Set in Style

First, spend a minute or two with Twitter, an on-line service that lets people write and publish short entries (for all the world to read).

An entry can be about anything (many use it to say what’s happening like “I’m getting ready for dinner,” or “the Mrs. awakes; she’s in a good mood; it’s gonna be a good day”) but it can be no more than 140 characters long: about 20 to 30 words.

Go ahead and write an entry. Write a response to Twitter’s essential question — “What are you doing?”

Here’s a fair response:

Right now, I’m reading an article that discusses whether Twitter can help turn you into a better writer. Actually, I’m reading two articles about Twitter.

Oops! You can’t publish that because it’s got 154 characters — 14 too many.

So, you start cutting.

Right now, I’m reading an article that discusses whether Twitter can help turn you into a better writer. Actually, I’m reading two articles about Twitter it.

And then you publish your 138-character message:

I’m reading an article that discusses whether Twitter can help turn you into a better writer. Actually, I’m reading two articles about it.

Now, suppose you want to say something more significant. Suppose you want to say you agree with the article that claims using Twitter (writing Tweets) can make you a better writer, and you disagree with the other article that says writing Tweets has no such benefit.

Then you must do more than cut; you must revise.

Right now, I’m reading an two articles that discusses whether Twitter can help turn you into a better writer. Actually, I’m reading two articles about Twitter.

With that revision, you have 29 characters to spare:

I’m reading two articles that discuss whether Twitter can help turn you into a better writer. I believe it can.

Let’s suppose you want to identify the two articles; you want to include links to those articles.

First, you shorten the links. You use an on-line service like TinyURL to turn:

http://www.thecomplexlitigator.com/post-data/2009/1/20/do-the-benefits-of-using-twitter-include-better-writing-for.html

into:

http://bit.ly/TTG6u

And you turn:

http://socialmedialawstudent.com/twitter/using-twitter-to-become-a-better-legal-writer/

into:

http://bit.ly/18wErp

You could further revise your entry like so:

I’m readingThese two articles that discuss whether Twitter can help turn you into be a better writer. I believe it can.

With that revision, you have 50 characters to spare:

These two articles discuss whether Twitter can help you be a better writer. It can.

Add the shortened links and some spaces, and you have a Twoosh, a 140-character Tweet:

http://bit.ly/18wErp        These two articles discuss whether Twitter can help you be a better writer. It can.        http://bit.ly/TTG6u

____________
More about how Twitter can improve your writing tomorrow.

Sources:

Using Twitter to Become a Better Legal Writer

Do the benefits of using Twitter include better writing for lawyers?  No.

This entry was posted 31 May 2009 at 9:52 and is filed under Blogging, Twittering, Etc., Writing & Editing. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.