I joined Twitter. Should I add an exclamation point to the
end of that? Okay, I’ll try again.
I joined Twitter!
That’s better.
I’ve only been active for just over a month and I’m amazed
at the networking. Yes, it’s fun to read what celebrities have to
say but more than anything, I’ve developed this sense of community among
writers and I actually like it. For the longest time, I was opposed to joining
because I didn’t think there was any reason to. And there’s not. Unless you’re
promoting your work.
My main purpose for twittering was to help fuel this search
for Joe Wellington. Sometimes I forget, and I think readers do too, that he is
a REAL person. This is a TRUE STORY. The blog has been great, but I still have
not found Joe. And let me just say, I am still actively looking. Whenever I am
in the city or at a public event, my eyes are peeled for a JW sighting.
In fact, just the other day, while stuck in traffic, I saw a
guy who had some resemblance to Joe. I asked my helpful husband, “Should I ask
this guy if he’s Joe Wellington?” My husband laughed, said yes and then, “Oh
wow! That’s my friend Oliver!” (At least I think that is the name he said. It
certainly wasn’t ‘Joe’).
So that was definitely a failed Joe Wellington sighting.
On Twitter, I added photos from 1998 of Joe and I at the San
Francisco hostel, and I’ve asked my 100 followers to RT (retweet). No
one- except helpful husband (who is on there to promote his own work) retweets.
I persevere, adding links to the WJW site, photos, and blurb something
quirky, something clever, and then of course say something gracious (this
seems to be the theme on Twitter)… no retweets.
I add hashtags here and there to see if that helps get my
voice heard (don’t get me started with how annoying these #hashtag things are).
No one retweets. No one replies.
Argh!
The next day, sulking in self-doubt, I see there’s
an email in my inbox from Twitter with my stats. Apparently I’ve had several
views of that particular post with the JW picture and some are even clicking on
the link to the blog. So some people are exposed to it, just need that extra
push…
And then a favorite! Someone has
‘favorited’ (equivalent to a 'like') two of my Joe Wellington photos! Someone in New Zealand who might
actually be able to help me find him!
Hazzzah!
Now help me find Joe Wellington!
@EWallerCarlino
