Tweet Me

“I just don’t get it. What am I supposed to do with Twitter?” I frustratedly expressed to my social media guru sister one day during one of our many ‘drive-home’ convos. My sister and I had made a business arrangement, she’d work on her social with blanketforadventures.com while I’d continue to breathe life into our Tulips and Poppies presence. In an effort to expand our reach in my not-so-capable hands, I decided to enter the world of Twitter and floundered. 

It was like Twitter was a party that I was not invited to. People were having conversations that I was not a part of and short of saying “Hey! I really liked your blah..blah...blah..I heard today on the radio,” every time I tweeted, I had no idea what to do. Poppies had set up the account and had started to follow a lot of book bloggers.  And although, I love the book bloggers and so admire their ability to ravenously consume books, I had such a hard time figuring out how to jump in with them. Their posts were commonly threads of “I’m on this page of ‘this book’” or “I just finished ‘this book’, going to start ‘another book’” and then a few days later “I’m done with ‘that book’.” It was crazy. Between my full-time job, three kids, Tulips and Poppies, our manuscript, and now social media, my one book a month goal feebly sat in the shadows of my book blogging Tweeters.  

Then I found my people and realized the people are grouped in hashtags - what? #amwriting #amwritingya They were having the conversations that I could relate to. “Wrote ‘this many’ words today!” or “My character ‘something’” But I was still feeling like an outsider, I wasn’t ‘Following’ these people and they certainly weren’t ‘Following’ me. Do I just talk to them? ‘Hey! I also daydream about the lives of our characters.’ ‘Hey! I also have a technical writing job.’ ‘Hey! I also like Star Wars!’ So, one day, I just did. I just replied to someone’s Tweet and they liked it! Then I replied to another and they liked it! Then it occurred to me that everyone just wants to be heard. 

So, yes, Twitter is a party that I haven’t been invited to, but most people have not. Everyone is looking for someone to have a conversation with or else why would they be saying any of their thoughts publicly? Why would they use the hashtag? They want to relate to someone - “Does anyone relate to what I’m saying?” Now, I’m really beginning to love Twitter and the community of writers I get to connect with.  I’ve decided to be the girl at the party that just talks to everyone. The one that makes everyone feel welcome. The girl that walks into the room not knowing a soul and leaves with everyone knowing their name (but in a good way). And I’m beginning to learn to relate to the book bloggers too, who I adore! They are so delightfully engaging and their spirits are so lively and I’m learning from them about all the books I need to start reading, if I can just get through my one for the month (Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell - and it’s fantastic). 

If you’re on Twitter - or not and ready to make the leap, come find us (me mostly) @tulipsnpoppies and let’s chat. I’m listening. I read. I respond. I will recognize your drop in the ocean of Twitter. (Also, shameless plug follow Poppies - @basicallyBekka; she has a fascinating life filled with music festivals, art openings, periscopes,snapchats, and wanderlust!)