Corinne Litchfield

Why I’m Still Loving Twitter after 5 Years

Next month will mark my five year anniversary of signing up for Twitter. My initial reason for creating a Twitter account was to prove to my soon-to-be supervisor that Twitter did have potential as a public relations tool. In a few short months on the job, I proved my point by getting clients media coverage via my Twitter connections. That agency has gone on to list social media as one of its specialties. I love feeling like a vanguard.

Since 2008 I’ve created two additional Twitter accounts and managed one for a nonprofit advocacy group. One of my Twitter accounts, ExploreSacto, keeps gaining followers (1,488 as of 5:26 pm today). I’d like to think it’s because of the content of my tweets, the majority of which are retweets related to Sacramento area happenings.

Earlier today I read a few Facebook posts by writer/editor David Watts Barton about Twitter and how several journalists he’s spoken with say they dislike Twitter but feel “[I] have to be on there.” I’ve heard several people who are otherwise big users of social media say they hate Twitter, and a friend & I were talking yesterday about celebrities who don’t want to use Twitter or don’t understand its purpose.

The purpose is easy: it’s another way to build and maintain your platform, which includes everything from your physical presence at events to your virtual presence (website, blog, social media, etc.) Any advertising or marketing expert will tell you that it’s impossible to reach all of your customers via one delivery method. To be successful it’s important to be on multiple platforms.

Twitter has been good to me. It’s given me story ideas (my first SacMag piece was about SacTweetup events). It’s helped me make friends in a new town. It’s gotten me more engaged in my community. On a broader scale, I have three main reasons why I still love Twitter:

1. Simplicity. Twitter requires users to be succinct, to boil down their message to the most relevant 140 characters. Sure, you can use tools that allow for longer tweets, but if you need to say that much, then why not just use Facebook, Tumblr, or a blog post? Or, better yet, why not write a tweet with a link to your blog or Facebook profile for the unabridged version of your commentary?

2. Portability. I predominately use HootSuite to manage my multiple Twitter accounts, whether it’s reading my timeline, sending tweets or searching for tweets on a specific topic. Whether I’m on my home computer or my mobile phone, I can easily see what’s going on. Even if I was using just the standard Twitter app for iPhone or Android, I’d still be able to get a lot done.

3. Adaptability. There are several ways to manipulate Twitter to help you work smarter. My favorites include creating lists (where you can read tweets from different users without actually following them) and setting up hashtag searches to find specialized content.

In the last 6 months I’ve been enjoying Twitter way more than Facebook, which has turned into a virtual bulletin board for images, videos, memes and other crap that I have no interest in seeing. Even with limiting the notification settings to Life Events only I still see things that, in my opinion, definitely do not qualify as a “Life Event.” I friend people on FB because I want to hear about THEM and keep in touch with them; I view FB as a place to hear/see what’s going on in their lives, not reposts & shares of random images/memes ad nauseam.

That being said, I continue to use Facebook because - again - it’s about the platform. Whether I’m writing copy, promoting a cause or event, or just having fun, I’m a believer in getting messages out via multiple streams.

I don’t expect my passion for Twitter to change anyone’s mind about whether or not they want to use it. But if you want help making Twitter work smarter for you, give me a shout.

New Anthology from 916 Ink

Last night was the book release event for 730 Sunsets, the latest anthology of poetry & prose from 916 Ink participants. Over the course of several weeks I had the honor of working alongside 916 Ink founder Katie McCleary at Southgate Library as we encouraged & inspired a small group of young writers. The work they produced was stellar & showed their creativity and passion for words. While part of my role as a volunteer was to inspire them, they truly inspired me.

Those of us who work as Inspirators and Wordslingers (916 Ink’s terms for volunteers who work on-site with the kids) write alongside the kids, using the same prompts. I wrote the following poem, “Are There Onions in That?”, during one of our sessions. I’m honored to have this poem included among the Inspirators section of 730 Sunsets. 

You can purchase your own copy of 730 Sunsets through 916 Ink (link coming soon).

Are There Onions in That?

(for Dad) 

My father always asked this

when he walked through the carport door

and into the den, the smell

of chili powder hitting his nose,

making him salivate, putting him on

a trajectory to the kitchen,

where my mother stood stirring

the soy protein, kidney beans, bell peppers and diced tomatoes

as they simmered in the round stainless steel fry pan

she got as a wedding present

from an old family friend,

thanked long ago on a creamy white notecard.

When he asks this question now,

I am the one standing over the electric skillet,

adding a secret dash of cinnamon,

scraping up the slightly scorched bits of garlic,

offering a spoon so he can have a taste;

so he can know for certain

if there are, indeed, onions in that chili.

