The power of hashtags (#) when you are a writer

 

We’ve talked about the power of tweeting before. Twitter, when harnessed, can provide important connections and fantastic advice from professionals and other writers. Twitter is often described as being like a stream of continuous information. But how does one navigate that which at times seems more like a tidal wave?

The answer is to use hashtags (#). A hashtag is like an invitation to a party. If you use the hashtag and others are also using it, everyone can now join in the conversation.

A few caveats – you have to already know what the hashtags that are being used are. In circular logic that means that you have to know what to use before you can use it.

This is done by using searches. Try searching  in twitter on a general hashtag that is widely used by the writing community – something like #author or #writer is probably a good start. Then begin to pay attention to the hashtags that are used by others in addition to those in their tweets.

And then begin using those hashtags consistently in your tweets. (Warning it’s considered rude to use more than 3 hashtags in one tweet – it makes you look a little needy.)

It helps to keep a running list of available hashtags, here’s a start.

What to reach readers?
#Reader

#MustRead

#BookGiveaway

#GoodRead

#FridayReads

#AmReading

#RomanceWriter

#SciFiChat

#KidLitChat

#YAlit

#Novel

#Kindle

#Poem

#Poetry

How about reaching other authors?

#writer

#author

#Books

#Poet

#Poem

#Screenwriting

#Manuscript

# Nonfiction

#RWA (Romance Writers of America)

Want information on publishing and the business of books?

#IndiePub

#SelfPub

#SelfPublishing

#BookMarketing

#Ebooks

#Publishing

#GetPublished

#Digital

#AskEditor

#Writetip

Want to get an agent’s attention?

#Literaryagent

#AskAgent

Looking for writing assistance or motivation?

#AmWriting

#Iwrite

#WritersLife

#Grammar

# Critigue

#WritingTips

#WritingTip

#Writing

#1K1H (1000 words in one hour)

#WriteTip

#WritingPrompt

#WriteChat

#NaNoWriMo

I’m sure there are many more hashtags out there (and if you can’t find what you want then go ahead and create one, chances are someone else will join in.) It takes a little bit of time and practice to figure out how to use hashtags, but when you finally do crack that egg, it puts the the world literally at your fingertips.

Just for kicks, I’ve created a new hashtag for writer jokes #WriJo – go over to twitter and see if you can find my (most excellent) joke using that hashtag.  And then if you have another joke, add it.  Just don’t forget to add the hashtag so that others can join in on the conversation.

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Wendy Thomas is an award winning journalist, columnist, and blogger who believes that taking challenges in life will always lead to goodness. She is the mother of 6 funny and creative kids and it is her goal to teach them through stories and lessons.

Wendy’s current project involves writing about her family’s experiences with chickens (yes, chickens). (www.simplethrift.wordpress.com) She writes about her chickens for GRIT, Backyard Poultry, Chicken Community, and Mother Earth News.