According to who you ask Twitter is dead. In a surprising move, South African-born American entrepreneur Elon Musk proposed to buy out Twitter after previously acquiring 9.1% of the company’s stock for $2 billion on April 14th, 2022. With all the controversy surrounding the Twitter buyout Bethany Jett and Cyle Young answer, the question of whether is Twitter dead for the writing world?
Twitter is a versatile platform that can be used for many things, from finding new clients and growing your audience to becoming an even better writer. In previous articles, we’ve discussed How to Find Content to Share on Social Media and Tips for TikTok. Now without getting into things or stepping on toes, Twitter has seemed to suffer recently from people thinking that if they don’t agree with what is being said that they are wrong. This has sent shockwaves throughout the Twitter community and as a result, we’ve seen some users completely stop using the platform.
Is Twitter Dead?
That being said, we would like to explain some of the changes that may be coming to Twitter and why you should still be on the platform as a writer. First, Twitter has been a very viable platform for the writing world and is going to come back into relevance. With it being huge in the Writing and Entertainment world, you have to go where your audience is.
This is basic marketing.
You’re not gonna try to promote your book at an NHRA event and expect to get results (unless the book is geared for high-powered cars, but we digress on that for now).
Next up are the changes that Elon Musk spoke about implementing on the platform. The biggest takeaway that you should know about this is the open-source algorithm information. Without getting nerdy, the algorithm is what drives your content. Miss the algorithm and your content hits a small group of people. Nail the algorithm and your content can go viral in hours.
But what does this mean?
Platforms do not really share what can trigger the algorithm. Savy people will often figure these algorithms out over time. Now if you know exactly what you need to do to trigger the algorithm it’s huge. Your strategies can be tailored specifically to your needs as a writer. Now for the best part, hitting that algorithm will rapidly grow your platform. Putting that into numbers for a visualization would you rather have 10% of your current audience buy your books or 5% of a million followers buy your books.
Hear us Out:
Part of this podcast episode is all about Twitter, and the second half is about diversifying your writing income. Enjoy!
Bethany and Cyle go into this in greater detail on the Serious Writer Podcast and we urge you to tune in to hear what they have to say. As the famous quote goes “Knowing is Half the Battle”, if you are not competitive on Twitter you are only hurting yourself. Spend the time learning and following what is going on with Twitter to stay ahead of the game, because it’s not just about having a great book you have to get it into the hands of the right people.
In the past few years, we have seen many trends in book cover designs come and go. However, there are some new changes on their way that will be dominating publishing markets by 2022!
In 2020 it was all about matte covers with no shine or gloss to them as they felt more contemporary but now this year’s trend seems like a predecessor of sorts because instead of having vibrant colors inside your pages you’ll see duller shades which give off less attention-grabbing feel due tp overuse perhaps? Who knows what tomorrow might bring so stay tuned.
Typography
Typography is an important aspect of graphic design and will continue to be in the future. The use or lack thereof can make or break a book cover, which means it’s crucial for indie authors who are looking at creating their own unique identity with what they produce as well as how people receive said product from them through media channels such as social networks like Facebook etc.
Bold typography is going to be used to catch the readers’ eye. This will create visibility and draw potential customers into reading more about what they’re looking at, which ultimately could increase revenue for your company!
The way that books look can really capture your attention – so most of the time they have the use of typography in order to make sure you’re drawn into their world right away!
Minimalistic Cover Designs
Minimalistic designs are popular among graphic designers because they want to create a simple design that everyone will understand. For example, you might see the name of your book and an illustration or drawing depicting what’s inside in small letters on one side only – no clutter!
Minimalistic covers are all the rage right now, with one central element being prominent. This is in contrast to the book cover whose entire surface was laden with patterns once upon a time ago when design styles were more complicated than they seem nowadays due to the simplicity that allows you to focus on just 1 central element instead of everything around it.
Minimalistic book covers are often designed to be minimalist in nature, which means they have a lot of white space on the cover. This is done with an intention that draws attention toward one specific element within these designs—usually what provides context or details about its content.
Hand-Drawn Letters
Illustrations have been the go-to design for book covers over recent years, especially those that tell a children’s story or contain mystery. These are often illustrated with handwritten letters on them as well!
