Twitter Tips For Writers II: Hashtags and Searches

I’ve been a part of the Twitter writing community for quite a while now, and I’m sharing Twitter tips for authors I wish I’d known when I started! This week, I’ll go over Twitter hashtags and searches!

Step Two: Twitter Hashtags and Searches

*Please note that “Live” may now read “Latest” at the top of Twitter searches.

Hashtags are words with # placed before them (e.g. #amwriting). You can search for them to get into a feed, which is a list of posts that use the hashtag. It’s a way to find groups of like-minded people talking about writerly things. Here are some hashtagging tips:

1. Consider using the “Latest” or “Live” button at the top of your searches to view the most recent tweets in order. Otherwise, you will only see the most popular ones, according to some mystery algorithm. You’ll be surprised how often this tool is helpful. (Twitter recently changed the word “Live” to “Latest,” although on mobile it may still show as “Live.”)
2. Don’t over-tag your posts. Yes, you’ll get your post more visibility, in more feeds – but people tend to skim over things filled with hashtags. And besides, you’ll find that a lot of tags you can use mid-sentence (such as #writer) are spam-filled or unfrequented feeds.
3. GET INVOLVED. There are a lot of events, conversations, and communities centering around certain hashtags. Getting involved is the best way to gain followers and a web presence, and to get better!
4. DON’T fill your blurb with hashtags. Really? You’re going to be that boring?

And here are some good hashtags to use and search:

• #amwriting
• #amediting
• #amquerying
• #writetip
• #querytip
• #writerproblems
• #writerslife
• #horriblewritetip
• #askagent

You can also visit daily twitter writing events, such as the following:

• #2bittues (theme @AngDonofrio)
• #1linewed (theme @RWAKissofdeath)
• #FriDare (challenge @micascotti)

As well as periodic writing events, many of which have awesome feeds to troll through!