I will not lie. It is hard for me to believe, but I have become a tweeter. I have a Twitter handle, I am using hash tags, utilize a service called HootSuite, am on some Twitter lists, trying to learn how to gain followers and would even like to become a trend if I could. The even weirder part of all this is that I am finding it fun and useful.
I will admit to being hesitant about this and other forms of technology. So what I have to tell you is not from the point-of-view of someone who is tech savvy, or really all that interested in how social media really works.
Trying to figure out what value Twitter would have for me was the real mystery. What did everyone have to tweet about. I did not understand shortening links, or the value of being limited to 140 characters. Until I thought about the following. One, limiting characters is like limiting words. It helps to be concise. Tweeting for me is like writing practice, doing what I hope and tell others to do.
Secondly, for better or worse, I considered, why not make regular tweets, kind of like a blog, but even shorter. I could do short bits on what I do. I decided I would start tweeting about what it is like to be a publisher. I have been hash tagging "#Publishing is... " I have found this to be quite fun.
What I do is just enter a short thought, for example: "#Publishing is... a process of moderation, some time doing design, some time at marketing, just like a good diet." I have to admit there seems to be an endless array of things I can tweet about. However, thinking about what to write does enable me to focus on what I do and feel better about it. I believe that I reveal a dialogue about what it means to be a publisher for others to learn from and which authors can learn from too.
I do not know much about how this will all translate into improving book sales, or marketing, or submissions, but I think it helps me feel more connected to fellow publishes and authors by following them on Twitter. I do not quite understand how to gain followers and reply, and connect, or chat, but I have already been surprised by how much and how many others are involved in Twitter that are into the publishing profession. It is a good feeling, as small as it is, to find another way to feel connected with the world of publishing.
The Ice Cube Press has been an independent Midwest Book Publisher since 1993. We started along the banks of the Kaw River in eastern Kansas. We have remained located in the Heartland of the United States, amidst Tall Corn Country, in Iowa. We use the literary arts to better understand the Midwest region. Our focus remains on life and experiences in the heartland of the United States through all forms of writing: poetry, fiction, nonfiction, each a fine blend of both fact and fiction. We really do care about our passionate authors. To find out more go to our web page at http://www.icecubepress.com, or "like" us on our facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/IceCubePress or follow on twitter @icecubepress
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