Twitter is different way of writing: Recently I received a mention from a man I have a great deal of respect for. It said …
As result of this I have been reviewing why Sam would say this.
I Click, Publish, Send, Upload, Tweet and Chat. My thoughts, ideas, images, voices, opinions are public and read by my PLN and searchers. I try to stay involved in this stream of information because I value it. I put tweets and posts into this stream to express what I am thinking to those who I would like to hear me. When I am reading observing or learning from this stream; putting back makes me feel like a true participant. I have always thought myself an OK writer but never a good editor.
@Samjarman made me realise I shouldn't just say anything, in any form I like; when others are going to read it. The implications for me are important enough to make this post necessary.
What had Sam seen in my tweets?
“So there is someone reading my tweets and they want something to be there”
My thinking is that the following might be important:
- Consider literary discipline to communicate effectively within 140 chars ie tighter not looser.
- Punctuation and intonation are my friends.
- Consider what the audience will need to understand what the tweet means.
- What purpose does the tweet have beyond self expression.
I like the idea of action: “Don’t think Do” Ewan McIntosh, “Ready, Fire, Aim” Michael Fullan and “Planning is Guessing” Jason Fried @jasonfried. These ideas are about the importance of doing.
What I am seeing is that audience and peers create a standard though under which efforts and actions will quickly try to navigate, realign and improve. This is the aim part that Fullan talks about. I hope that the firing off of Tweets has help me aim via feedback.
On the bright side
I am motivated to get better at this so feel free to follow me @davein2it
Links:
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9132410/Twitter_Tips_How_to_Write_Better_Tweets
http://smallbiztrends.com/2010/01/how-to-write-better-tweets.html
