Fine.
I'll admit it.
I'm currently obsessed with Twitter.
But how couldn't I be? With only 140 characters, every post becomes a tiny creative writing exercise. I'm utterly fascinated with how people tell their stories in such a limited space. So do me a favor and help feed my obsession.
(Hey, it's healthier than all this recent cupcake business.)
Put your Twitter name in the comments section or add me (I'm @altgeldshrugged) so I can follow you back. Or if there's someone good I should be following, tell me that, too.
Cool? Cool.
P.S. Ashton Kutcher is Twittering (@aplusk) and he's done the impossible; I now find him both charming and adorable. Well played, Kelso. Well played.
UPDATE: OK, new plan - I just typed the first sixty of these manually into Twitter to add and it looks like it was easier for you guys just to add me. So how about this? If you follow me, I'll follow you. And for you doubters, Ashton liberally uses the Twitter picture feature and gives kind of a fascinating look inside what it's like to be him. It's all, "Here's Tyra! We had a meeting today!" and "Here's Bruce - he stopped over to see the kids!" and "Here we are in our Oscar outfits!" I'm telling you - ADORABLE.
UPDATE, THE SEQUEL: Apparently I broke Twitter by trying to be polite and follwoing people who follow me. The troubleshooting guide says I'm "agressively following." If that phrase doesn't sum up my whole life, nothing does.
Argh, Twitter hates me. If you add me, I'll follow you back whenever they lift my "agressive follow" restrictions.
Posted by: the governor of jennsylvania | February 24, 2009 at 10:55 PM
@bookbabie
Allison WS pointed me to your blog!
Posted by: bookbabie | February 24, 2009 at 08:40 PM
@merader on twitter
Posted by: Megan | February 24, 2009 at 06:42 PM
Thanks for this, my bff and I are now ADDICTED!!! @coffeetwitt
It really is silly but ohhh so much fun.
Posted by: Julie | February 24, 2009 at 04:55 PM
ahhh i'm brand new to twitter and i'm lost! help! come find me!
@beachlounger
:)
Posted by: kelly | February 24, 2009 at 03:36 PM
Guys i'm So confused, I just signed up for Twitter and can't find any friends lol ... come find me please! ...
@beachlounger
Thanks SO much,
kelly from pennsylvania
Posted by: kelly | February 24, 2009 at 03:28 PM
Ok I tried reading Ashton's tweets, but once he starting talking about kabbalah and holy with a "w" I just couldn't do it anymore. And how cool is it that one of my fav authors is following little ol' me?
Posted by: kj9774 | February 24, 2009 at 03:01 PM
I just joined! I love this kind of stuff so my twitter name is Jamalamm! Thanks for the info! I love your books and you rock!
Posted by: Jamie Shook | February 24, 2009 at 02:47 PM
I'm gone for one measley week on vacation and look at all the news on you! Congrats on the book deal ( I get Publisher's Weekly, so I was tickled TWICE for you!) And SO glad you are coming back to Minnie. It will be all sunny and spring-like by then. You'll love it!
Seriously - Chardonnay next door after the reading?! I know you have a driver, so don't act like you can't get tipsy....
Posted by: Muffy Willowbrook | February 24, 2009 at 01:55 PM
I'm following you now! I'd love to follow a few more people so thanks for the suggestions. I'm cjchristensen6.
Posted by: Christi | February 24, 2009 at 01:00 PM
Yes! So glad you're now tweeting! I'm now following you @doghouse. I agree TweetDeck is awesome, I love the group feature.
Also, if Twitter restricted you to follow people back I believe you need to wait until 2000 people are following you for the restriction to be lifted.
Posted by: nanz | February 24, 2009 at 12:49 PM
@beverlyhillls
yes, it is three "L"'s because some stupid twat waffle took my name. :(
can't wait to start twittering!
Posted by: Beverly | February 24, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Twitstalking! I love it!
Posted by: MZA | February 24, 2009 at 12:34 PM
CB radios are the redneck's internet. You can find out ANYTHING you want on them. Don't believe me? MY mullet sporting, RV driving, beer swilling better half will drive across state all night long to watch the races...listening ONLY to the wiper blades screech back and forth over the CB. He even turns up the volume when he stops for bathroom breaks incase he "misses something". Seriously. What can I say, he had me at mullet hahahahaha!!
Posted by: DawnMarie | February 24, 2009 at 12:32 PM
WTF - twitter is the crap that will get hacked and destroyed. do you want destruction to your beautiful work! blogggg don't twitttttteeeerrrrr
Posted by: Bitta N Single | February 24, 2009 at 11:47 AM
In case they let you add people again...
@jbutterflywings.
Posted by: Jenni | February 24, 2009 at 10:26 AM
Stop twittering and keep on blogging!
Posted by: Julia | February 24, 2009 at 10:02 AM
I'm just now getting into the fabulousness that is Twitter!!! Did you know you can text in your updates from your phone?!!
I'm @elysianfantasy
Posted by: Jara | February 24, 2009 at 09:21 AM
Ah, the Twitterland.
@stainedr0se
Just another addiction to add to my life. Like cookies.. and cakes.. or any baked good.
Posted by: Tiffany | February 24, 2009 at 08:46 AM
Hey.. follow me, Jen. I'm CarrieWhitney. I am a HUGE fan of yours!!!
Your books really helped me thru a rough time. Thanks for the laughs. You and I would DEFINITELY be GREAT pals!!! We are alot alike in many ways.
