One Girl In: "29 Days of Twitter"

29 Days of Twitter

The tale of going from “hating” to only “semi-hating” the crazed-about social media tool

by Megan Blevins

Hate. I know that it’s a strong word and one that my mom tells me to not use, but my emotion toward Twitter over the years has been just that—hate. I’ve had no issue becoming obsessed with Facebook, Yammer, StumbleUpon, Pinterest, etc, etc… BUT Twitter has been a battle that I haven’t won…Till now.

I decided the morning of February 1, 2012, that I needed to recommit to Twitter. I had an account since March 2011, and hadn’t done much with it; and that’s where it began: the 29 days of February became, “The 29 Days of Twitter.”

Day 1: My Re-Re-Commitment to Twitter... For the next 29 days, I'm diving into Twitter HARDCORE. Follow me! @MeggyBlev

Off the bat, I went to my safe haven of Facebook and used it as my platform to keep track of my 29 days. I was shocked about how many people I know on Facebook actually have Twitter. Within the first few hours, I had over 20 new followers from the social media crossover alone.

Twitter day 4... People actually tweet on the weekend???? Lol.

My main problems with Twitter at the beginning: 1) I see Twitter as additional work. 2) I don’t know what to do with the “information overload that is Twitter? And 3) Most importantly—I hate Twitter.

Twitter, day 7: I'm lazy... why can't I get into Twitter??

Seven days in, and I still wasn’t with it. I retweeted, I read through all the tweets, and tried to respond back to folks on stuff that I liked, but my apathy toward the social media tool was standing in my way.

So what changed?

Twitter, day 9: I got some great advice yesterday on how to tackle the "information overload" that is Twitter. Thanks, Michael Dougherty! Now to saddle up and go!

It seems almost too cliché to say that there was the “light-bulb, epiphany moment,” but that’s exactly how it happened. A simple lunch with Michael Dougherty and some simple advice changed everything, and smashed my two main problems into the ground:

Problem #1: How to make Twitter work for Me? Answer: Make it more than a conversation, make it a connection. I began asking myself simple questions: Who did I want to connect with and why? From day 9 to day 13, I went from 250 followers to 370, with 80 of them being in the first three days. I learned that I didn’t have to respond to every update. I repeat: It’s okay to not respond to every piece of information.

As for Problem #2, seeing Twitter as work, that was easily resolved once I realized how to make Twitter work for me. I was told to think of Twitter as a networking event—if I were to walk into a room full of people, who would I want to talk to the most? Maybe fellow writers or health gurus? Who in that room would I make the best connection with? It’s the same with Twitter—who can I make a connection with (and then a conversation with), and will make my net worth stronger?

From then on out, my daily updates were well, a little more cheery:

Twitter, day 14: I'm really feeling "the love" today... feels good! Happy Valentine’s Day!

Twitter, day 15: I'm ONE follower short of 400... who's it gonna be?!?!?! :) ... I know you want to, lol.

Twitter, day 19... I've actually been tweeting this wknd and it hasn't been that painful... Dare I say it's been "fun?" Lol :)

(This is a response to my cousin via Facebook):

“19 days ago, I was in the same boat with my feelings on Twitter. What's changed? I've learned how to use it to make connections with folks-- either work related who work across the country or with other writers. So it's been pretty good, but it is still "information overload" unless you know what you want out of it.”

From then on out, I wouldn’t say it was “smooth sailing,” but I’ve really opened up my mind to Twitter and to the people who already know so much about it. I’ve received advice along the way (such as use as many @ (at) and #s (hash tags) as possible to optimize views), and I’ve also learned that a simple “Hello” to a new follower really makes a difference.

Twitter, day 29: #likeaboss.

Twenty-nine days later, I have a new-found respect for the social media tool. I started with 200 followers and now have 460. I’ve made some GREAT connections on topics such as gardening, health and fitness, and wildlife, and even more—I’ve made some great connections with AMAZING people. It’s also helped me connect with so many members of the NWF family in the field and around the country.

I plan on continuing what I’ve started—my goal is to have 1000 followers by the end of 2012 (a goal I would have once believed wasn’t obtainable). Am I an expert? Ha, nowhere close. But I can officially say that I don’t hate Twitter anymore J

Thanks to everyone who has helped me along this journey! Feel free to share with others who “hate Twitter,” and don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions (blevinsm@nwf.org).