Hand-drawn illustrations, calligraphic typefaces, and rough sketches are all trends that we can expect to see more of in 2022. This is because illustration has become so widespread – it’s almost like an obligation! So if you want your book cover design to stand out from the rest then give them some personality by including these elements into their creative process for this next year.
Retro Elements May Come Back
Book cover designers are going back in time to 70s and 80s style. The public is remembering TV shows from that era, so it’s only natural for book covers designed then be projected onto them as well.
The designs in 2022 will be reminiscent of the 1970s and 1980s. We can expect fonts from that era as well as colorful graphics to give off an old-fashioned vibe with modern twists that we haven’t been seen before now!
Collage
The use of collages in book covers is a popular trend that we can expect to see more often in 2022. This creative design technique allows for expression and summarization at once, creating an innovative look with unique content!
Collage is an interesting trend that encourages designers to explore creative possibilities. The more combinations of shapes and textures you can get on your design, the better!
With everything going on in today’s world, you may be wondering why to be a writer 2022. Well luckily we have some thoughts that could help with your decision!
Writing is on the Rise
The global content writing industry is growing at an unprecedented rate. Grammarly is an app that helps you write and check your work. In 2019, they recorded more than 35 billion words checked by their users. With 2.3 million blogs published every day, it’s no wonder that high volume and fast delivery are associated with quality work! This signifies increased demand for quality material with correct grammar.” To keep the majority of writers from falling victim to errors in their writing or Grammarly applications being used incorrectly by mistake; they’re moving towards error-free digital content like sponsored posts for 2019 which will bring about a new chapter on how we approach the English language.
Mobile is Key
Mobile is the way of today’s world and search engines have noticed. With more people using mobile devices for accessing information, there has been an increase in demand from both companies who want their website optimized towards small screens as well as individuals looking to read long-form content when they are on these types of phones or tablets instead! The content of today is more engaging and easier to read than ever before. With SEO optimizations mobile reach has been pushed to new heights. Not only does it have more visibility than traditional websites, but you can also offer them apps and other interactive content that they may enjoy!
Social Media
The internet is a vast, expansive place with many different sources of information. It’s logical that people would filter what they want from these platforms and ignore junk; however the trend these days seems to be less so as social media has become our main source for everything in life – including news! Nowadays you can’t get anywhere without building up some sort of presence on social media. So, it’s important when utilizing such powerful tools like Linkedin/Facebook, etc.,
Use of Tools of the Trade
Content writers, must develop a tool kit, of the best tools available such as Grammarly for English language checking and Quetext if they hope to be succesful. In order to produce large volumes in quick time periods with excellent quality intact – it is essential that you are fast but also write engaging material which does not contain any spelling or grammatical errors whatsoever!
Freelancing Platforms and Academic Services
The global economy is booming, but there are still many markets that have not been fully explored. One of these unmet needs for writing services can be attributed to the rise in demand from students and business companies who want quality content. So these entrepreneurs see this as an opportunity that has not yet been fully exploited- leading to increased demand from all corners! There is a healthy competition on these platforms that benefits both kids and adults. The more competitors there are, the better services each one provides because of their differing abilities to offer what people want at any given time–this makes for higher quality products in terms or content as well as information about them available from sources such parents would be interested.
Current Affairs and News
In this fast-paced society, it is imperative that writers keep up with trends and post at an incredible speed in order for their work not become obsolete. Copywriting requires individuals who can update themselves on newest topics like cryptocurrency which has been one of hottest lately globally- especially after recent skyrocketing prices! Today’s users are hungry for more than just the latest news. CarVeto reports 58% of their customers buy a car check via mobile device and 13%, respectively with tablets! The high percentage is due in part because drivers want to research the history on-the go when buying cars but also enjoy purchasing digital products or services if they’re out shopping.”
How about checking out Serious Writers Academy. Serious Writers is a great way to learn how write and publish your first novel. With Serious Writer’s online courses, you can start on the right track with lessons that cover everything from plotting out scenes in advance all while building up momentum for when it comes time actually sit down at keyboard or pen-paper!