Poetry Anthology Release & Reading

I’m proud to have my poem, “On Waiting to Enter a Poetry Reading”, featured in Late Peaches: Poems by Sacramento Poets, the new anthology coming out this week. This collection of more than 100 poems from local writers was edited by Bob Stanley, Sacramento’s poet laureate from 2009-2012.

Like Paul Harvey, I love to share the rest of the story, and the story behind this poem is a fun one. In February I was researching my feature on the local literary scene for Sacramento Magazine and attended a reading and open mike in Davis. Hosted by then-Davis poet laureate Allegra Silberstein, the event featured Laverne & Carol Frith, two nationally recognized poets who also publish Ekphrasis Journal. I arrived later than I had planned, so I stood outside the meeting room at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis, waiting for a break in the reading so I could slip inside. As I stood there I was very aware of everything going on: the soft murmur of the poet who was reading, the facial expressions of the audience members, the sounds from the surrounding neighborhood, how the trees and the earth smelled. It was a very poetic moment and I’d like to thank Allegra and Carol Frith (the poet referenced in my poem) for being my muses.

I’ll be reading my poem at the October 20 book release event in Sacramento. The anthology will be available for purchase and features several local poets I know and love, including Sue Staats, Jan Haag, Deborah Meltvedt, and many others.

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The Event(s) that Started It All

In February 2011, I went to my first SacTweetup, a social gathering where Sacramento area Twitter users can meet in person, network, and find new people to follow. Through that first event I met two people who I now consider dear friends: Margaret of Sacramento Bloggers and Amy of Limit Reached. I went on to meet Donelle of Seen in Sacramento and Rodney of BurgerJunkies as well.

A few months later, I won tickets from Sacramento Magazine to a Rivercats game. When I went over to pick them up, I had a strange feeling I was going to be writing for the magazine.

Later that same afternoon, I found a post on Craigslist.org from Sacramento Magazine - they were, indeed, looking for writers. I responded right away and pitched my first story on SacTweetup. Marybeth Bizjak, the editor of the front-of-book section, loved it and scheduled the story for the September 2011 issue.

That one event, and the resulting article, started me on my freelance path here in Sacramento. I’ve since written over 25 articles for Sacramento Magazine. It gave me the opportunity to connect with so many people and business owners. It inspired me to start tweeting about local happenings as ExploreSacto and host the 2011 Festivus Tweetup/Diaper Drive for Maryhouse. And it opened up doors to other freelance opportunities, including working with Rodney Blackwell and Natalie Paulsen on the inaugural Sacramento Burger Battle, an incredible, emotional, and uplifting experience I will never forget.

It’s only fitting, then, that at the August SacTweetup, where we bid Alejandro happy trails as he headed off to Seattle with his family, I won tickets to a Rivercats game.

Thanks for everything, Alejandro, and best of luck to you in your future endeavors.

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Sunday Round Table on Bikes, Cars & Pedestrians

This Sunday from 10 to 11:30 a.m., I’ll be hosting a round table discussion on issues and concerns of Sacramento area bicyclists, pedestrians, and drivers. This is part of my upcoming feature for Sacramento Magazine on these 3 distinct groups and what’s needed in order for peaceful coexistence.

While I have the cycling community well represented, I would really like to get a few non-cyclists involved. If you walk a lot in downtown/midtown Sacramento, or if you commute downtown/midtown by car, please contact me for more information about the round table.

Space is filling up so please email me right away if you’re interested in attending. Coffee/water will be provided.

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Walking in Sacramento: Looking for Downtown/Midtown Pedestrians

My previous post looking for Sacramento bike commuters was very successful - thanks to everyone who responded! I’m now looking for downtown and midtown Sacramento pedestrians to share their stories.

I’m most interested to hear from people who:

• have been hit or were nearly hit by a cyclist while walking on the sidewalk
• have felt intimidated or threatened by cyclists or drivers while on the sidewalk or in a crosswalk
• have received a citation or ticket for jaywalking in midtown or downtown

If you fit one or more of these categories, please email me  with a brief description of your experience(s) and your contact information (email and phone number). I will get in touch with you about participating in a round table discussion later this month.

Sacramento Commuters on Bike: Your Help with Article

I’m currently researching an article for Sacramento Magazine about bicyclists, pedestrians and drivers in the Sacramento region. I’d like to talk to people who commute via bike to their jobs about their experiences dealing with drivers, other biking commuters, and pedestrians. I’m specifically interested in people who bike into downtown or midtown Sacramento, but if you bike to your job in Roseville, Folsom, Davis, or Elk Grove, that’s fine too.

Please send me an email at  (this icon is to help prevent spammers) and tell me a little bit about the distance you commute and how long you’ve been commuting by bike. I’ll get in touch with you to set up a time for a phone interview.