blogging · microblogging · presentations · technology · writers

Connecting with Other Writers

Stacey Shubitz


qrcode.21750623I had the pleasure of speaking about “Curating and Cultivating a Virtual Community of Writers” with the members of the Chester County Reading Association (CCRA) this afternoon. I talked about the ways blogging, microblogging, other digital technologies (e.g., Skype, Google Drive) allow teacher-writers to interact with each other worldwide.

Twitter is the technology I focused on most with the members of CCRA.  Initially, I was resistant to sign up for a Twitter account.  Once I began Tweeting — and got my sea legs! — I came to appreciate the way Twitter helped me connect with other writers.  If you’re not on Twitter yet, consider thinking about your purpose before you get started.  Having a purpose can help you cultivate a PLN or find like-minded individuals with the same interests as you.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Once you figure out why you’re going to use Twitter, it helps to:

Follow a Variety of People
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

These are two slides from a large PPT I shared.  In lieu of sharing my presentation, I’m sharing the handout I provided to CCRA participants. It contains links to some of the information I provided, plus articles and other resources for interacting with other teacher-writers online. I hope it’ll provide those of you who are blogging and microblogging newbies with the resources you need to get started. For anyone who is a seasoned blogger or Twitter user, I hope you find some new, interesting people to follow, articles to read, or things to think about among the links in the handout.

I’m wondering: how have blogging and microblogging helped you grow as a writer? How has having a PLN helped you as well?  AND IF YOU ARE NEW TO blogging and/or microblogging, how can those of us here at TWT help you get started?  Please share your thoughts by leaving a comment.  

Published by Stacey Shubitz

I am a literacy consultant who focuses on writing workshop. I've been working with K-6 teachers and students since 2009. Prior to that, I was a fourth and fifth-grade teacher in New York City and Rhode Island. I'm the author of Craft Moves (Stenhouse Publishers, 2016) and the co-author of Jump Into Writing (Zaner-Bloser, 2021), Welcome to Writing Workshop (Stenhouse Publishers, 2019), and Day By Day (Stenhouse, 2010). I live in Central Pennsylvania with my husband and children. In my free time, I enjoy swimming, doing Pilates, cooking, baking, making ice cream, and reading novels.

15 thoughts on “Connecting with Other Writers”

  2. I am a twitter newbie and just need a “twitter coach”:) I did just have a go at tweeting though, with a little help from my daughter. I love the thought of being connected to wonderful learners and passionate people from all over the world. And….TWT has been AMAZING for me in just a couple of short months of knowing you! Thank you!!

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  3. We are new to all of you and TWT has been so supportive! We feel more connected than we ever have professionally before. Blogging has really pushed us to live the writerly life and think about life through a writer’s lens. Thanks for all you do!

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  4. Blogging in SOL community has been a major professional development for me. I have learned writing, about writing, about helping young writers to grow. It has also helped to improve the PD section of our Library. It gave me the confidence to publish a piece of my writing in a PD book for teachers. (http://justforamonth.blogspot.com/2013/03/lets-celebrate-bit-of-my-writing-was.html) I would have never ever dared to do it without SOL writing and the inspirational people in this community. The same wonderful people nudged me to join Twitter. I consider myself still a novice. Recently I joined two twitter chats. My last two blog posts this week were both about this experience. (http://justforamonth.blogspot.com/2014/04/participatory-culture.html)
    The best part of it all has been meeting (virtually) amazing people all over the world. I appreciate TWT for getting me started with blogging.

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    1. Someone asked me a question about feeling overwhelmed by all of the different technologies. My advice is to start small and get good and comfortable with one. You don’t have to do Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and keep a blog if it feels like it’s too much.

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  6. I have just recently become more active on Twitter. The connections there keep me going. It’s like a cheerleader for writing. When I get favorited or retweeted, I get this feeling of being noticed, validated.
    The connections I’ve made with other writers through blogging have not only made me a better writer, they have made me value writing in a new way. I have found a community where I belong.

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  8. Stacey,
    I love how blogging and microblogging have helped me to connect and learn from other writers!
    Twitter has also helped foster learning from daily tweets about topics of interest to chats and tweet ups at conferences- learning.never.stops!

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