To Twit or Not To Twit?

[robin_riopelle]

It's kinda moot, because I do tweet https://twitter.com/Robin_Riopelle, but I'm not seeing the utility of it, not yet.

How do you all use it? Or not use it, especially in terms of your fannish lives? Inquiring minds want to know.

Comments

[amberdreams]

I go on there once a week to 'chat' to my German SPN friend while she DJ's on her internet radio station. Otherwise I occasionally have a look to see if any of the SPN related 'stars" I follow have tweeted anything interesting because I find if I visit more often it sucks me in and never spits me out again - and before I know it my whole life has disappeared into a twitter void.

When you are a published author I reckon people will follow you to hear your random thoughts (and you can get some feedback though I imagine it could be overwhelming) but I don't like it because it is too hard to have a conversation. And I like conversing.

[robin_riopelle]

I know what you mean about "conversing" vs. just "putting stuff out there". I've been following museum folks on my regular twitter feed (which is my rl professional hat) and I've found that useful for staying on top of trends and events in that field, but I haven't quite gotten the hand of my writerly twitter account. I think it's a different way of expressing yourself (obviously), but aside from the actual length of the tweet, it's a totally different way of interacting.

[irismay42]

I mostly use it to stalk celebs from a dark corner. Or chat about SPN.

[robin_riopelle]

See, that sounds interesting! Although don't be hard on yourself -- I think "stalking" isn't the right term, LOL. After all, the celebs are totally aware that it's a public expression.

How do you use it to chat about SPN?

[irismay42]

I follow a lot of people who are SPN fans, so when new eps come on, or there are new pics or whatever, we start chatting about it at the same time!

[catsbycat]

I only got a twitter account to follow Misha Collins because he's hilarious and winds people up and posts pictures of himself and kid. Now I follow Jared too. But from my side my interaction is minimal - made a grand total of 21 tweets!

Can't wait to order your book - just waiting for next month though... :)

[robin_riopelle]

My god, I never thought of following Misha! I like funny people, for sure. I have yet to figure out how to use twitter for entertainment (of myself). I've been using it for gathering info (on publishing trends, for example), etc. But I haven't really had much "fun" with it.

Oh, and I think the book will be there for a while, so don't fuss about ordering it too far in advance, LOL.

[harrigan]

I have an account, but *never* tweet! I just lurk (not even once a week).

I joined to follow the US Men's Olympic gymnastic team before and during the Olympics, and I still follow this dude 'cause he makes me laugh: Sam Mikulak on his 20th birthday. And I expect to see him back in the Olympics in 4 years.

I follow the YA author John Green.

Now I follow Nathan Fillion and Zach Levi and Colin Ferguson and Tim Daly (I think?) because they make me laugh too, and I added many of the SPN-related celebs recently. But as I said, weeks can pass before I actually check twitter.

[robin_riopelle]

I also follow John Green! I've been using twitter for fact-finding and generally trend-watching (to do with publication, but also wearing my museum-worker cap under a museum-related twitter handle), but not much for entertaining tweets (i.e. ones that make me laugh!) I'll check out the ones you've mentioned, though. Thanks.

[may7fic]

I don't have a twitter account and rarely visit there (usually only if an lj friend reports something that I'll then check out) but I think it could be a good way for you to interact with future readers once Dead Roads is out there (and even before).

[robin_riopelle]

I hope you're right. As if I need one more social media thing to suck my time/energy. I want it to be useful for me, but I also want whatever twittering I do to be useful/entertaining for others (like, not just one long list of "My new curtains look great!" and "I must feed the cat"). But then that seems to put the pressure on me to be witty/entertaining, which has prevented me from tweeting (oh, the pressure!). It's a hard life, LOL.