I hope we get to meet someday. PLEASE come to Austin!!!!! I could not come the last time cuz I was in the damn hospital, hence your books cheering me up.
Posted by: Carrie Whitney | February 24, 2009 at 04:07 AM
Hmmm worried you still have that Christmas wreath up in your kitchen from the cupcake photo. Remove immediately :)
Posted by: twinkles | February 23, 2009 at 09:51 PM
I felt soooo special when you followed me that I told my sister.
Then to find out you broke it following people...
Oh well, the pressure was going to be too much anyway!
Posted by: Julie | February 23, 2009 at 06:40 PM
I've been on Twitter, but I can't do it at work. It's blocked.
Follow me @JFDABC
I applied for the Island Reef Job, and we will all know next week if I made it to the top 50.
Posted by: Julie | February 23, 2009 at 06:09 PM
I'm on Twitter and currently following you, but since you've hit your Twitter follow limit, here's my name just in case: @ArtsAfire
Pretty sure you can start following again tomorrow. :)
Posted by: Sara | February 23, 2009 at 04:38 PM
First round twitter-er myself. @ne1else
Posted by: Catrina | February 23, 2009 at 03:43 PM
I haven't read through the bajillion comments, but there's a fake Tina Fey account that is hilarious:
twitter.com/tinafey
Some of the fake celebrity ones are HILARIOUS! There was a post on AfterEllen about it a few days ago.
Posted by: Rhea | February 23, 2009 at 03:17 PM
Oh, FUN!
I love finding new people to follow - I am @domesticchicky .
Posted by: Domestic Chicky | February 23, 2009 at 03:13 PM
I'm not part of the twitter mafia, but heres a guy you should follow:
http://twitter.com/fireland
Posted by: DodiM | February 23, 2009 at 02:24 PM
Follow me! I'm @danerkebab
You should also follow @FoodChannel
Posted by: Dana | February 23, 2009 at 02:12 PM
Hello, my name is @dkbp73. Another Twitter virgin.
Posted by: dkbp73 | February 23, 2009 at 02:09 PM
Welcome to Twitter! It's a lot of fun but keeping up with everyone can become a full-time job if you're not careful!
Seriously, some people are artisans with their tweets. Cracks me up most of the time. You'll love it!
Posted by: Parsing Nonsense | February 23, 2009 at 02:08 PM
I'm @EdgellACE. I am a Twitter Virgin, please peeps befriend me.
Posted by: Amanda | February 23, 2009 at 01:13 PM
signed up today... thanks Jen.
Im @hrobud.
Posted by: Heide | February 23, 2009 at 12:22 PM
Meant to tell you that last week on CSI a college kid called a guy an asshat. The only other time I have seen that is in your references to Fletch.
Hope this means that their writers are huge fans of yours. Karyn Bosnak, another author I love does twitter, too.
I personally, don't get it. Don't even know how to get there. Anywho.
Posted by: Debbie | February 23, 2009 at 12:14 PM
@mad4shoes
Posted by: Kelly | February 23, 2009 at 10:49 AM
"The new CB radio." That's a good explanation of it. I actually tried to explain Twitter to someone (who can barely understand the concept of email) the other day and had a hard time doing it, so your definition helps tons!
Posted by: Amberly | February 23, 2009 at 10:24 AM
@pursefan is my name. Can't wait for your new book to come out!
Posted by: Jackie | February 23, 2009 at 09:12 AM
i, too, am hopelessly addicted to twitter...
just added you :-)
(@mommynamedapril)
Posted by: MommyNamedApril | February 23, 2009 at 09:06 AM
Definitely load Tweetdeck if you haven't already. I am already following you and you me. So we are set. Can't wait for the new book and your tour that will come through Milwaukee on the May 30th!
Posted by: lisa | February 23, 2009 at 08:54 AM
@PRGalMichelle
Posted by: Michelle Olson | February 23, 2009 at 08:52 AM
@splendifikiss
Posted by: Emily Allyn | February 23, 2009 at 08:31 AM
I just followed you since I was too tipsy to remember your username from Blissdom. @QueenofShake
Posted by: Heather, Queen of Shake Shake | February 23, 2009 at 07:50 AM
@CrystalSPistol
Posted by: Crystal from Austin | February 23, 2009 at 07:29 AM
@stepheb
Posted by: stephanie | February 23, 2009 at 07:20 AM
@HeatherErin . I tend to only post to complain or vent bile. But that's just how I roll.
Posted by: HeatherErin | February 23, 2009 at 05:36 AM
@kayelipscomb
Posted by: Kaye | February 23, 2009 at 04:36 AM
@elzbeth
added you as well.
and Ashton too because I'm easy like that. :)
Posted by: Patricia | February 23, 2009 at 02:33 AM
Jen, my best friend gave me Such a Pretty Fat last week and told me you are my long lost twin. I have laughed so hard I've cried and my husband has come running in asking what the hell is going on? Tonight he said I was going to literally kill myself from laughing. Thank you so much. Needless to say, I am lovin this book, can't wait to read the rest and thanks for all the laughing tears. I really needed them bad!!!!
Posted by: Rebecca | February 23, 2009 at 02:12 AM
@jackbauersbitch
Posted by: Elizabeth Jamieson | February 23, 2009 at 01:34 AM
@MrsHambone
I just added you as well
Posted by: Jillian | February 23, 2009 at 12:47 AM