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Writer's Craft #8
Twitter for Writers: The Author's Guide to Tweeting Success
Use Twitter to improve your writing, network with other authors, meet fans, build a platform, gain exposure, find reviewers and sell books. Rayne Hall has one of the best platforms any writer has on Twitter – with over 50,000 genuine, engaged followers who enjoy her tweets and buy her books. Here she shares practical advice, fun ideas, step-by-step strategies for success – and even the embarrassing mistakes she made. This book is a great help to any writer who wants to use Twitter as a professional tool without wasting precious writing time. Suitable for newbies as well as Twitter veterans, it shows you how to spot fake followers, guides you past the dreaded 2,000-follower hurdle, helps you throw a Twitter party and reveals the most powerful ways to promote a book. *** Please Twitter has changed some technical details since the publication of this book. The principles remain the same. ***
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 6, 2014
53 people are currently reading
186 people want to read
About the author
Rayne Hall
115 books1,437 followersRayne Hall writes fantasy and horror fiction, some of it quirky, most of it dark. She is the author of over sixty books in different genres and under different pen names, published by twelve publishers in six countries, translated into several languages. Her short stories have been published in magazines, e-zines and anthologies.
After living in Germany, China, Mongolia and Nepal, she has settled in a small Victorian seaside town in southern England. Rayne holds a college degree in publishing management and a masters degree in creative writing. Over three decades, she has worked in the publishing industry as a trainee, investigative journalist, feature writer, magazine editor, production editor, page designer, concept editor for non-fiction book series, anthology editor, editorial consultant and more. Outside publishing, she worked as a museum guide, apple
picker, tarot reader, adult education teacher, trade fair hostess, translator and belly dancer.
Currently, Rayne Hall writes fantasy and horror fiction and tries to regain the rights to her out-of-print books so she can republish them as e-books.
Her books on the writing craft (Writing Fight Scenes, Writing Scary Scenes, The Word-Loss Diet, Writing Dark Stories, Writing About Villains, Writing Short Stories to Promote Your Novel, Writing About Magic, Twitter for Writers) are bestsellers.
Rayne Hall is the editor of the Ten Tales anthologies:
"Bites: Ten Tales of Vampires"
"Scared: Ten Tales of Horror"
"Haunted: Ten Tales of Ghosts"
"Cutlass: Ten Tales of Pirates"
"Beltane: Ten Tales of Witchcraft"
"Spells: Ten Tales of Magic"
"Undead: Ten Tales of Zombies"
"Seers: Ten Tales of Clairvoyance"
"Dragon: Ten Tales of Fiery Beasts"
"Cogwheels: Ten Tales of Steampunk"
with more titles coming soon.
The stories in her Six Scary Tales series and the Thirty Scary Tales collection are subtle horror: suspenseful, creepy atmospheric, unsettling. Although they contain little violence and gore, they may not be suitable for young readers. Many of these stories have been previously published in other books or magazines.
British English: All Rayne Hall's books use British words, spellings, grammar and punctuation. If you're allergic to British English, avoid them. ;-)
Mailing list:
http://eepurl.com/boqJzD
Website: http://sites.google.com/site/raynehal...
YouTube "Ten Random Facts about Rayne Hall" (2 minute video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXR4T...
Contact Rayne Hall on Twitter
@RayneHall follows back writers and readers. http://twitter.com/RayneHall
After living in Germany, China, Mongolia and Nepal, she has settled in a small Victorian seaside town in southern England. Rayne holds a college degree in publishing management and a masters degree in creative writing. Over three decades, she has worked in the publishing industry as a trainee, investigative journalist, feature writer, magazine editor, production editor, page designer, concept editor for non-fiction book series, anthology editor, editorial consultant and more. Outside publishing, she worked as a museum guide, apple
picker, tarot reader, adult education teacher, trade fair hostess, translator and belly dancer.
Currently, Rayne Hall writes fantasy and horror fiction and tries to regain the rights to her out-of-print books so she can republish them as e-books.
Her books on the writing craft (Writing Fight Scenes, Writing Scary Scenes, The Word-Loss Diet, Writing Dark Stories, Writing About Villains, Writing Short Stories to Promote Your Novel, Writing About Magic, Twitter for Writers) are bestsellers.
Rayne Hall is the editor of the Ten Tales anthologies:
"Bites: Ten Tales of Vampires"
"Scared: Ten Tales of Horror"
"Haunted: Ten Tales of Ghosts"
"Cutlass: Ten Tales of Pirates"
"Beltane: Ten Tales of Witchcraft"
"Spells: Ten Tales of Magic"
"Undead: Ten Tales of Zombies"
"Seers: Ten Tales of Clairvoyance"
"Dragon: Ten Tales of Fiery Beasts"
"Cogwheels: Ten Tales of Steampunk"
with more titles coming soon.
The stories in her Six Scary Tales series and the Thirty Scary Tales collection are subtle horror: suspenseful, creepy atmospheric, unsettling. Although they contain little violence and gore, they may not be suitable for young readers. Many of these stories have been previously published in other books or magazines.
