When I started the little hashtag game on Twitter three years ago, it was one of a very few contenders. Now there are several for each day of the week: you can check out Twitter user @writevent, who tracks them all. For me, the best thing about #2bitTues was that it allowed writers two things: unique expression (with the concept of an optional theme), and connection. Most of the players still enjoyed sticking to the theme… and while there’s nothing wrong with that, I feel as though the original purpose has gotten lost in the shuffle. I began to feel like the only substance to my Twitter presence was putting up a word and a picture every week, and I lost the connectivity, the spark.
To make a long story short, I’m tired of Twitter feeling like a chore. It’s a community, a place to connect and share and help one another. That’s what initially inspired me to self-publish … not something lackluster that can be found in other places.
So, the #2bitTues hashtag is going to be shut down this week. I am working on something new, something which will work with the new double tweet length and be even more fun. It’ll be cooperative, like the best things on Twitter, and encourage sharing the things we love the most about our writing, which will help us all get the word out about our work better without feeling … “sales-y”.
I know a handful of folks have already contacted me to say that they do not want to see it go. Please honor my request and let it. As I said, there are other hashtag games out there, and their hosts and hostesses would be happy to have you. I am not going anywhere, things are just evolving and changing, as they should. I hope you’ll come along with me. You are, after all, still my writing tribe, and my hope is to make it a stronger one.
See you on Twitter,