The Rise of Darth Twitter

As long as there’s been humans we’ve had our villains. Some are real and some are fictional. I’d like to nominate a new one to the list of loathsome evil overlords – Twitter.

Readers of my blog might know I’ve had a bit of a falling out with Twitter recently. A week and a half ago, to be precise. My account was suspended without explanation. I filed multiple attempts at lifting the suspension and last night, after 11 days had passed, I received an email for each one stating I had promised to be a good boy and that my suspension would be removed. YAY!

Except I still can’t use Twitter. My account still says it’s suspended.

For those curious (I’ve been contacted by a few people, the most recent being Andy Holloway), I was suspended for aggressive following practices. I didn’t consider it the least bit aggressive, but to each their own. I have removed any and all attempts at automating my following or unfollowing practices and I told Twitter as much. But I’m still suspended.

So Twitter, to me, is like an evil sentient being. It reaches out and snares us in the delusions of grandeur and social media without borders. We can converse (or believe we’re conversing) with the likes of Nathan Fillion, Wil Weaton, Michelle Obama, and other celebrities. Or better yet, we can have a fun and meaningful dialogue with less known people who are actually interested in us. Then, once we’ve basked in the glory of an increased social awareness Twitter can take it all away with a click of their finger.

And now it’s even worse – they’re teasing me. “Sure, we’ll unsuspend you…just wait for it a little longer…” I wonder if those dirty rat bastards kick puppies on their way to work too.

For now I remain suspended. I hope to soon be available again, but alas, I just don’t know. I figure I’ll give them until tomorrow morning to make it right, and if it’s not fixed by then? Why, I’ll write them another sternly worded email and then go and sulk some more.

To learn more about Jason Halstead, visit his website to learn about him, his books, sign up for his newsletter, or check out some free samples of his books at http://www.booksbyjason.com.

So This is What Being a Junkie is Like

My Twitter account, @boooksbyjason, has been suspended. Not by me, mind you. I’ve sent at least four emails requesting an explanation as to why it’s suspended and how I can revoke it, and I’ve received an automated email almost every time in response that tells me nothing, including why it was suspended. I follow their instructions like a good little doggy and promise to abide by their rules and best practices. I mean it too, I have every intention of not doing anything to piss off the Twitter gods.

I have many things to tweet about, from my own writing progress to random musings to useful blog posts I’ve stumbled across. Alas, I can’t even log into Triberr anymore without an active Twitter account, so I’m missing out on all of my fellow Tribber users entertaining and informative material. In a word, it sucks.

I’ll admit the first couple of days I nearly had the shakes. I’d been denied Twitter after taking it for granted for so long. Oh sure, my life has gone on and with the week I’ve had it helped me forget about anything other than the pressures of the day job, but I fear my friends and followers on Twitter are going to think I’ve abandoned them. I’m sure their lives have gone on just fine too, but that doesn’t lessen the suckage factor.

So this is my public service announcement to all Twitter users out there – take care in how you use your account or are perceived to use your account, big brother is watching and he’ll shut you down! I’d offer more useful tips and advice but I’m not sure what I did wrong yet.

In the meantime I’m still plugging away on Bounty, book three in my Wanted trilogy. It’s turning into so much more than I’d originally conceived – I’m really loving it. In fact, just yesterday I had another burst of inspiration and I had to go back and write a brand new first chapter for the book. That caused numerous edits throughout the other fourteen chapters I’d already written. It’s not just about adding length, it added some quality content and drove the story to have more excitement and greater details. It fleshed out more characters and relationships and it’s going to make so much of the book that much more bittersweet.

Or at least I think it will – my problem is I have a lot of scenarios running through my head for how the book is going to end. I’m considering doing a director’s cut release with this book. I’ll finish it and have the ending I choose, but then offer up one or two other possible endings for those interested in seeing how things could have gone. I don’t think that’s ever been done before with a book, aside from the choose your own adventure books I read back in the 80s as a kid.

Until Twitter reinstates me I’ll do my best to update via this blog and Facebook. Child of Fate is coming along nicely through the cover art and editing process. That reminds me, I owe my cover artist an email! Stay tuned folks, there’s plenty more to come and even the Twitter gods can’t stop me!

To learn more about Jason Halstead, visit his website to learn about him, his books, sign up for his newsletter, or check out some free samples of his books at http://www.booksbyjason.com.