British English: All Rayne Hall's books use British words, spellings, grammar and punctuation. If you're allergic to British English, avoid them. ;-)
Mailing list:
http://eepurl.com/boqJzD
Website: http://sites.google.com/site/raynehal...
YouTube "Ten Random Facts about Rayne Hall" (2 minute video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXR4T...
Contact Rayne Hall on Twitter
@RayneHall follows back writers and readers. http://twitter.com/RayneHall
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
May 25, 2019
This guidebook is a quick read with good tips for those of us who don’t spend a lot of time on Twitter. It’s a little out of date because it was 140 characters when she wrote this. But she makes good points such as: Don’t follow people back if you have nothing in common with them. That’s common sense, but I’ve been automatically following people back without really looking at what they stand for.
She can get repetitive, but I think she does that because she anticipates people bouncing around, not reading the book linearly.
I got into Twitter for a while, but then, when I didn’t have a book to actively promote, now I mostly use Twitter to promote other authors or forward health tips since I’m always trying to stay motivated to achieve better health. This was a good overview for me in case I ever use Twitter for connecting with potential readers.
For more reviews, please visit http://www.theresaalan.net/blog
She can get repetitive, but I think she does that because she anticipates people bouncing around, not reading the book linearly.
I got into Twitter for a while, but then, when I didn’t have a book to actively promote, now I mostly use Twitter to promote other authors or forward health tips since I’m always trying to stay motivated to achieve better health. This was a good overview for me in case I ever use Twitter for connecting with potential readers.
For more reviews, please visit http://www.theresaalan.net/blog
April 24, 2018
With the glut of instructional books available to readers (and the lack of meaningful content many of them contain), “Twitter for Writers” is a rare find. If there is anything even mildly wrong with this book, I can’t find it…except, perhaps, the title. More on that below.
Author Rayne Hall (widely know for her Writer’s Craft series) presents a book that can be embraced by new as well as experienced Twitterites. The book is well-ordered, with topics ordered into separate chapters. Each chapter has similar sections, one for new and one for experienced users, as well as tips on What Not To Do.
Although Ms. Hall has written this book with writers in mind, with little effort it can be adapted for use by anyone who has a product or service and wishes to use Twitter as another tool in the social media toolbox. As a new Twitter user, I am guesstimating I will save hundreds of hours by not employing methods that the author has already tried and DO NOT WORK.
The book was even more enjoyable with the author’s use of cartoon drawings to help illustrate her points as well as entertain readers. The down-to-earth manner of Ms. Hall’s instructions will at times put a smile on your face, and it would be nearly impossible not to gain new or additional knowledge about Tweeting. Five stars.
Author Rayne Hall (widely know for her Writer’s Craft series) presents a book that can be embraced by new as well as experienced Twitterites. The book is well-ordered, with topics ordered into separate chapters. Each chapter has similar sections, one for new and one for experienced users, as well as tips on What Not To Do.
Although Ms. Hall has written this book with writers in mind, with little effort it can be adapted for use by anyone who has a product or service and wishes to use Twitter as another tool in the social media toolbox. As a new Twitter user, I am guesstimating I will save hundreds of hours by not employing methods that the author has already tried and DO NOT WORK.
The book was even more enjoyable with the author’s use of cartoon drawings to help illustrate her points as well as entertain readers. The down-to-earth manner of Ms. Hall’s instructions will at times put a smile on your face, and it would be nearly impossible not to gain new or additional knowledge about Tweeting. Five stars.
July 14, 2017
Being new to Twitter, I found this book to be hugely informative. It confirmed that my instincts about who to follow and how to engage were sound, it opened my eyes to a lot of what I hadn't yet put together. The author has a wealth of experience not only as a writer, but as one who has become hugely successful at gaining engaged followers who have become fans and readers. She goes to great lengths to demystify the experience while giving the reader access to all her hard-won knowledge. This is the third book on Twitter that I've purchased and it is by far the best! Now I feel much more confident about how to interact on Twitter and how to give and receive the best experience there. Thank you, Rayne!
March 16, 2019
I’ve had this review to write for about a year. That says more about me than it does about the book. But I’ve genuinely wanted to review it all that time and now at last have done so. That says more about the book than it does about me.
Rayne Hall is a professional working writer, mostly of fantasy, horror, historical fiction and non-fiction, with a loyal fan base and an awesome cat called Sulu. I’m not a big reader of the genres that she writes in so her guidebooks on writing, and Twitter in particular, were of more interest to me than her fiction.
Rayne kindly sent me a review copy of Twitter for Writers after I engaged with her on Twitter. Ok, after I pestered her on Twitter. Just kidding. I like Rayne’s writing style and approach to social media, we follow each other on Twitter, and this was the book of hers that I most wanted to read. So I just asked nicely.
Let me say right out the gate that Twitter for Writers is a great primer on how to use Twitter if: 1) you’re an author, 2) self-published or indie and / or 3) you want to use Twitter to sell your books. No more, no less. It’s especially useful to writers who work in similar genres to the author.
The book gives you an overview of Twitter for the uninitiated writer, how to do stuff like build an audience and drive traffic to your website, and is perfect if you write SF, YA, Fantasy, Horror etc and want to use Twitter to pimp your wares without annoying your followers.
