Comments on: Reflections on a Twittery Year

By: Laurel Ann

Laurel Ann — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 01:54:33 +0000

I joined Twitter last spring. I agree with your comments about its power. I love that it is like little fact bites. There is so much out there on the Internet that I find that through the friends I follow I get directed to news and great blog posts that keep me informed and entertained. My niche book blog gets great publicity and I have made great new connections. I am also gratified to see great books and authors gain new readership.

The most amazing thing from my Twitter life this last year was when I was asked to be a co-host for the PBS Masterpiece Classic Twitter party during the broadcast of the new mini-series Emma. When I saw the 1,000′s of fans Tweeting away together it really sunk in what a “right now” society we have become and how important technology is. FaceBook seems so flat now. Once you’ve Tweeted, you’ll never go back.

Cheers, Laurel Ann

By: Susan Shay

Susan Shay — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:57:37 +0000

I saw this on Twitter and had to read it. Now I’m forwarding to my non-tweeting friends.
Thanks!
Susan

By: Keri Stevens

Keri Stevens — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:57:22 +0000

I doubt it’s a coincidence that I follow most of the previous commenters on twitter (as @keristevens). Waving up the line!

Bethanne, you are correct and correct and correct. I’ve been able to jump on so many opportunities because of twitter.

For those of you who’ve asked about how to go forward with twitter, the beauty is–you can just ask. If you have something you’d like to accomplish, try or learn, you can post a tweet requesting help and people will answer from the four corners.

Unlike facebook, you are not required or expected to follow everyone who follows you. Nor should you expect (or pester) everyone you follow to follow back. This allows each of us to tailor the noise level to a personally-acceptable volume.

Use of secondary applications/alternative browsers help. Tweetdeck (my favorite), twirl and other apps can be downloaded for free to help you sort, filter and organize your twitter viewing as you see fit.

By: bkpatrick

bkpatrick — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:16:32 +0000

Listen, Julie Klam, “WWBD?” would be such an excellent slogan for a wristband…

Signed,
Behind the Times but In Front of the Buffet

By: Julie Klam

Julie Klam — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:53:59 +0000

This is something that every person who is in or wishes to be in publishing should read. And anyone interested in the right way to tweet should follow @thebookmaven. I often think before posting, “WWBD?”
As for me, I can’t begin to list the opportunities that have come out of Twitter — much of it isn’t quantifiable. I do know I never would’ve been a guest on The Book Studio if it weren’t for Twitter.

By: Joe W

Joe W — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:53:36 +0000

One of the greatest things about Twitter is also the simplest: Because of it, I’ve met people like The Bookmaven–and others in the comments section above–in real life. And that has been pure pleasure.

By: Sewicked

Sewicked — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:26:35 +0000

I have been on Twitter for more than a year and it has really grown. It’s easier with twitter to filter the noise to signal ratio. If you don’t enjoy someone’s posts or you no longer see a value in them; just stop following them. If you want to check on them once in awhile, without seeing every post; put them in a list.

I have learned more about authors that I like, gotten advice, sympathy, and random information than I would have otherwise. I have made friends, been a twitter-stalker (ooh, this author that I follow is going to be in town, I can go to the booksigning), and been thoroughly disgusted by some spam. It’s a well-rounded experience.

By: DonLinn

DonLinn — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:14:36 +0000

I couldn’t agree more (and we came on board at about the same time.

Twitter has three important components for me. First, it’s my news feed for subject matter that interests me. it’s replaced a lot of blog scanning and my RSS feeds are no longer timely or relevant.

Second, it allows me to pass along what I learn (via RT’s) and to share (or test) ideas of my own, raising my profile for networking, business and social purposes.

Finally, Twitter is endlessly entertaining and amusing, whether I choose to engage online or in real-life with my fellow tweeps or whether I just lurk and watch.

I love the immediacy of the medium and those who dismiss it as mere narcissism miss the point entirely.

Great post, Bethanne.

By: Rebecca @ The Book Lady's Blog

Rebecca @ The Book Lady's Blog — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:05:52 +0000

I joined Twitter in November 2008, but it wasn’t really until spring 2009 that I started to understand the real value in it—it took me several months to get over the idea that Twitter was going to be a giant time suck….which it can be, but it can also be so much more.

Like you, I’ve made new friends and professional contacts on Twitter. Seemingly casual conversations have hatched ideas that have grown into blog- and book-related projects. I’ve learned. I’ve been challenged. I’ve goofed around. I’ve had conversations with a fellow blogger’s stuffed goat.

And I’ve realized that Twitter, like just about everything else in life, gives you exactly what you put into it, if you know what you’re doing. Figuring that out has been a lot of fun.

By: LPC

LPC — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:00:05 +0000

I’ve been on Twitter for about a month. Having vowed I would never do such a thing. And then having realized, at 53, that I was being stupid. I feel that I’ve passed Twitter 101, but I don’t know where to even sign up for Twitter 102, much less 201. Thoughts? Much appreciated in advance.