I found a writers’ community at Twitter. Writers of all types. Editors. Publishers. Book reviewers. E-zines. Lit-zines. Indy book promoters. Strangers all, until the first reply, the retweet, the favorite. Suddenly, friendly acquaintances. Bonded by mutual interest.
What I like best about a Twitter feed is the focus. We tweet about reading and writing. We share recommendations, and frustrations. We delight in the discovery of great writers. We chirp: what are you reading this weekend?
Of course now and then, some tweeters about their kids or their struggles for time to write. Occasionally I counsel or console. They do the same. Bonded by anonymity, we nonetheless care about each other. Strange, isn’t it? I wouldn’t know any of them if they sat down next to me at a cafe.
I wrote a blog for Women Writers Women’s Books [@womenwriters] entitled Age: A Writer’s Ally, which my followers tweeted to their universe, and suddenly I had followers in other countries. All sorts of authors and thinkers. We encourage each other’s words. We announce book launches. We applaud our small achievements and minimize defeats. Bonded through tweets.
They speak to me at home on my desk or everywhere else from my phone. We are constantly connected. Yes, I saw “Her” [fabulous script] and I appreciate the potential artificiality of technology. But that’s the thing about Twitter, it feels less artificial to me. My Twitter crowd is thoughtful and courteous. We are kind to each other, more so I dare say than other social networks can be.
The short-form posting is never intrusive. Tweets say you might find this of interest, or not. I will not post a photo on your page or tag you in a compromising position. I will share in order to inform. You may read or not, at your leisure. Respond or not. No need to like or comment. No need to flex any muscles.
Of course, I am in only one Twitter universe, one disinterested in what’s trending. That’s another Twitter world. I prefer my writers’ world. Discreet. Civilized. Solitary souls reaching out now and then for solace. I look forward to the latest tweets. I look forward to followers. I learn something every day and I cherish their brevity. Twitter works, for me.
So if you are one of my bookish tribe, I will follow you and you can follow me. Or not. @ocbookblogger.
Randy Kraft is a freelance writer who previously covered the city for the Indy and pens the OC BookBlog for www.ocinsite.com. Her first novel “Colors of the Wheel” has just published. www.randykraftwriter.com.