As it was a review copy I was asked to give my honest, unguarded opinion, including on which chapters I found most useful or entertaining, but also to speak a little about my background and how I use Twitter.
I’m an NCTJ-qualified journalist, currently working in the third-sector, who blogs and writes fiction on the side. I’ve used Twitter both personally, as an independent writer, and professionally, managing accounts for charities, creative industries and human rights organisations.
My personal account is supposed to be funny but I probably come across as a sarcastic git, part-time pedant and full-time grumpy arse. I even invented the hashtag #unfollowsunday — but the less said about that the better.
I spend an unhealthy amount of time on Twitter. At the time of writing this I’ve over 11,500 followers, mostly fellow writers, but I’ve yet to try my hand at selling books there. So my perspective on the application of this book is skewed in favour of people who promote themselves without shouting BUY MY BOOK with every single tweet.
Rayne offers some solid advice about starting a conversation, rather than a sales pitch, and how to tweet stuff that is relevant to your audience. For example, if you write vampire novels then talk about vampires — not about your novel.
She also gives practical advice on marketing and how to write engaging content, including models of successful marketing tweets, how to strike a good balance between marketing and conversation, and advises you to avoid automated Direct Messages like the plague.
Any fiction writer would do well to take this advice to heart. Far too often writers market at people rather than talk to them. To readers of your timeline all the typical author tweet says is: “Buy my book. Buy my book. BUY. MY. BOOK.”
There was, at least from my perspective, also some advice that was a little questionable. Namely that it’s ok to use non-photo pictures for your profile picture such as a painting or cartoon. There are of course plenty of examples of people that do this, for any number of reasons, but in my not-so-humble opinion it’s dead wrong. This is a just personal bugbear of mine rather than a damning indictment of the book.
People prefer to connect with people. Because psychology. So use a photo of your face. And not just of your ear, eye or forehead. You’ll get much better results with a real photo of yourself — it’s fine if you disagree but I refuse to justify myself to a cartoon squirrel.
And don’t get me started on cat pictures. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean your pictures of your cats. I love cats. Cats are awesome. And Rayne, for example, uses lovely pictures of her cat to promote her books to good effect. Every writer should have a cat — we all need our familiars. It’s just internet memes like lolcats that I can’t stand. No, you can’t ‘has cheezburger.’ Go back to Facebook. At least writers’ cats are good at spelling.
It just goes to show you that there’s no one true way to ‘do Twitter.’ Everyone thinks that they do it better than anyone else. And everyone annoys someone else at some point because they’re ‘doing it wrong.’ And they’re all wrong, of course, because I do it better. Just kidding.
I liked the sections where Rayne candidly confesses mistakes she made, lessons learnt, and strategies she tried that didn’t work. And I loved (laughed out loud at) the hilarious aside on weird reasons she gets unfollowed. I’ve been unfollowed for some weird-ass reasons over the years. My favourites to date include because I use British spelling (I’m English), because I like the music of Nick Cave, and the venomous death threats I received because I’ve never read Harry Potter.
To be honest I didn’t learn anything new but no doubt a Twitter newbie would find the book much more helpful. Most of the so-called advanced strategies, such as scheduling tweets, I already do. If I died today you’d still get daily tweets from me until the end of the year. But it was still a worthy read, for me, and validating / reassuring to see the process of another writer and realise that my own process isn’t far off the mark.
The most practical advice I picked up from the book was that if you want a tweet to go viral it should be visual, funny and relevant — and the best size for an image on such a tweet is 512 by 1024 pixels. I think of these as ‘hero tweets’ because the hero image makes it perfect fodder for pinning to the top of your profile. Tweet something visual, funny and relevant — preferably with a call to action such as a link to your website — and people will most likely share it. Pin it to the top of your profile and even casual visitors to your profile will see it and respond.
I came away from reading Twitter for Writers feeling like the sort of person who could write his own how-to book on Twitter but is too lazy to do so. I really should get out more or get off my arse and write something — even if it is just a grumpy guide to Twitter. I could call it ‘Antisocial Media.’ Or, you know, I could just stop drinking whiskey, put on pants and leave the house.
I’m @jamesgarside_ on Twitter if you want to say hi.
Rayne Hall is a professional working writer, mostly of fantasy, horror, historical fiction and non-fiction, with a loyal fan base and an awesome cat called Sulu. I’m not a big reader of the genres that she writes in so her guidebooks on writing, and Twitter in particular, were of more interest to me than her fiction.
Rayne kindly sent me a review copy of Twitter for Writers after I engaged with her on Twitter. Ok, after I pestered her on Twitter. Just kidding. I like Rayne’s writing style and approach to social media, we follow each other on Twitter, and this was the book of hers that I most wanted to read. So I just asked nicely.
Let me say right out the gate that Twitter for Writers is a great primer on how to use Twitter if: 1) you’re an author, 2) self-published or indie and / or 3) you want to use Twitter to sell your books. No more, no less. It’s especially useful to writers who work in similar genres to the author.
The book gives you an overview of Twitter for the uninitiated writer, how to do stuff like build an audience and drive traffic to your website, and is perfect if you write SF, YA, Fantasy, Horror etc and want to use Twitter to pimp your wares without annoying your followers.
