Tweet, tweet!

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I continue to get questions in everyday life about why I use Twitter. For those out of the loop of the Twitterverse, here are some reasons:

• The ability to converse daily with other authors. While it sounds relatively easy to send an email to your favorite author--or if you're like me and in several writing email loops--it can take a while for those folks to get back to you. They're busy. You're busy. And Twitter allows for quick, simple responses rather than going into great depth about one thing or another.


• Fun! Do you enjoy random, water cooler-esque conversations? Then yes, you would probably enjoy Twitter, too, because that's all it is. It's a way to socialize and interact with people you probably wouldn't talk to or have the opportunity to talk to in your everyday life.


• Celebrities. Celebrities have taken Twitter by storm, and more are joining every day. Heck, you can even find Tom Hanks there. They're fun to follow, but don't expect them to follow you back or respond to your tweets. If you're lucky, they might, but don't count on it. Still, it's fun to watch their conversations and see what their days are like.


• Networking. Networking is useful for finding jobs, interacting with other professionals in our field, and for finding new friends. Who doesn't want a little of that? And if you're like me and innately shy with new people, it makes it easier to introduce yourself in person.


• Tips and tricks. I can't even begin to count the tips I've gotten from Twitter as an unpublished writer from literary agents, editors, and other writers. And since the writing community is generally very, very welcoming and supportive, they are more than happy to answer questions. I've paid it forward as much as possible, and when I'm published, I'll keep paying it forward.

So there you have it, folks. Those are just a few of the reasons I find Twitter useful. I think it's here to stay despite some people indicating they believe it's a fad and set to die quickly.

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