can follow @giguhl if you read the series, you know who he is. :)
They are a few of my favorites. I am @alfngf if you want to check and see who else I follow. I have quite a few authors I enjoy following.
more great suggestions! off to check them out.
But this brings up another great no-no: Over-tweeting actually is a reason I’ve UN-followed some people (and authors)… much fun as it can be when it’s shows and stuff I’m not into I REALLY don’t want to know a person’s every thought for the duration.
The first time an author tweeted back to me, I seriously almost had a heart attack. It’s still kind of an OMG type of thing when they talk to me because I’m still like “Who am I?” but I’m kind of getting used to the fact that they’re actual human beings too. :)
And when they do nothing but promo (or talk about nothing but their sex life – ewww), I immediately unfollow them. Sorry, but if I wanted to hear advertisements, I’d watch infomercials.
I don’t know how to tweet. (hangs head in shame). I signed up awhile back and couldnt figure where to go/what to do after the acct was created and never signed on again. I don’t even know what my sn was. Yikes.
Ack… where did my comment go?! I hope I didn’t put it on the wrong post! (WOrking with multiple windows here!)
Other authors I enjoy on Twitter:
@LarissaIone @meljean @jillmyles @PhilippaJane @LisaSanchez3 @JASaare @TeresaDAmario
I LOVE this post. I’m so putting it in my Fill-Me-In Friday link round-up this week. As an author, it can sometimes be a mystery to know what readers would appreciate hearing and all of this is great advice.
I totally do a happy dance when an author I love responds back to me on Twitter, too. And the ones who NEVER respond kind of move down my list of awesomeness–which may or may not be fair, but well, it happens anyway. I know that we all get busy and it’s hard to respond to everything all the time, But if someone recommends me or my blog, I want to make a point to thank them because they didn’t have to do that. And when my book comes out, I’m definitely going to go out of my way to thank those who tweet about the book. (Mainly because I’m going to be all giddy just to know people are actually reading it, lol.)
Hey, thanks for the shout-out. I appreciate it. ;-) I love following authors, bloggers, readers, etc. on Twitter — especially when we talk about books, movies, and TV shows.
I’m not Tweeting yet. I’m always looking for great books to read. I will check it out. Thank you for the post….I’m feeling more brave.
I LOVE twitter but I can’t get anything done at work if I’m Twitter….
Excellent advice, and I think it applies to all people who are marketing themselves individually — for their business or livelihood … mix it up and always be positive. :) @aimeelaine
I love Twitter. I’m a recently published author and to have folks Tweet me to let me know they’re reading my novel is just awesome. I love the opportunity to connect with my readers. I’m at: https://twitter.com/#!/JABelfield.
As for other authors? Rachel Vincent ( @rachelkvincent ) is pretty cool. I wrote a review of Alpha on Goodreads. Not only did she Tweet my review, but she also came and found me on Twitter to thank me for it. I thought that was really nice of her.
Coming across this late, but had to add my two cents because I have the same “OMG, she spoke to me!” response to when a reader tweets me! Guess readers are only human, too, huh? :) Excellent post, May, and I’ll be looking you up on Twitter!