I’ve added a Twitter button (at right), and actually started tweeting (not just lurking). I’m still undecided about whether Twitter is worth the time invested, but there are definitely benefits that I had overlooked before.
Starting with #yalitchat
For the Twitter newbies like me, this is a “thread” of sorts, where a conversation is “hashtagged” so you can follow anything pertaining to that conversation. Last night, Scott Westerfeld and James Dashner were both on #yalitchat, asking and answering questions.
Eyestrain from trying to read 300 tweets a minute? Yes. ADD level aggravation from trying to follow a conversation with dozens of participants? Yup. Having Westerfeld answer my question about making Leviathan a movie, and then conspiring with a fellow twitterer to start a campaign for it? Priceless.
(and that’s a “no” to the movie at the moment)
Also: Westerfeld posted this new Steampunk Roadster by BMW. Sweet!
I follow a lot of publisher and author types, and recently threw out a question on Twitter (which was posed to me originally on Facebook – are you following me still?) asking, “Does anyone have a good rec for a book on teen dating etiquette for boys?”
I’m still looking for the etiquette book (hint: it may not exist, perhaps someone should write one?), but a Twitter friend rec’d this delightful gem: How to Talk to Girls by Alec Greven.
Alec happens to be 10 years old and writes things like this:
Tips:
Comb your hair and don’t wear sweats
Control your hyperness (cut down on the sugar if you have to)
Don’t act desperate
Could he possibly be any more cute? I immediately bought the book, and when I told Dark Omen (age 11) about it, I expected disparagement along the lines of “Why would I want to talk to girls, Mom, that’s lame!” Instead, he said, “Well, what does he say?”
Oh dear.
Anyone out there have a rec for a teen dating book for boys? Because apparently I’m going to have one of those teen boy creatures soon.
I've heard about that book. It does sound really cute!
And *sigh* Twitter. I tweet, but I haven't figured out what all the cool buttons do. I doubt I ever will. I'm just no that into it.
~~JD
I said I tweeted, not that I was any good at it. People are likely thinking "ack! newbie!"
And yes, Google Reader rocks. I love how you can use tags to mark cool posts, because lord help you if you want to find something again without it!
That book sounds priceless – and I am also on the verge of one of those teen boy creatures. Hmmm…I guess I know what my next purchase at Amazon will be. 🙂