Because the Platform-Previously-Identified-As-Twitter step by step continues to de-stabilize, I’ve been taking a tougher have a look at alternate options….particularly if Elon Musk goes by way of together with his promise to take away the power to Block accounts or cost all customers subscription charges.
My happyplace continues to be Substack, for considerate discussions and longer type posts. I’ll be posting a extra detailed overview of my Substack expertise later, however proper now I’d prefer to summarize the Bluesky Group Thread lists I’ve been placing collectively to assist kidlit individuals discover one another. (I’ll be posting extra about Bluesky later as nicely)
(educators also needs to discover/observe educators through Edusky!) – Additionally see my customized feed of kidlit/YA educators and librarians on Bluesky.
(who get pleasure from connecting with colleges/libraries). As a result of there are SO many kidlit creators becoming a member of Bluesky just lately , I lack the time to take care of a Customized Feed. Nonetheless, there are already a number of kidlit Customized feeds on the market, similar to Greg Pincus’s #KidLitChat, David B. Fox’s Kidlit, Boring Tales’ KidLit Group.
– Additionally see my Canadian Kidlit Writer & Illustrator customized feed
– Additionally see my customized feed of Kidlit Illustrators on Bluesky.
– Additionally see my customized feed of Spooky MG Authors on Bluesky
– Additionally see my customized feed of kidlit/YA e book bloggers on Bluesky
– Additionally see my customized feed of kidlit/YA podcasters on Bluesky
Kidlit Publishers – Not many but, however I’ve optimistically created a customized feed of conventional kidlit publishers on Bluesky.
– Additionally see my customized feed of kidlit/YA brokers on Bluesky
– Additionally see my customized feed of kidlit/YA editors on Bluesky
– Additionally see my customized feed of kidlit/YA artwork administrators and designers.
– Additionally see my customized feed of indie bookstores & booksellers on Bluesky
Additionally see:
Kate Messner’s record of authors, illustrators, educators, librarians, and publishing professionals to observe. Right here’s learn how to add your self to the record.
My #KidLitArt customized feed. Hashtags aren’t but clickable, however customized feeds are a very good workaround for now. Within the description for that feed, I even have data about associated feeds, like Gina Perry’s #KidLitArtPostcard feed.
I even have a group thread for . On the Platform-Previously-Identified-As-Twitter, I separated my gaming and kidlit posts into two accounts however I’m in strategy of making an attempt to cull down the variety of social media platforms the place I’m energetic.
Replace
Most people following me (primarily from the kidlit group) have drastically minimize down the period of time they spend on Twitter.
I’m not a Twitter Blue subscriber. Algorithms have modified in order that except you’re paying for a subscription, it may be extra of a problem getting posts seen. Whereas I perceive that the platform must earn money, I’m deeply disillusioned (and much more glad I unsubscribed). As somebody who has spend 15 years step by step constructing my platform on Twitter and serving to construct and increase the group, I really feel considerably betrayed. (“Thanks for all of your onerous work and time! Now give us cash to proceed having fun with what you’ve helped construct.”) Additionally simply heard that Elon Musk is considering charging ALL customers for accessing the platform.
Folks on xTwitter are inclined to broadcast far more than they hear/have interaction. I’m simply as responsible as others! Due to time constraints and social media fatigue, I’ve been making an attempt to spend much less time on social media normally. I proceed to test my @ mentions on xTwitter (fewer and fewer today) and making an attempt to assist increase a few of those that are nonetheless on xTwitter BUT not doing as a lot exploring and shopping as I did within the early days of Twitter….primarily as a result of I come throughout increasingly more rage-posting, spammers and trolls.
On Bluesky, I’ve been extra proactive in in search of out group, not simply anticipating individuals to seek out me and my posts. As some have just lately talked about on Bluesky throughout discussions on this matter: proper now, Bluesky is extra like early days of Twitter and GEnie, the place individuals tended to do much less broadcasting and extra partaking with others locally.
For these on Bluesky, I’ve began a thread asking individuals for his or her high 1-2 items of recommendation new to Bluesky. I’ll summarize in a future publish, however be at liberty to browse in the meantime!
Right here’s a hyperlink to https://bsky.app/.
Mainly, Bluesky is sort of a bare-bones Twitter. The platform jogs my memory of the early days of Twitter. It nonetheless lacks some community-building and curation options, however that’s why it’s nonetheless in beta.
In keeping with the Bluesky FAQ:
We additionally need the community to develop organically, so we periodically distribute invitations to current Bluesky customers. Moreover, we monitor the social graph, and if sure customers are inviting different reliable contributors, we give them extra invitations.
Nonetheless ready for a Bluesky code? I put myself on the waitlist however after months of not listening to something, I made a decision to be proactive and talked about over on Substack that I used to be nonetheless ready for a Bluesky invite. A sort stranger responded and gave me a code!
Impressed by his kindness, I’ve created a kidlit Bluesky code trade thread over on xTwitter:
Kidlit group Bluesky invite code (Tue. Sept. nineteenth, 2023)
Kidlit group Bluesky invite code (Solar. Sept. third, 2023)
Kidlit group Bluesky invite code (Aug. twenty fifth, 2023)
I do know of kidlit Bluesky-ers who’ve further codes to present out BUT don’t wish to simply give them to anybody (unscrupulous varieties have been scooping the codes and reselling). If you’re nonetheless on the Platform-Previously-Identified-As-Twitter, be at liberty to publish within the thread above; please word that you should be following somebody with a view to get a DM from them. If you happen to don’t hear something after a number of days, reply once more saying that you just’re nonetheless ready — there have been many codes handed out this manner, however Bluesky-ers inform me that it’s onerous to pick those that nonetheless want codes. Apologies for those who’re not on the Platform-Previously-Identified-As-Twitter – I lack the time to prepare something exterior of this thread.
My recommendation: Begin posting (in a non-spammy method) by yourself social media that you just’re searching for a Bluesky code. Or for those who’re replying to a legit thread from somebody you’re following providing codes, make it clear that you just’re a Actual Individual (not a bot or spammer or code-flipper), and why you’d like to affix Bluesky. Too many are simply signing up for a placeholder and leaving.
I’m cautiously optimistic. Bluesky continues to be lacking important community-building instruments like clickable hashtags, however the improvement group is responsive and has additionally promised me that user-curated LISTS are within the pipeline as nicely. However what’s MOST encouraging: so many kidlit persons are becoming a member of, together with educators, librarians, brokers, and editors.
If you happen to’re on Bluesky, be at liberty to seek out me and say hey!