How to Use Twitter to Your Advantage
There are so many writers on twitter that your first course of action should be to connect with as many of them as possible. Regardless of what route you’re taking, or where you’re located on that journey, the opportunity to build a community with likeminded people has never been easier. Now that you’re on twitter and have started following writers, review these five steps to learn how to use the 140 character platform to your advantage:
Step 1: Set A Follower Goal- I suggest taking this in baby-steps. If your goal is 50k you’re not getting there overnight. Set smaller goals to meet until you reach your ultimate number.
Step 2: Create Relationships– Don’t just talk at people, talk with them. Find out what your followers like and dislike, where they’re from, what they’re writing. That’s the fastest way to make lasting connections.
Step 3: Provide Interesting Content– Tweet things that your followers will want to read, retweet or respond to. This content could change depending on what your purpose is on twitter (ie- making friends, promoting your book, providing help to other writers, etc).
Step 4: Stay Engaged– You can’t drop the ball halfway through the game, so continue shifting and testing your content to change with seasons and current events. Keep at it and you’ll see a return.
Step 5: Develop Relationships– It’s most important that you keep in contact with the people you connect with. These people could become reviewers, beta readers, confidants, reliable go-to’s for suggestions or best friends, so invest in them.
This isn’t a foolproof plan that will work for everyone no matter what you’re saying in order to create a strong twitter presence. However, if you’re conscious about your plan and execute it in a poised manner, you’re likely to succeed. The biggest thing to remember is not to overload on any of these steps and know that twitter success comes in moderation.
I hope these are helpful tips to anyone looking to improve their experience on twitter. What have you found that’s worked for your twitter platform?
Circus
It’s nothing new for an elephant to be doing a handstand. At least not around here. Nor is anyone surprised by the cats on trapeze or the dogs that juggle. It is a little strange that my great-grandmother insists on being the clown, though, but I suppose that’s fairly natural, too.
If you visit our circus, it won’t have the same mundane flare you see at Barnum and Bailey’s. Honestly, it took me until far longer than I care to admit to realize not every circus was operated by witches. Ours is unique, to say the least. There’s a dance number for the broomsticks and our high-diving wizard plunges himself into a bubbling cauldron. Don’t worry, it’s all for show. He only has a few minor burns.
We have twelve shows a year, once every full moon. That is, if you can find us. My great-grandmother leaves riddles inside seashells. She says it’s her way of being funny. I’m not quite sure I get it. Either way, it keeps away most of the “normal people”. The regular folks who do attend simply write off our magical touch as innovative special effects. Like Larry the Sorcerer can actually cut someone in half. Of course he can though, his showgirl is a zombie. She stitches up real nice. Trust me.
By the way, we don’t sell fried dough or soda pop, so don’t show up expecting it. You’ll have to be open to grilled frog legs, candy apples and love potion. Again, that’s great-grandmother’s sense of humor. It’s not really a love potion. At least I don’t think….but after the Blue Moon show last year, when I first tried the stuff, I did have a strange attraction to Larry. And mind you, he’s not very easy on the eyes. The lizard scales aren’t exactly my thing.
Tonight’s show is dedicated to the fairies who are visiting. The townspeople assume they’re some sort of Irish Step group, I’m told. They might as well be. I don’t know why they insist on wearing matching, glittery leotards. Oh, I have to prep the ligers for their big opening act. I swear, one of these days they’re going to eat me for putting them in tutus. As great-grandmother always says, the show must go on. Even if someone is eaten. Hope to see you there!
The Importance of Food
Mountains of mashed potatoes. Waterfalls of chocolate cascading over brownies. A steaming hot turkey leg. The sweet bite of a crisp Fall apple. Mmmm…I made sure not to write this when I was hungry.
The food in your story is important. No, really, it is. For any genre. Food combines the sense of taste, smell and sight and creates its own image for the reader to place the scene. By referencing a specific type of food, you can create a setting either in location, time or both. Meals, snacks or articles of food are surprisingly vital to the background description of your story and forming a solid picture for the reader.
For Contemporary: In order to help set your story in a location, research what people in that area eat. This will differ by country (Japan vs India) or even State within the USA (Maine vs Florida). Specific things your characters consume, like a Mellow Yellow, might give the story authenticity as a Southern narrative compared to your MC drinking a Sprite. And be sure not to have anyone chewing on something that has been discontinued decades before.
For Historical: Eating and drinking was a difference experience even twenty years ago. In my case, I was eating pureed pears and carrots. But this change should be integral to your description especially if your novel is set decades or centuries in the past. There might not be utensils. Or fast food chains. Or the microwave. Again, do your research and be sure the items your characters consume were actually available at the time of the story.
For Speculative: This category offers a bit of leeway as far as research goes. You should definitely gain knowledge regarding the type of food your story has, but because the plot is speculative by nature, the food can be too. Be creative, but be realistic too. In this case, take the time to skillfully describe how the meals are different to show how society has changed or is different from the one we know.
In every story I read, I notice the food. This might be because I’m a foodie at heart, but I think it’s more closely tied to the fact that food displays cultural differences that are straightforward facts yet subtly showcase the uniqueness of a setting. You don’t read a book for the food the characters eat. But you remember the pumpkin juice at Hogwarts. The colorful candy wrappers of the 20’s. The plum and lamb stew in Panem. People eating with their hands in ancient Greece. The gurgle of Anne Frank’s stomach. Food is important. Way more than you think.
More GUTGAA Fun!
GUTGAA (the “Gearing Up To Get An Agent” blogfest hosted by Deana Barnhart) has a game of tag going on. I haven’t played tag in years! I was never very good at it. I’d always fall over or run into stuff. So this is perfect. I was tagged by two other wonderful ya fantasy writers, Alexandra Alessandri, Summer Heacock and Kimberly Chase. Be sure you follow Alex, Summer and Kim on twitter too!
Now that I’ve been tagged, I have to answer the questions below and pass along the tag to more GUTGAA participants:
- What is the working title of your book? Havoc’s Knot.
- Where did the idea come from for the book? I should redirect you to my post about where the idea came from. But essentially, it was from a squirrel carrying an acorn.
- What genre does your book fall under? It shapeshifts between YA and MG. MG because of the character’s age and themes (so I’ve been told) and YA because of the content and length (so I’ve been told).
- Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? There’s no way I can pick someone to portray any of the characters. It’s just too daunting.
- What is the
one-sentenceshort synopsis of your book? ALL THE THINGS HAPPEN. I think that sums it up quite nicely x) - Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? I’m querying agents to work the traditional route.
- How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? I had some content written from High School thta I repurposed in college and wrote the first draft in 2-3 months. I’ve been working since to make it shine.
- What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? Native American totem animals or spirit guides play a huge part in my story. And it’s the intro to a series of epicness.
Pitch Wars Mentee 2014
Awards
