In a world of ever growing technology at the touch of a fingertip, it's becoming essential to stay "connected" "plugged in" "tech savvy" "on the up and up" "in touch" and whatever other phrase you have for keeping up with the latest
I have a twitter account, but at the moment I don't update it and I don't check tweets or feeds or chirps or whatever. But I should. I really should. Because there is so much good information out there, so many awesome connections to make, and so many people (like literary agents) telling me to DO IT.
But (and use your best whiny voice here) do I HAVE to? It's just ONE more thing for me to try to keep up with. I feel like trying to keep up with twitter will push me over the edge. I'm one step away from falling. Between Little Monster, work, writing, cleaning, reading, blogging, PTO, birthday parties, social events, gymnastics, husbands (there's just one there, but I was on a plural roll), sleeping at least 8 hours a night, family time, MY SHOWS, critiquing, emailing, cooking, cleaning some more, dog walking, exercising, and pulling my hair out, do I really have time for ONE MORE THING?
I really should just dive in and start a tweet deck thingy, so I can keep up with writerly things. Because lets face it: it's all apart of being an author in the 21st century. I have to keep up with the times, whether I like it or not.
So what do I give up? Well that's easy: cleaning. Bye-bye Mr. Clean, hello cute little twitter bird.
(okay so after some consideration, the tweeting may have to be put on hold a bit longer. I'm seriously going to split in two if I put one more thing on my plate. And there is this little thing called a manuscript I haven't touched since my break)
So what do you think? Is tweeting really that important? Do I need to try to fit it in, or can I wait until I'm published? (that is what I said about blogging, but here I am...)(and I love it, btw)(which is why I'm kind of drowning...I think I love it too much)(and parentheses are pretty cool too...)
So I'm giving it to a few of my peeps that make me smile when I read their blogs (although ALL of you make me smile!)
Colene from The Journey
Candace from The Misadventures in Candyland
Melissa from Through the Looking Glass
Erica and Christy
Alexia at the The Life and Literary Pursuits of Alexia Chamberlynn
Lisa Galek at Read. Write. Repeat
Jules Ausborn at Jules and the Stars
Love and all that jazz, see ya!
23 comments:
I'm wary of time-sucking Twitter, too, so I don't really have any answers. I know other people say that you should just do the social media you have time for and spend the rest of that time making your writing the best it can be, because that's what really counts. Sounds good to me!
I haven't gone tweeterly yet either. I see great things in the logs on other writer's blogs, but like you, I see it as yet another responsibility.
Even though I'm a computer person by profession, learning all the features of a new tool or technology is just not my favorite thing. I see people having tweet conversations and I'm not sure how that works.
Plus, I'm still working on the blogging and writing balance...
I haven't even tried Twitter. Between blogging and facebook I'm already drowning. Good post.
You do make me smile, Abby!
And I Tweet, but I don't keep up with it like I should either. Then again, Blogging and Twitter are my only social sites.
Congratulations on the award!
I don't tweet either and for exactly the same reasons as you - where on Earth would I find the time?!
I say it isn't important to tweet because I don't wanna either...But I think we had this conversation at some point so ignore me! I DO love to keep up with all that does go on literary wise on there! So, that part is really good. I just have nothing to say I think would be valid for anyone to keep up with me over lol.
Awesome! Congrats on the award! You do so deserve it! And super awesome that it came from a real live author!!!!
Thanks Abby! I love it!
I see tweeting becoming more of a distraction then a helpful tool...Zach Braff is doing what? The Kardashians are dating who? Well I just have to check in on Angelina Jolie and Brad one more time...I know that would be me anyway :) you are superwoman already and unless something is able to easily fit in I wouldn't worry about it....
Aw thanks:)
Personally, I hate Twitter. I have an account and use it, but I just don't like it. To me, it often feels like high school and I'm always the girl at the table alone.
I'm holding out on Twitter until the last possible moment. I don't get it, I don't want to get it and I don't need to add it to my list of things to do. Later. Much later. ;-)
Congrats on the Award!
I'm not very good at keeping up with my Twitter account. Well, I haven't been. I'm trying to start. Maybe. But I will tell you that TweetDeck is amazing! :)
Thanks, Abby! You're always making me smile, too!
It's funny, when I searched your name to find your blog today (on Google), the first thing that came up was your Twitter page. I checked it out and noticed that you don't update.
I don't update mine very often, but I do try to post something every now and then. It's really not that much work, but I also don't have a lot of connections on Twitter. I know there are some people who use it for chats or make professional connections.
When I used to check it more, I did find some cool articles and contests, so that might be one thing to try.
Oh, and also... I did have an agent on Twitter who started following me. She saw my status (about the novel I'm working on) and asked to see the MS when I'm ready. It may all come to nothing, but that was due to Twitter, so that might be another reason to get on it.
Congratulations on your award! You deserve it.
As for Twitter, I'm a fan because it really is a great way to connect with other like minded people (they have writing themed chats and on Wednesdays, everyone tweets their writer buddies). But don't worry too much about diving in. You're doing great with your blog. It's best to do what you have time to rather than stretch yourself thin.
I've been trying to tweet more, but my Twitter is also linked to my Facebook & Buzz accouncts, so I still only update one thing. I think the trap with Twitter is following a lot of people. I don't follow many people at all, so I don't get as bogged down in it as others seem to.
I tweet, and I've got to admit I enjoy it. I've made good connections there(my writing group, for one), and there's lots of good info. I do think it has a lot of value for writers.
BUT. If you're too busy, I'd say leave it alone. You have a great blog and are making good connections through it. I recently posted about social networking, and what's important is the people. Decide which tools will work for you to do that, and which ones won't. You don't have to do them all! Twitter won't make or break your writing career.
Good luck with your busy-ness!
I'm kind of on and off with Twitter. I like facebook and blogging but I only twitter because someone says I should.
Christy dabbled in the tweeting (yes, I refer to it as if it's an Olympic sport), but TOTAL time suck. Now it's just blog updates and retweets (but, um, follow us on Twitter, it makes us feel better....).
Yay! Thanks for the award, Abby, we heart you, too!
erica
I smiled even BEFORE I got to the part where you shared an award with US!!!! Thanks bunches! And YOU do make ME smile on a blog posting, commenting and occasionally emailing basis! (sorry if that sentence made no sense) (And, wow...do you really get eight...8? hours of sleep each night?????) obvs: christy
I don't think tweeting is absolutely necessary, but it is an easy way to connect. I was initially hesitant, but I've found it to be much simpler than blogging. The messages are short, and you can send them from anywhere, while doing anything. I will never be in love with social networking, but there's no denying that it's useful in building a platform. If I'm going to partake, I'd rather it be simple, and tweeting definitely is.
No Twitter for me. Congrats on the award. Very cool.
To be a writer these days, you don't have to blog or tweet or connect or what have you... you have to write, above all else. All those other things are fun, and helpful, but if you feel guilty about not managing to keep up with twitter, then just remind yourself that you're spending your time as a writer where it matters most--writing!
Awe! Thanks for the award Abby!! You're such a sweetheart.
I always waffle back and forth between getting Twitter....
Oh my gosh, thanks!! I love how colorful and cheerful it is! I have been trying to catch up on blogging and didn't see this before I did my last post. I'll pass this one along in my next post... thank you again!
The "#" sign is either NUMBER SIGN or POUND SIGN, not a phucking 'hashtag'!
Sheesh - stupid kids today. GET IT RIGHT, for a change!
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