I’m a teacher, have been for 35 years. I teach a lesson to my Middle School students that uses Twitter to improve their writing skills. There’s a lot this popular social media tool can bring to the education world:
- it’s non-intimidating. Anyone can get through 140 characters
- it forces students to focus on concise, pithy writing. Wasted, fluff words are not an option
- it’s fun. Students want to try it because it’s the ‘forbidden fruit’.
I also have a class that kickstarts the author in students, getting them set up to write and digitally publish the book that festers inside of them (well, statistics say 73% of us have a book inside kicking and screaming to get out).
What I haven’t done is blend the two: Write a novel on Twitter.
Anna over at Imaginette reminded me that I should. She’s not the only one, either, who thinks Twitter is an excellent forum for novel writing. Japan popularized it as the microblogging novel or the micro novel. Wikipedia defines it as:
…a fictional work or novel written and distributed in small parts
Just to be clear: We’re talking about squeezing all those novel parts that we writers slave over…
- plot
- pacing
- character development
- theme
- story arc
- scene
…to name a few must be accomplished in 140 characters. Is that even possible? I’d croak a resounding ‘No!’, but the Guardian persuaded twenty-one accomplished authors to try their hand at this. Here’s a sampling:
James Meek
‘He said he was leaving her. “But I love you,” she said. “I know,” he said. “Thanks. It’s what gave me the strength to love somebody else.”
Ian Rankin
I opened the door to our flat and you were standing there, cleaver raised. Somehow you’d found out about the photos. My jaw hit the floor.
Blake Morrison
Blonde, GSOH, 28. Great! Ideal mate! Fix date. Tate. Nervous wait. She’s late. Doh, just my fate. Wrong candidate. Blond – and I’m straight.
David Lodge
“Your money or your life!” “I’m sorry, my dear, but you know it would kill me to lose my money,” said the partially deaf miser to his wife.
Jilly Cooper
Tom sent his wife’s valentine to his mistress and vice versa. Poor Tom’s a-cold and double dumped.
Rachel Johnson
Rose went to Eve’s house but she wasn’t there. But Eve’s father was. Alone. One thing led to another. He got 10 years.
Andrew O’Hagan
Clyde stole a lychee and ate it in the shower. Then his brother took a bottle of pills believing character is just a luxury. God. The twins.
AL Kennedy
It’s good that you’re busy. Not great. Good, though. But the silence, that’s hard. I don’t know what it means: whether you’re OK, if I’m OK.
Jeffrey Archer
“It’s a miracle he survived,” said the doctor. “It was God’s will,” said Mrs Schicklgruber. “What will you call him?” “Adolf,” she replied.
Surprisingly good. Are you inspired? Here are some tips on Twitter novels from Be a Better Writer:
- Think token action, dialogue and description. Not this: He sat and looked at the pistol for a full ten minutes before he grasped it and experienced the icy weight of his first semi-automatic. Rather: Gun in hand, he shot.
- Think installments. Releasing the novel over time increases suspense. Douglas Sovern released 1600 tweets at the rate of about 5 to 12 a day.
- Think multimedia and add links to images, video, articles or anything else that will add meaning to the story. A Twitter novel allows you to combine text with other media.
- Think movement. Every tweet should advance the plot. You don’t want your readers ignoring tweets out of boredom.
I’m well over 140 characters, so I’m done. You can get ideas by searching #twitternovels.
–first published on Today’s Author
More on writing genres:
10 Tips for Picture Book Writers
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman
Today's Author 
I’m going to have to give this a try, if only for the academic aspects of re-thinking how to phrase things in a more efficient and (hopefully) better way.
I pshawed it when I first ran across it until I read those entries. Amazing what an excellent writer can communicate in so little space.
Brilliant! My writing is expansive, not always contained by limitations. I might give this a try. Failure always an option. A trophy there.
(Did you notice? Only 140 characters in my comment. Willing to share any leftover spaces from this one. For a fee. Gotta pay for ink. Oops!)
Ha! Of course you only used 140 characters. But, I fear your type of writing isn’t quite suited. Lee and I–no brainer–World under attack! Hero kits up and saves the day!
Doubt I could do it. Takes me 140 characters just to say hello. 😉
Hehe. Yes, it takes a certain writing style, doesn’t it?
It was a dark and stormy afternoon. Two men sail a Hobie cat. One wields a knife. Great white circles. A fierce attack. Only bones by night.
Shari–that is great! That’s as good as any in my list. You rock, girl!
Twitter novels – what a concept! Love it.
Shari’s was very good, I agree. I loved all the entries. Such discipline to get so much out of 140 characters.
I think Shari will have to teach a class on it. She nailed it for me.
He closed the door. Frowning. So strange, no one there. A creeping chill. A prickle of fear. The slithering sounds increased. He looked up. It would be his final action.
Lyn–this is great. I get it, the entire story.
I did this with my middle school students as well. I presented the technique at a conference. It helped my ESL students especially. It was less intimidating since they wrote their dialogue and stories in just 140 characters. Of course, the ultimate goal was to get them to write essays and other genres.
I’d love to see a tape of that conference if its available. I teach also and am always looking for mew approaches from colleagues.
We did not tape it, but I may have some copies of the materials I gave out. I will be glad to share them if you send your email to me. Effective practices should be shared. I am retired but still love teaching and sharing ideas with colleagues.
I’m at askatechteacher@gmail.com. Thanks so much, Melba
As soon as I get my hands on the file I will send you a scanned copy.
No worries. Thanks, Melba.