Has the desire to write a novel been lurking in your subconscious for years, but you’re not sure how or where it will go? Writing is an art form that can be both incredibly exciting and satisfying, yet also daunting at times. After all, there are many aspects involved with getting from start-to finish – writing characters’ stories; crafting dialogue so natural sounding they seem like someone else talking (or typing) right next door, and then finally Marketing yourself. But no worries: Serious Writer here with 4 Tips for Getting Your Novel Started:
Write Regularly
Most people think that writing a novel is easy, but it actually takes quite some time and effort to get everything down on paper. You have to figure out what your story’s about as well as how you’re going to tell them – there’s no magic bullet here! The key to writing is consistency. So, how much time should you set aside for regular writing? This varies from person to person, but in general, it’s best if possible to try and get at least an hour or two every day. It could be as simple as waking up early (a famous method) before your kids wake up; grabbing that extra bit of alone-time during naptime when they’re sleeping soundly next door—or even just setting down pen gently onto paper anytime between 11 pm Friday night until Sunday morning around 2 am.
Expect Mistakes
Plenty of people start their first draft with great enthusiasm, but once they read through it again to make sure that everything makes sense and is well-written – these writers find themselves deleting a lot of the previous work. Don’t beat yourself up though Even the most talented writers struggle with their first draft. If you find yourself constantly editing your work, then it’s time to take a break and come back later when you’re more relaxed! You can always go through what has been written again before continuing on in order to make sure there are no errors or missteps that will be lost forever because they were missed during the initial execution.
Write It Down
It’s important to write down any ideas that pop into your head when you’re brainstorming. This way, they can turn into something more tangible and interesting! What kind of person do want in an adventure? What are their goals/plans post-adventure?? How does this affect those around them?? These types thoughts should all make their way onto paper so there is no wondering where things might go next–you already know because these parts were written down earlier!!
Relax
Writing a novel can be intimidating, but it’s never too late to try! When you feel like your creativity is stuck and the words won’t flow onto paper (or screen), take some time for free-writing. Set yourself five minutes or ten – no matter how much space was given in this article about what techniques help writers move through their novels more quickly–and just write everything that comes into mind without stopping at all; allow yourself an emotional release.
And for a fifth tip? How about checking out Serious Writers Academy. Serious Writers is a great way to learn how write and publish your first novel. With Serious Writer’s online courses, you can start on the right track with lessons that cover everything from plotting out scenes in advance all while building up momentum for when it comes time actually sit down at keyboard or pen-paper!
In case you missed you missed this week’s episode of the Serious Writer Podcast, here is a Cyle Young’s insight on Childrens Writing. As you read below and want to hear more on these topics and other topics, check out the Serious Writer Podcast (Available on Google Play, Apple Podcast, Spotify or wherever podcasts are available).
There’s a common misconception that every story needs to have some sort of moral lesson, but this isn’t true. This traditional takeaway has been something writers struggle with in order for their work to be seen as “good” or worth reading. There are no concrete answers when it comes down to how they should endow these characters.
But of course, you have to. The character needs some kind of journey that they embark on and demonstrate change throughout it all.
But kids are allowed to read a story just for fun!
There’s this idea in our society today where if we write stories geared towards children then those books have morals or teaching lessons at their end. You don’t necessarily need such heavy-handedness when writing something meant for entertainment.
It’s no secret that kids are hungry for entertainment. They can’t be bored, and they want to stay engaged in something interesting all day long. As a result, books must now provide more than just informational text; instead, authors should strive towards creating immersive worlds where young readers become fully immersed up until the very end! You’re competing against video games/phones etc., so stories need “something different.”
As a children’s author, one of the most important things you can do to keep your audience engaged and interested in what they’re reading is by making every word matter.
Kids have limited attention spans so it’s vital that when writing for this age group; instead of flowing into long sentences or paragraphs with an extensive vocabulary. Use simple words which will be easier on their brains!
I think it’s no surprise we’re seeing so much popularity in middle grades with the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. These books are great for kids who need constant stimulation and don’t have the attention span to sustain long novels, but still want something more than just cartoons or comics.
Timestamps:
1:26 10 Tips for children’s writing 1:42 Moral Dilemma 2:58 Entertainment 4:45 Hangout with kids (Know Your audience) 10:39 Short and Sweet
