How Writers Can Get More Out Of Twitter

Have you ever seen tweets that end in a hash and a phrase – #hashtag?

These are known as hashtags. Twitter is set up in such a way that you can keep track of tweets from people you don’t follow, simply by the hashtag.

Since some people will be familiar with hashtags I don’t want to get into what they actually are in too much detail. Instead, here’s a hashtag wiki article and an excellent Mashable article that will explain hashtags more fully.

Hashtags for Writers

So assuming you know how to keep track of hashtags, here’s a list of those most suitable for writers.

Here are some hashtags suggested by readers

More about hastags

Twitter Chats for Writers

Twitter #hashtags for Writers

I would love to make this list as useful as possible for writers, so can you recommend any writing hashtags I have missed?

{ 15 comments }

Piotr Kowalczyk April 28, 2010 at 9:20 am: The best service about Twitter hashtags is What the Trend » http://whatthetrend.com/
I'm using it for #hashtagstory.
If you're interested in Twitter fiction, the tags to check are #vss and #sixwords. A great source of on-line fiction is #FridayFlash – a tag writers are using on Fridays to link to their flash fiction stories.
garysmailes April 28, 2010 at 9:40 am: Piotr – thanks for the list of additional hashtags, I think #hashtagstory looks very interesting.
Piotr Kowalczyk April 28, 2010 at 9:46 am: One hashtagstory I've written was to support a great initiative by
@aprilhamilton, tagged #indieaction – to help authors write good reviews of
their work around the web.

#hashtagstory :: #writer #selfpublishing #blackthoughts #heyhey #indieaction
#whitethoughts
Jane Travers April 28, 2010 at 9:48 am: I'm not sure if you'd count them as tips for writers, but I love #queryquotes and #queryfail, where agents tweet examples of really bad queries they've received. It can be enormously helpful to see what not to do!

I also enjoy #wipfire, where people tweet quick excerpts of whatever they're working on.
garysmailes April 28, 2010 at 10:04 am: #wipfire looks interesting -thanks
pinkbagels April 28, 2010 at 11:52 am: I often use #weblit and #webseries for updates and authors working on online fiction serials.
Suzanne April 28, 2010 at 12:59 pm: Hi, I follow a few of the tags you've listed, I also follow #kidlitchat, #yalit, #pblitchat, #PiBoldMo, #askagent, and #queryquotes

Thanks for a great post!
garysmailes April 28, 2010 at 1:01 pm: These are good…thanks
garysmailes April 28, 2010 at 1:02 pm: wow – thanks, will have to post another post with a comprehensive list at this rate!
Marisa Birns April 29, 2010 at 4:55 pm: There is #storycraft, a weekly chat about the craft of writing fiction on Sundays (11 p.m. GMT/ 3 p.m. PT)
MOLLY CAMPBELL April 29, 2010 at 5:01 pm: Thanks. I use #amwriting, but haven't tried the others. I always appreciate tweeting help!
Jane Alexander April 29, 2010 at 9:28 pm: my favourite is #notwriting – always a sense of huge relief that someone else is also struggling!
Piotr Kowalczyk April 29, 2010 at 9:32 pm: I should use this tag every day:-)
garysmailes April 30, 2010 at 10:36 am: Thanks for the writer hashtags! The list is growing…
Aislinn O'Connor June 17, 2010 at 2:59 pm: You might also like #FridayFlash – each Friday, members submit a story of up to 1,000 words and get comments from their peers. It's a very encouraging, friendly and supportive community, and well worth a visit.

Another useful resource is #storystarters – as its name suggests, it offers an idea that can inspire a story, and a very useful antidote to writer's block.