One Girl In: a Spooky Place

Cross-posted from Wildlife Promise:

Halloween is a spooky time of year and the Halloween blog post for Wildlife-Friendly DMV is no exception. The post shares the story of Leslie Sturges, a Northern Virginia bat expert –yes bats!—who is battling another spooky topic: white-nose syndrome.

In 2010, Sturges launched Save Lucy the Little Brown Bat campaign in an effort to make white-nose accessible to kids and “empower [them] to conserve North American bats.”

Here’s the link: http://bit.ly/teJ5yr.  The article also includes great pictures and a sound bite of a bat echo-locating.

Suggested Tweet: A Truly Scary #Halloween Story: Bats Are In Trouble; How Kids, Parents Can Help http://bit.ly/teJ5yr @NWF #DMV

Enjoy and Happy Halloween! Mb

[Pictures] One girl in a "batty" place

My Halloween blog post for work (out October 27) features the story of Leslie Sturges, a Northern Virginia (NOVA) bat expert who started the non-profit Save Lucy the Little Brown Bat in March 2010.  The Save Lucy Campaign educates and empowers youth to help save North American bats from white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that has devastated bats all over the Northeast and Eastern United States.

Here are some pictures; some of them I could not fit in the blog and they're just too cute to not share! Blog URL to follow.  Enjoy, Mb

 Jorge, a Hoary bat, was very curious of the camera.

 Hello!

So sweet! 

A Red bat. 

 Mooch, a Big Brown bat, having a meal worm for snack time.

 Say Cheese? :-)

 Feet!

Leslie in the flight cage behind her
house where young bats learn to fly.

All photos property of MABlevins/NWF, 2011 Copyright Reserved 

One girl in the "wild"

Things have gotten pretty wild since I've moved to DC.  I call it "the most powerful playground you'll ever play in"... others say they aren't sure how I deal with so many politicians on a day-to-day basis.

My answer: I write about cute, fuzzy animals like turtles :)

I have started a new blog series with my work that I would like to share: it's called Wildlife-Friendly DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia). The goal of this blog is to connect wildlife enthusiast in DMV to local wildlife and the National Wildlife Federation (where I work), while also sharing the stories of people in our region who speak up for wildlife.

The first post features NWF's very own headquarters in Reston, Virginia!

Here’s the link: Wildlife-Friendly DMV, post 1 "10 Wildest Things Happening in National Wildlife Federation's Backyard"
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Suggested tweet: We're “wild” @NWF: 10 WILDEST things happening in NWF headquarters' backyard http://bit.ly/DMV_10wildesthappenings #DMV
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'Cause at the end of the day, life is "wild" no matter what...
Enjoy, Mb :)

One girl at the Today Show

Last Thursday, June 23, I found myself in a new place: behind the scenes at the Today Show.  Please view my blog post for photos, video, along with the candid-- and somewhat chaotic-- tale of my adventure.

Blog post on Wildlife Promise (my work blog):  http://blog.nwf.org/wildlifepromise/2011/06/wild-animals-camping-and-justin-bieber-behind-the-scenes-with-nwf-at-the-today-show/

I hope that you enjoy!

For sharing with your networks:
Suggested Tweet: Wild Animals, Camping and @justinbieber: Behind the Scenes with NWF at the Today Show. http://bit.ly/kgM6lJ @NWF @todayshow

One girl realizing many a things

The misconception that I've always had about writing for an audience is that writing must have this deep, underlying purpose or otherwise people won't read it.  And then over the past three months, I've realized that statement is not only not correct, but it is a hampering on my imagination.

What people want is questionable but that isn't the purpose of this post.  I can never please everyone (nor am I interested in trying).  Although, I can please myself.  It seems like the simplest statement now that I see it written out on my own screen.  It has taken me since my last post to learn this.  Better late than never, I suppose.

A good friend of mine told me once that the key to becoming a writer is to never stop writing.  Just don't ever stop he told me one day, driving in the car after a lunch date.  I've been writing all these months (at both my jobs), but what I haven't been doing is writing for myself.

I've made all these excuses: I'm too busy, my new job, I'm too tired from commuting, i don't have anything to write about... the list goes on and on.  I don't know why I stopped.  Life is a hectic place that moves faster as the days move forward-- I was told that they would.  And I'm realizing now that I had better not neglect the one friend that has never left me-- my writing hands.