As it was a review copy I was asked to give my honest, unguarded opinion, including on which chapters I found most useful or entertaining, but also to speak a little about my background and how I use Twitter.
I’m an NCTJ-qualified journalist, currently working in the third-sector, who blogs and writes fiction on the side. I’ve used Twitter both personally, as an independent writer, and professionally, managing accounts for charities, creative industries and human rights organisations.
My personal account is supposed to be funny but I probably come across as a sarcastic git, part-time pedant and full-time grumpy arse. I even invented the hashtag #unfollowsunday — but the less said about that the better.
I spend an unhealthy amount of time on Twitter. At the time of writing this I’ve over 11,500 followers, mostly fellow writers, but I’ve yet to try my hand at selling books there. So my perspective on the application of this book is skewed in favour of people who promote themselves without shouting BUY MY BOOK with every single tweet.
Rayne offers some solid advice about starting a conversation, rather than a sales pitch, and how to tweet stuff that is relevant to your audience. For example, if you write vampire novels then talk about vampires — not about your novel.
She also gives practical advice on marketing and how to write engaging content, including models of successful marketing tweets, how to strike a good balance between marketing and conversation, and advises you to avoid automated Direct Messages like the plague.
Any fiction writer would do well to take this advice to heart. Far too often writers market at people rather than talk to them. To readers of your timeline all the typical author tweet says is: “Buy my book. Buy my book. BUY. MY. BOOK.”
There was, at least from my perspective, also some advice that was a little questionable. Namely that it’s ok to use non-photo pictures for your profile picture such as a painting or cartoon. There are of course plenty of examples of people that do this, for any number of reasons, but in my not-so-humble opinion it’s dead wrong. This is a just personal bugbear of mine rather than a damning indictment of the book.
People prefer to connect with people. Because psychology. So use a photo of your face. And not just of your ear, eye or forehead. You’ll get much better results with a real photo of yourself — it’s fine if you disagree but I refuse to justify myself to a cartoon squirrel.
And don’t get me started on cat pictures. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean your pictures of your cats. I love cats. Cats are awesome. And Rayne, for example, uses lovely pictures of her cat to promote her books to good effect. Every writer should have a cat — we all need our familiars. It’s just internet memes like lolcats that I can’t stand. No, you can’t ‘has cheezburger.’ Go back to Facebook. At least writers’ cats are good at spelling.
It just goes to show you that there’s no one true way to ‘do Twitter.’ Everyone thinks that they do it better than anyone else. And everyone annoys someone else at some point because they’re ‘doing it wrong.’ And they’re all wrong, of course, because I do it better. Just kidding.
I liked the sections where Rayne candidly confesses mistakes she made, lessons learnt, and strategies she tried that didn’t work. And I loved (laughed out loud at) the hilarious aside on weird reasons she gets unfollowed. I’ve been unfollowed for some weird-ass reasons over the years. My favourites to date include because I use British spelling (I’m English), because I like the music of Nick Cave, and the venomous death threats I received because I’ve never read Harry Potter.
To be honest I didn’t learn anything new but no doubt a Twitter newbie would find the book much more helpful. Most of the so-called advanced strategies, such as scheduling tweets, I already do. If I died today you’d still get daily tweets from me until the end of the year. But it was still a worthy read, for me, and validating / reassuring to see the process of another writer and realise that my own process isn’t far off the mark.
The most practical advice I picked up from the book was that if you want a tweet to go viral it should be visual, funny and relevant — and the best size for an image on such a tweet is 512 by 1024 pixels. I think of these as ‘hero tweets’ because the hero image makes it perfect fodder for pinning to the top of your profile. Tweet something visual, funny and relevant — preferably with a call to action such as a link to your website — and people will most likely share it. Pin it to the top of your profile and even casual visitors to your profile will see it and respond.
I came away from reading Twitter for Writers feeling like the sort of person who could write his own how-to book on Twitter but is too lazy to do so. I really should get out more or get off my arse and write something — even if it is just a grumpy guide to Twitter. I could call it ‘Antisocial Media.’ Or, you know, I could just stop drinking whiskey, put on pants and leave the house.
I’m @jamesgarside_ on Twitter if you want to say hi.
did-not-finish
May 15, 2019Not recently updated, so it's super outdated. but I did read about half, and it had some good tips.
July 14, 2014
What a helpful book! Rayne Hall's guide to Twitter for Writers is full of practical, targeted information and advice for writers from the newest newbie to those who use it regularly. I learned something new in the first chapter thanks to all the linked resources she provides.
I love that the material is tailored to the needs of the busy writer and that Rayne includes her own experiences (good and bad!) so I can learn from her mistakes. She advises against using automated retweeting services, following celebrities, and responding to DM's, thank goodness! I enjoyed the information about creating lists strategies for networking, and how to handle multiple accounts. She also covers twitter parties, giveaways and contests.
If you're a writer looking to build a platform with integrity and creativity, it's going to take time and effort, but this book is a great blueprint. I have never been unhappy with any of Rayne Hall's writing books, either. Now I have to buckle down and put all this information into practice.
