Thursday Thirteen 7/19/12- 13 reasons to use Twitter

Before we get to today’s topic, I just wanted to share some exciting news about Public Displays of Eroticism, the anthology I released a few weeks ago with Jami Davenport and Cristal Ryder. So far we’ve gotten three “professional” reviews: 5/5 Top Pick from Night Owl Reviews, 5/5 A True Gem from Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews, and 4.5/5 from Scorching Book Reviews! Woot! FMI http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com/anthologies.htm.

On with the show…

After the past couple of weeks of writing quotes, I thought I’d do something a little different. Those who know are aware that I think Twitter, in most instances, is the cat’s pajamas (whatever the hell THEY are) and I highly recommend writers and readers alike get involved with it. In the interests of that, here are thirteen reasons to use Twitter.

1. Readers: This is good for both writers AND readers. Readers get sneak peeks into upcoming works, etc, as well as the chance to interact with their favorite authors, and authors have a captive audience to pimp themselves to.
2. Writers: Ever feel so very all alone when you’re writing? No one understands the struggles you’re going through, no one gets how hard it can be to write sometimes. Well, yes, we do, and we don’t mind cheering you up.
3. Agents: Even if they don’t use Twitter to troll for clients, and yes, some do, they’ll at least check your Twitter feed to make sure you’re Tweeting homophobic jokes or pictures of a dead cat.
4. Editors: There are also editors who troll Twitter for clients, including @GraceBradley, editor extraordinaire for Ellora’s Cave. Yes, she’s one of my editors, and no, she didn’t pay me to say nice things about her.
5. #askagent: This is a time when agents set aside maybe an hour out of their day JUST to answer questions from people on Twitter. Sometimes there are off-limits topics, but usually the back and forth is pretty casual. If you want an agent to know who you are, ask intelligent questions at a bunch of #askagent sessions. If they don’t remember you that way, you can always remind them you’ve talked to them when you query them.
6. #askeditor: Same deal.
7. Access: If you look at the above four items, where else can you get this kind of direct access to agents and editors, not to mention publishers, book bloggers, reviewers, etc.
8. #1k1hr: A wonderful tool for people who think they don’t have enough time to write or get easily distracted. *raises hand* A bunch of writers gather together over Twitter and then write for an hour straight. No email, no Web, etc, though many of us break that rule. *whistling* At the end of the hour you report back and either feel shame or get kudos.
9. Breaking news, and not just in publishing: News breaks so fast and so quickly on Twitter that oftentimes some family member will call me and say, “Did you hear?” and I’ll snort. “Yeah, an hour ago. Where YOU been?”
10. Hilarious (and sometimes hilariously sad) celebrity Tweeters: it doesn’t get any better than the crazy things some of these celebs come out with. To illustrate, Charlie Sheen has a Twitter account. ‘Nuff said about that, but you can also hear from tons of other celebs, sports figures, etc.
11. Deals: If you follow some local businesses, they sometimes post Twitter-only deals. So do national businesses like @VistaPrint and @ThinkGeek. Oh, by the way, publishers and other book sites often have Twitter-only promo codes.
12. Interesting people: Right now, in addition to writing this blog post, I’m having a conversation about the marks that get left behind by a vampire paddle. Fascinating and horrifying, all at the same time! Pic courtesy of @DomSigns
13. Because you’re entirely too productive and it’s pissing off the people around you. Get going to Twitter and it will solve that problem posthaste!

Can you think of any reasons I missed?

To see the other authors taking part in Thursday Thirteen, go here. To find out more information about me or my books, check out my website.