And something I would like to take a moment to note: A special someone in my life began mentioning that I had stopped writing for me and that I should begin again.  Because I'm always "right," I would never admit that this person's constant persistence and encouragement is one of the reasons I'm sitting down now and starting again.  Thank you.

Moving forward, the only thing I can promise about my writing is that it will exist.  Now whatever shape and/or form it takes, is up to me.  Something else to note: this is the most invigorating thought I've had in years. 

beso (kiss), M

One girl driving onward

Grace Pickering slammed the car door and skidded down her parent's driveway.  She starred into the rear view mirror.  The brick, red roof and black shutters of her parent's house disappeared in the early evening sun. Dust from the opened Jeep hatch kicked into her eyes, and golden grit stuck in the tears that rolled down her cheeks.  The glaring sun reflected pinks and oranges off her 1973 Ray Ban Aviators as she drove into town.

Behind the dark lenses her eyes could see nothing but Mark Stocktan's eyes.  She'd left him, but he still burned a hole in her heart.  She knew it wasn't cause she wanted him.  She didn't love him; could care less about him-- really.  She'd left him on a white porch in the middle of nowhere, Texas with spurs on his boots and a bottle of rum in his hand.  The sloshing in her stomach and pain in her eyes were only for Mark, the man she wanted to move on from, but didn't know how to.  

Grace wasn't surprised she couldn't get over him even with 1800 miles and countless days between them.  It took her eight fights and two slashed tires later before she actually left.  Five times she packed a suitcase and paid for a cheap hotel with a heart-shaped jacuzzi.  The hotels always called them "Honeymoon Suites."  Grace preferred "Hell but in a Luxurious Bathtub."  Hours of boiling water seeping into her pores and countless bottles of champagne later equaled nothing but fire for the months to come.
 
"Damn," Grace said as she threw the gear into first.

"What am I gonna do with myself?" she murmured, cranking up the radio as strands of red hair flew out of the hatch. 

It all appeared very clear months before:  She'd become someone important in the small, New England bay area, just like her dad.  She would make her fortune at her dad's lobster company, helping to boost business with more buyers and sellers, with more fisherman and with well, just more.  Grace would bring the untapped lobster masses to the company she'd one day take over.

"What the hell is wrong with me?"

Grace's forehead hit the windshield.  Queasy, she touched her forehead.  The knot formed instantly as she looked ahead where her emergency lights reflected off the metallic white road sign.  Sweating and huffing, and rubbing her eyes she saw what she'd become those last 12 weeks-- nothing but a bum.  She spent her days sitting on the wooden porch of her parent's home, watching fishing boats pass and listening to the squeals and cheers of successful lobster catches, and people wrapping up their work days.  They would either be heading home or off to the bar.  She plastered her butt to the porch for hours, just like Mark always wanted her to do. 

His voice come out of the speakers,

"Pretty girls like you don't need to work, cause what if you aren't home when I get back?"

Grace opened the Jeep door.  His voice and the Maine she had returned to pumped out of her stomach and onto the blacktop.  Lobster and salt water.  Lobster and gabbing about lobster.  Maine would hold nothing for her but endless days of lobster casseroles, pies and lobster cakes served with a side of lobster.

"Oh, no."
   
Her body shook as her slim figure leaned up against the maroon Jeep.  Her sunglasses fell into her hands, where she saw Mark's face appear.  She learned a long time ago that there are two types of people out there: the ones that care and the ones that don't.  It really was that simple and she knew it, though she fought the idea with Mark time-after-time.  She told herself he cared.  But propped up on the side of the road that day she knew he'd never change his leather chaps for another tune, and it was time she stopped playing the same song on repeat.

Wiping her nose, Grace stood up and grabbed her atlas from under the passenger seat.  She flipped through the pages of states hoping to strum over a highway, interstate or back road that would let her drive onward.  Grace closed her eyes, held the atlas above her head and breathed,

"I'll let the road choose for me," as the atlas fell face up on the gravel.

She peaked.  She grinned.  She laughed.    

"Peaches can't be any worse than lobster."

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Grace Pickering and Mark Stocktan are fictional characters crafted by Megan Blevins.  Read previous posts to catch up on their story. Enjoy, Mb