I love that the material is tailored to the needs of the busy writer and that Rayne includes her own experiences (good and bad!) so I can learn from her mistakes. She advises against using automated retweeting services, following celebrities, and responding to DM's, thank goodness! I enjoyed the information about creating lists strategies for networking, and how to handle multiple accounts. She also covers twitter parties, giveaways and contests.
If you're a writer looking to build a platform with integrity and creativity, it's going to take time and effort, but this book is a great blueprint. I have never been unhappy with any of Rayne Hall's writing books, either. Now I have to buckle down and put all this information into practice.
May 12, 2016
This book must have written for me because it chimes so much with my experience on Twitter. The writer, Rayne Hall, has about sixty thousand followers on Twitter. Really, to sum up her message in two words-be authentic. She describes the techniques that work best for her on Twitter, the pitfalls to avoid, and the mistakes she has made. She has tried out a lot of strategies/applications, which will save you a lot of bother and frustration if you listen to her. Her focus is on gaining real followers. She encourages conversation instead of automated spamming. I learned a few useful tidbits. If you are new to twitter, this book is essential reading.
November 27, 2017
I enjoyed reading this Writers craft book. As I have been a Twitter user for some time I am glad to say I knew some of it. The book gave me creative ideas to move forward with my Twitter account and how to engage with readers and those in a similar sector. Thankfully I did know most of what Rayne’s points in regards to what not to do on Twitter and how to talk to your readers.
This book would help someone who over promotes their work to gain a presence and understand why promoting all the time isn’t going to gain them a base on Twitter to grow.
I have to say. Since putting some of these in place I have gained more followers and I feel I have been given permission to be creative.
Thank you Rayne. I will now move onto my next Writers craft book.
This book would help someone who over promotes their work to gain a presence and understand why promoting all the time isn’t going to gain them a base on Twitter to grow.
I have to say. Since putting some of these in place I have gained more followers and I feel I have been given permission to be creative.
Thank you Rayne. I will now move onto my next Writers craft book.
August 27, 2014
Most of the writers I know (and most of the people I know) are Facebook users, as am I. We are members of various writing and editing groups, and we use the messaging function a lot. It's also a way of keeping up with far-lung friends and family. However, I do have a Twitter account (and a healthy and growing number of followers). Most of what I know has been learned through trial and error, and I wasn't even sure if I was doing the right things.
Twitter for Writers starts at the very beginning, with how to set up an account, how to load pictures (the line about doing it at midnight when the moon is full got me laughing--the last thing I expected), how to find like-minded followers, and the basics of hashtags (despite what some of my Facebook friends seem to believe, they are about topics, not #randomstringsofletters. She also gives suggestions of good hashtags for writers to use (or search on), and examples of when to use certain hashtags (e.g. #amwriting, which I find I'm guilty of misusing).
So Twitter for Writers was helpful, both in that it confirmed I have been doing the right things, like keeping my number of people followed at roughly the same number as my followers, and avoiding apps that send automatic messages. Like Hall, I'm bemused by why I should have to prove to a computer that I'm a real person (auto validation services), and I don't like RoundTeam (what do they do, anyway?). It's nice to find I'm not the only Grinch on the interwebz.
She also gives some handy hints for creating tweets that you can use over and over (why didn't I think of that?). Overall, well worth buying for writers new to Twitter and trying to decide how to use it (or even if they should), and useful hints for those of us who have been Twitterers a little longer. It's an easy read, packed full of solid advice from someone who has built a platform of over 50,000 Twitter followers in only a little over two years.
Above all, writers have to remember the golden rule of social media: your goal is to connect with readers, not other writers. Twitter can help, but you have to search for readers and not just follow other writers (which is what I, and all my friends, seem to do on Facebook!).
The one proviso with Twitter for Writers is that it does what is says in the title: gives effective guidance for writers to use Twitter. If you're not a writer (or not interested in topics such as writing, editing, publishing and book marketing, then you'll probably get more out of another guide.
Twitter for Writers starts at the very beginning, with how to set up an account, how to load pictures (the line about doing it at midnight when the moon is full got me laughing--the last thing I expected), how to find like-minded followers, and the basics of hashtags (despite what some of my Facebook friends seem to believe, they are about topics, not #randomstringsofletters. She also gives suggestions of good hashtags for writers to use (or search on), and examples of when to use certain hashtags (e.g. #amwriting, which I find I'm guilty of misusing).
So Twitter for Writers was helpful, both in that it confirmed I have been doing the right things, like keeping my number of people followed at roughly the same number as my followers, and avoiding apps that send automatic messages. Like Hall, I'm bemused by why I should have to prove to a computer that I'm a real person (auto validation services), and I don't like RoundTeam (what do they do, anyway?). It's nice to find I'm not the only Grinch on the interwebz.
She also gives some handy hints for creating tweets that you can use over and over (why didn't I think of that?). Overall, well worth buying for writers new to Twitter and trying to decide how to use it (or even if they should), and useful hints for those of us who have been Twitterers a little longer. It's an easy read, packed full of solid advice from someone who has built a platform of over 50,000 Twitter followers in only a little over two years.
