Tuesday Tidbit: Twitter Truths & Giveaway
I’ve seen a lot of information about how to use Twitter and what to say and not say on Twitter, but one thing I wish I’d had before I ever started tweeting was a guide to how not to let Twitter make you nuts. Here are some principles I find myself returning to again and again:
1. Someone is always celebrating a success, which is a very different thing from “everyone is constantly celebrating successes,” even if it sometimes feels the same. It will be your turn eventually.
2. There is enough to go around. Of everything. Especially, but not limited to, affection.
3. Even if you can’t see them, people are listening.
4. They can’t see you unless you tell them you’re there. They’re not leaving you out on purpose. (Ask and ye shall receive.)
5. Don’t compare your insides to their outsides. They are being their best selves. Also don’t compare their funniest to your right-this-second. Don’t compare at all.
6. It’s unusual to constantly “overhear” other people’s conversations, so if it occasionally makes you feel weird (in a slightly seventh-grade way), you’re normal.
7. Silence is silence. It carries no other information. Someone not talking or not talking to you is merely not talking or not talking to you, without malice or motive.
8. If you go on Twitter because you were feeling lonely (or bad in some other way), you are probably going to feel lonely (or bad in that same other way) on Twitter, too. It doesn’t mean you’re more lame than before you went on.
9. Sometimes when no one replies to a tweet you’ve posted, it’s because no one saw it, not because it was stupid. Sometimes, it’s because it was stupid, but statistically speaking, that’s going to happen eventually. You can’t sweat it.
Contribute a Twitter truth (or just your random thoughts about the world’s most awesome and emotionally complicated social media platform). I will randomly select up to five commenters and gift them ebook copies of Shari Slade’s awesome new adult novella, The Opposite of Nothing. You must be 18 or older and live in a location where I can easily gift you an ebook to win. Contest ends Thursday March 27, 11:59 p.m. EST.
Here’s what you need to know about The Opposite of Nothing (also, that Shari’s voice is gorgeous):
Callie Evans would rather hide out in her DJ sound booth than face the fact that she’s in love with her best friend, notorious campus hottie Tayber King.
Tayber turns hooking up into an art form–no drama, no commitment, no lies, and nobody gets hurt. Nobody but Callie, that is. When she sees an opportunity to explore his sexier side using a fake online profile, she grabs it. Now her uninhibited alter-ego ‘Sasha’ is steaming up the screen, and Callie is breaking all of Tayber’s rules.
As Callie and Tayber get closer, online and off, she knows she has to confess. And risk losing him forever.
**This 35,000 word New Adult novella is for mature readers. It contains strong language and adult situations.**
March 25, 2014 @ 5:57 pm
Everybody who uses Twitter establishes their own set of rules about how Twitter is supposed to work and what it’s for. No one’s rules are completely compatible. That’s okay. It doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong, or they are, or anyone is. It’s a neutral platform.
Already have Shari’s book — looking forward to reading it!
March 26, 2014 @ 5:24 am
I was already going to share this because you’ve nailed so many truths…and then I saw you are giving away Shari’s awesome book. So my Twitter Truth: NSFW labels are for real, and some of the best people use them. Friend them! 🙂
March 26, 2014 @ 7:09 am
Twitter Truth – If you are using Twitter for personal use don’t worry about followers, follow who and what interest you and they will come.
March 26, 2014 @ 7:10 am
I already have Shari’s book, which I have read and very much enjoyed.
March 26, 2014 @ 11:14 am
Oh, you guys, these are good. I often forget Ruthie’s, but it’s so true. I thought of another one this morning, too. Twitter doesn’t have opinions, it’s just a space for opinions. Because sometimes I think, What would Twitter think? before remembering that there are PEOPLE THERE.
March 26, 2014 @ 11:17 am
Glad I saw this mentioned on Twitter 😉 since I missed it yesterday. I love your Twitter rules 🙂
All I could think to add is what I often remind myself, that the world is bigger than Twitter. Whatever we see there is just an atom of the whole world…maybe less than an atom, because the world really is that big. Even our individual lives are bigger than Twitter. There are people out there who never tweet and do just fine. 🙂
Sam
March 26, 2014 @ 11:22 am
I have two:
1) Real friendships can come from Twitter exchanges.
2) If you have a question, Twitter probably knows the answer.
I already have Shari’s book and can’t wait to read it. I hear wonderful things!
March 27, 2014 @ 11:27 am
My Twitter truth is not to trust anybody, especially news organizations, for updates on developing situations. Everybody’s so desperate to be the first to break news that misinformation gets reported without caveats. And then spread by others.