Help for authors timid about technology
Authors need to know more about Twitter than how to get started.
Used correctly, Twitter hashtags are one of the best ways to connect with industry experts, readers, and other authors. Used incorrectly, it’s just another way to waste your precious time.
And you dear author, do not have time to waste.
If you’ve used the social network for any length of time, you’ve seen hashtags floating around at the tail end of the 140 character tweets. Here’s what you need to know to use them well.
Hashtags are used for:
- Indexing emotions (#Vague #OhNoHeDidnt)
- Identifying a Brand (#Ferrari)
- Recommending a Product (#BestRead)
- Connecting with like-minded people (#MemoirChat)
- Finding Experts (#AskAgent)
If you don’t know what a certain hashtag is, you can look it up on TagDef. The chances are, it will be there. If you’re lost by all of this, one of our social media experts can help you out.
Here’s our list of essential Twitter Hashtags. You should use them and monitor them. If you are using TweetDeck, it is easy to monitor hashtags. Just create a new column to follow the hashtag. Monitor away and jump in to the conversation.
Connect With Other Authors -
- #AmWriting
- #AmEditing
- #WordCount
- #WriterWednesday (or #WW)
- #WritersLife
- #YALitChat
- #LitChat (every M/W/F)
- #MemoirChat (every other Wednesday at 8 pm ET)
- #BookMarket (Thursday’s at 4 pm ET)
- #ScriptChat (Screenwriters)
- #PoetTues
- #ZineChat
- #WritingParty
- #IndieAuthors
- #WriteChat
- #NaNoWriMo
- #WANA (We Are Not Alone community)
- #PBLitChat (Picture books only)
Connect By Book Genre -
- #RomanceWriter
- #SciFiChat
- #KidLitChat
- #RWA (Romance Writers of America)
- #ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers)
- #MGLit (Middle Grade Lit)
- #SCBWI (Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators)
- #MemoirChat
- #FlashFic
- #Romance
- #Horror
- #FanFic
- #YA
- #History
- #Biopic
Tweetables -
- .@AuthorMedia can’t count. There’s more than 45 hashtags for authors here. – Click to tweet.
- So many hashtags for authors…which one should I use first? – Click to tweet.
- Finally, a list of hashtags for authors. – Click to tweet.
- Time to tweet smarter. – Click to tweet.
- I’m an author, tweeting about hashtags for authors. #Ironic – Click to tweet.
- 45+ essential Twitter hashtags every author should know. – Click to tweet.
Get Industry Information -
- #WritingTip
- #WriteTip
- #GetPublished
- #BookMarket
- #BookMarketing
- #PromoTip
- #SelfPublishing
- #SelfPub
- #Publishing
- #AskAgent
- #AskAuthor
- #AskEditor
- #EBooks
- #IndiePub (or #IndiePublishing)
- #BookMarketing
- #PubTip
Get Your Creative Juices Flowing
- #WritingPrompt
- #StoryStarter
- #WordAThon
- #Creativity
- #WIP (work in progress)
- #1K1H (write one thousand words in one hour)
Connect With Readers
- #FridayReads
- #BookGiveaway
- #MustRead
- #LitChat
- #StoryFriday
- #MustRead
- #TeaserTues
- #BookGiveaway
- #FreeBook
- #FreeDownload
- #Kindle
- #Nook
What hashtags do you follow? Which chats do you like to jump in on? Let us know in the comment section.
Wow, I have been waiting for a post like this. Thank you so much, Caitlin!
You’re welcome! Happy Tweeting!
Lovely. I’m with Linsey. I’ve been waiting for a list like this. But you missed one: #30min1k one thousand words in thirty minutes.
That IS a good hashtag. But I’ve never been able to hit that word count. Especially when I’m tweeting!
There’s also #TuesdaySerial and #FridayFlash, used respectively to identify and promote serial fiction and flash fiction online.
Thanks for adding those, Tony!
Very good list — I found a couple of new hashtags to try.
I use #writing most of the time, and occasionally #amwriting.
Glad you found the list helpful!
Thank you for the list. It’s great help! I’ll start with:
#WritingTip
#WriteTip
#GetPublished
#IndiePub
#BookMarketing
Let us know how they work for you!
I believe what you said was very reasonable. However, consider this, suppose you were to create a killer post title? I ain’t saying your information isn’t good, but what if you added a post title to maybe get people’s attention? I mean 44 Essential Twitter Hashtags Every Author Should Know | Author is a little boring. You might look at Yahoo’s front page and see how they create news headlines to get people to click. You might try adding a video or a related picture or two to get people excited about everything’ve got to say. Just my opinion, it would bring your posts a little bit more interesting.
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Read it, liked it, thank you for it
It seems that your post has been ripped off: http://www.wiseinkblog.com/social-media-2/31-twitter-hashtags-for-the-indie-author/
I suppose it’s a sign of success in a way….
Thanks for letting us know, David!
I’m just happy more people are learning how to use hashtags!
Thank you so much for this!! I am already familiar with a few of these hashtags, but the ones I was not familiar with I am so glad to see here! Currently, I use #WIP, #FridayReads, #WW, #FF the most.
The ones I predominantly use are:
#kidlit
#picturebook
#bookaday
Thanks for the post!
There is some great info in this post, and I’m heading over to Twitter now!
For a guy just getting into using hashtags, this is such a great article
Thanks for taking the time and effort to put this together – I have a dozen new words to start learning now 
So cool! I didn’t know some of these, especially connect with readers. Thanks for sharing this helpful post.
Oh thanks for this! I will definitely be using some of these hashtags!
What a great resource. I have used some of those hashtags, but had not heard of many of them. Thanks so much for compiling this list.
Hey, I’ve got a fun addition for your ‘creative juices’ list: #cnftweet, sponsored/managed by Creative Nonfiction, a great little lit mag.
Great post and have linked to it in my blog post here: http://viklit.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/why-twitter-is-good-for-writing-and.html
Thanks for the great list. I super-appreciate the way you’ve broken the hash tags into manageable chunks. I’d like to give a plug for #fridayfiction which was started by @HugoHouse. They suggest a new topic every week and writers tell a story in 140 characters. Some great relationships have been formed by #fridayfiction writers.
So simple. So thoughtful. So helpful Thnks a lot Caitlin!
Thanks Caitin! … I’m sharing everywhere!
I also frequently use the #ACFW and #Christfic hashtags for Christian fiction updates. And I love the new #Momswrite tag. Perfect for writing mommas like me!
Great page! I have an addition to #LitChat
which i just found out today:
“@LitChat @authorkerineal Please not the time (4-5pmET) for #litchat moderated discussion andhold your tweets until after the chat.
Thanks. #litchat “. I got alot of hate tweets for this
One I love is #storycraft. It’s a Sunday afternoon chat that always leaves me inspired.