Above all, writers have to remember the golden rule of social media: your goal is to connect with readers, not other writers. Twitter can help, but you have to search for readers and not just follow other writers (which is what I, and all my friends, seem to do on Facebook!).
The one proviso with Twitter for Writers is that it does what is says in the title: gives effective guidance for writers to use Twitter. If you're not a writer (or not interested in topics such as writing, editing, publishing and book marketing, then you'll probably get more out of another guide.
July 17, 2015
I write letters with a fountain pen.
I don't own a cellphone.
I treat my laptop like a glorified typewriter. I know how to send and reply to emails but, honestly, most of the applications on my computer are a complete mystery to me.
My friends think I'm living a 19th-Century life and I'm inclined to agree with them.
That said, as an Indie author of mystery novels it's long been apparent to me that I need to figure out how to use social media to engage potential readers. At the suggestion of some friends, that led me to sign up for Twitter. Like many newbies in the Twitterverse, I grew disappointed because my book sales didn't quickly land me on the NY Times bestseller list. Like many newbies, I thought about shutting down my Twitter account and doing something - anything - else in an effort to sell my books.
Fortunately, before I did that I discovered Rayne Hall's excellent "Twitter for Writers" and learned a lot of neat (do people still say that?) things about this very social medium.
That was, in fact, the first thing that really made an impact on me while I was reading Hall's book: Twitter is not a giant billboard but a SOCIAL medium that can be useful in many ways.
For example: If you know what you're doing - and I certainly didn't before I read her book - Hall reminds us that Twitter can help authors network with one another. That can be invaluable when it comes to such things as resolving a plot point, searching for an agent, researching an arcane subject or even choosing an effective book cover.
And just as authors can network with each other, Twitter also allows them to engage readers and bloggers in conversations that can lead to sales and book reviews.
Who knew?
Hall's advice isn't confined to those subjects, however. She also discusses the many scams that haunt the Twitterverse and how to avoid them, gives readers useful tips on how to multiply the effectiveness of Tweets and suggests ways that they can make the whole Twitter experience enjoyable. She also describes the many mistakes she made when she was a newbie and gives her readers advice on how to avoid making the same ones she did.
An excellent book for writers who use Twitter as a promotional tool and for anyone interested in learning more about the pluses and minuses of this particular social medium.
I don't own a cellphone.
I treat my laptop like a glorified typewriter. I know how to send and reply to emails but, honestly, most of the applications on my computer are a complete mystery to me.
My friends think I'm living a 19th-Century life and I'm inclined to agree with them.
That said, as an Indie author of mystery novels it's long been apparent to me that I need to figure out how to use social media to engage potential readers. At the suggestion of some friends, that led me to sign up for Twitter. Like many newbies in the Twitterverse, I grew disappointed because my book sales didn't quickly land me on the NY Times bestseller list. Like many newbies, I thought about shutting down my Twitter account and doing something - anything - else in an effort to sell my books.
Fortunately, before I did that I discovered Rayne Hall's excellent "Twitter for Writers" and learned a lot of neat (do people still say that?) things about this very social medium.
That was, in fact, the first thing that really made an impact on me while I was reading Hall's book: Twitter is not a giant billboard but a SOCIAL medium that can be useful in many ways.
For example: If you know what you're doing - and I certainly didn't before I read her book - Hall reminds us that Twitter can help authors network with one another. That can be invaluable when it comes to such things as resolving a plot point, searching for an agent, researching an arcane subject or even choosing an effective book cover.
And just as authors can network with each other, Twitter also allows them to engage readers and bloggers in conversations that can lead to sales and book reviews.
Who knew?
Hall's advice isn't confined to those subjects, however. She also discusses the many scams that haunt the Twitterverse and how to avoid them, gives readers useful tips on how to multiply the effectiveness of Tweets and suggests ways that they can make the whole Twitter experience enjoyable. She also describes the many mistakes she made when she was a newbie and gives her readers advice on how to avoid making the same ones she did.
An excellent book for writers who use Twitter as a promotional tool and for anyone interested in learning more about the pluses and minuses of this particular social medium.
August 4, 2014
You've written and published a book - a lot of hard work and a huge accomplishment. Then you discover marketing your book to your target reader audience is even harder. Especially for authors of my generation, who didn't grow up and have social media at their fingertips since their teen years.
No worries, Rayne Hall has written a clear and concise book about Twitter explaining how writers can use it to the fullest potential. I found Twitter to be intimidating at first. I got better and more comfortable with it, but found I was stuck and not really getting the results I wanted. This book will take you step by step, in easy to understand terms how to connect with readers, other authors, bloggers, reviewers, etc.
Ms. Hall has become very successful in 'Twitterverse', but she too made mistakes at first and is kind enough to share what she learned from those experiences. I found that extremely helpful since I am guilty of quite of few of those same mistakes.
You'll find this book a great resource from start to finish. Each chapter is titled so if you need to go back and refresh your memory on a certain aspect of Twitter, it's easy to do.
This book is a must have for all authors who are looking to promote, market and connect with those readers who love to read what you love to write.
No worries, Rayne Hall has written a clear and concise book about Twitter explaining how writers can use it to the fullest potential. I found Twitter to be intimidating at first. I got better and more comfortable with it, but found I was stuck and not really getting the results I wanted. This book will take you step by step, in easy to understand terms how to connect with readers, other authors, bloggers, reviewers, etc.
Ms. Hall has become very successful in 'Twitterverse', but she too made mistakes at first and is kind enough to share what she learned from those experiences. I found that extremely helpful since I am guilty of quite of few of those same mistakes.
You'll find this book a great resource from start to finish. Each chapter is titled so if you need to go back and refresh your memory on a certain aspect of Twitter, it's easy to do.
This book is a must have for all authors who are looking to promote, market and connect with those readers who love to read what you love to write.
July 20, 2014
Twitter: Love it? Hate it? Don't know how to get the best from it? I thought I was doing ok until I opened this treasure trove of a book. It doesn't matter if you are completely clueless or an advanced user, there is something for all authors in the book.
Rayne discusses your Twitter platform and talks about increasing your followers by engaging with them and attracting them with your content. She tells you how to make those brilliant images that some people tweet and how to let others to eavesdrop on a conversation and thus gain their attention.
There is advice on lists and how to use them to filter much of the tweets that no one wants to read. Plus there is advice on really using Twitter to add content to your marketing. Perhaps you could hold a Twitter party or a contest, Rayne tells you how she achieved her success and she tells you what not to do.
I've been putting into practise some of the ideas already and I was really pleased when I spotted a piece about fake followers who want a free book and who are likely to then sell that book on e-bay, Amazon or worse, I just knew that my suspicions about a contact were correct.
This book definitely gets 5*s.
Rayne discusses your Twitter platform and talks about increasing your followers by engaging with them and attracting them with your content. She tells you how to make those brilliant images that some people tweet and how to let others to eavesdrop on a conversation and thus gain their attention.
There is advice on lists and how to use them to filter much of the tweets that no one wants to read. Plus there is advice on really using Twitter to add content to your marketing. Perhaps you could hold a Twitter party or a contest, Rayne tells you how she achieved her success and she tells you what not to do.
I've been putting into practise some of the ideas already and I was really pleased when I spotted a piece about fake followers who want a free book and who are likely to then sell that book on e-bay, Amazon or worse, I just knew that my suspicions about a contact were correct.
This book definitely gets 5*s.
August 17, 2014
This is an excellent book for all Twitter users, new as well as the more established. It covers the basic functions as well as the more advanced strategies. Written from experience and trial and error Rayne Hall is also happy enough to divulge the errors she has made along the way which is encouraging for newbies who are concerned that making one error will mess up their account forever. There are things in the book; some of the advanced things I will never use such as Twitter parties I just don’t have the time however it’s good to know what’s possible. A great reference tool I’d recommend to all Twitter users.
November 27, 2015
No Nonsense Guide
This book is easier to understand and follow than the typical book for dummies. There is no fluff and puff, just straight forward what to do, how to do it, and why. The book actually covers a broader range of topics than I expected and with clarity and purpose. Thanks Rayne for sharing these insights.
This book is easier to understand and follow than the typical book for dummies. There is no fluff and puff, just straight forward what to do, how to do it, and why. The book actually covers a broader range of topics than I expected and with clarity and purpose. Thanks Rayne for sharing these insights.
June 13, 2016
Have read through this at least twice and refer to it often.
Extremely helpful, especially as I had no idea about twitter when I started, and still consider myself a twitter novice.
A fantastic book, highly recommended.
Extremely helpful, especially as I had no idea about twitter when I started, and still consider myself a twitter novice.
A fantastic book, highly recommended.
August 22, 2015
This is an excellent reference guide for authors using Twitter.
September 9, 2017
Twitter for Writers is the first book which I have read from author Rayne Hall's collection of Writer's Craft books. This book is meant as a guide to the world of twitter as best suits aspiring and professional authors. I like this book for many reasons and would recommend this title to any writer wanting to get the most out of Twitter.
Hall starts the book with the basics of twitter. How to get started and who to follow are just some of the tricks beginners can tweak before diving into the more advanced techniques listed later in the chapters. Its comforting to know that the author has made all kinds of mistakes using twitter, but she is confident sharing her faults so readers may learn from them. The author occasionally sprinkles humor throughout, breaking up the potential dry internet language.
I personally found this book helpful and after reading things like "Lists" I immediately rushed to twitter to implement. There are no shortages of advice to be found in the pages and I have already shared my new-found knowledge with my fellow writing friends.
The only down side to this book, and every other book about twitter, is that it's showing it's age. I read the 2014 copy and already some of the apps listed or twitter techniques have already been changed or renamed. I'm not sure if there is a newer version of this book, but either way you will find the information helpful.
And did I mention it is an easy read? Just keep your highlighter and sticky notes handy so you can reference it in the future.
Hall starts the book with the basics of twitter. How to get started and who to follow are just some of the tricks beginners can tweak before diving into the more advanced techniques listed later in the chapters. Its comforting to know that the author has made all kinds of mistakes using twitter, but she is confident sharing her faults so readers may learn from them. The author occasionally sprinkles humor throughout, breaking up the potential dry internet language.
I personally found this book helpful and after reading things like "Lists" I immediately rushed to twitter to implement. There are no shortages of advice to be found in the pages and I have already shared my new-found knowledge with my fellow writing friends.
The only down side to this book, and every other book about twitter, is that it's showing it's age. I read the 2014 copy and already some of the apps listed or twitter techniques have already been changed or renamed. I'm not sure if there is a newer version of this book, but either way you will find the information helpful.
And did I mention it is an easy read? Just keep your highlighter and sticky notes handy so you can reference it in the future.
August 5, 2017
Twitters for Writers is a very informative book. Part of Ms. Hall's Writer Craft series, this one focus's on using twitter as a platform for beginning authors to gain followers, fans and eventually sell their books.
She used a concise style with wit and information. she is not afraid of laughing at her own past mistakes as she learned the best way to create a viable account. She walks you thorough the many pitfalls beginner writers can fall into, giving sound advice and simple strategies to maneuver your way around the large Social Media platform known as Twitterverse.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and though I have been on twitter for many years, I learned quiet a bit from a writers stand point than from just a user. Five stars for this book, a great tool to have in your arsenal if you are a writer moving into a new promotional platform.
She used a concise style with wit and information. she is not afraid of laughing at her own past mistakes as she learned the best way to create a viable account. She walks you thorough the many pitfalls beginner writers can fall into, giving sound advice and simple strategies to maneuver your way around the large Social Media platform known as Twitterverse.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and though I have been on twitter for many years, I learned quiet a bit from a writers stand point than from just a user. Five stars for this book, a great tool to have in your arsenal if you are a writer moving into a new promotional platform.
September 12, 2019
Rayne Hall does a nice job of presenting the ins and out of Twitter. Even though this book was published in 2014 and is ancient by Twitter and social media standards, I found a lot of valuable information to enhance my Twitter experience as well as manage my account.
The formatting of the book was off a bit. The table of contents chapter page numbers did not correspond with the actual page numbers. I felt that some of the book was used to promote Hall's other books a little too much. But these are minor speed bumps in an otherwise very useful and intelligent book.
The formatting of the book was off a bit. The table of contents chapter page numbers did not correspond with the actual page numbers. I felt that some of the book was used to promote Hall's other books a little too much. But these are minor speed bumps in an otherwise very useful and intelligent book.
June 27, 2018
Bravo Rayne Hall, this is the first book that I found as a must-have guide to Twitter for authors. I was just a few pages into this book when I started using the knowledge and strategies. Instantly I saw a dramatic increase in my Twitter followers. Just learning how to respond and interact with readers and authors helped. If your an author who wants to improve your reach to not only readers but also fellow authors, bet this book.
November 2, 2019
No magic bullet here. I personally find social media tedious, but Rayne Hall definitely demystifies and guides the reader - especially newbies. I feel independent authors may well get something from reading it if they actually like tweeting with people. Otherwise, stay away from social sharing if you have problems understanding human beings, or just human beings who happily interact through social media all day.
December 24, 2019
By the time I started reading this guide much of the information or tips were already outdated. In fairness, I purchased this guide years ago and somehow fell through the cracks. However, there was plenty viable information still relevant on how general conduct should approached after reading it, I definitely made some adjustments.
August 28, 2025
I liked it. It looks very promising, and many of the tips seem genuinely useful. The book is quite thorough, even including step-by-step instructions for finding certain features. It does feel a bit geared toward people who’ve never used social media before, but thankfully those sections are brief. I’m looking forward to putting the advice into practice soon.
May 22, 2017
Would definitely be good if you don't know anything at all about Twitter. I've had a Twitter account for many years and have never really been sure what to do with it. This book wasn't much help in that regard, but it did help me know what NOT to do if I ever do figure it out.
July 23, 2017
Great ideas!
Has an easy to follow explanation of what you should and shouldn't do on Twitter. Great tips for growth. I plan to try her approach and see if it helps me grow my following.
Has an easy to follow explanation of what you should and shouldn't do on Twitter. Great tips for growth. I plan to try her approach and see if it helps me grow my following.
January 5, 2018
This is a useful guide for writers who want to use Twitter to help their writing and help sell their writing. My full review is here: http://peterfsblogs.blogspot.com/2018...
March 29, 2018
Great, except for missing pages on Kindle Fire
I'd have given it five stars, except for this technical problem. The book is quite thoughtful. I learned a lot, particularly about how to cultivate a USEFUL following.
I'd have given it five stars, except for this technical problem. The book is quite thoughtful. I learned a lot, particularly about how to cultivate a USEFUL following.
August 26, 2019
A Decent Guide
I found most of this book to be for beginners. A short portion at the end was more to my speed. I did gain some helpful tips and a good laugh. This guide is well-written and easy to understand.
I found most of this book to be for beginners. A short portion at the end was more to my speed. I did gain some helpful tips and a good laugh. This guide is well-written and easy to understand.
July 9, 2018
This was really helpful, and got me on Twitter! Although it was written a few years ago, the advice is still relevant today.
July 15, 2019
I have to read this again. Really useful tips and information to benefit from.
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