I think one of the greatest tragedies of our time is that Oscar Wilde never had Twitter. I realise that makes me sound like the most millennial millennial that ever millennial-ed, but seriously! Take a look over his body of work (I reviewed The Picture of Dorian Gray this week, by the way), and you’ll quickly realise that his Twitter feed would have been absolute fire. The good news is that today’s writers do have Twitter, and I can tell you right now that they would have made him proud! Whether you’ve been Tweeting for years or you’re just now setting up your account, here’s my list of 10 brilliant writers to follow on Twitter.
Celeste Ng (@pronounced_ing)
If you haven’t seen copies of Little Fires Everywhere… well, everywhere, then you haven’t been paying attention. Celeste Ng’s success is well-deserved, of course, but her Twitter feed is criminally underrated. To start with, her handle is hilarious – she’s not afraid to make fun of herself and the world around her.
🐜 🐜 little 🐜🐜 ants 🐜🐜 every 🐜🐜 where 🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜
— Celeste Ng (@pronounced_ing) May 13, 2018
J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling)
I don’t care if you like Harry Potter or not, J.K. Rowling’s Twitter is a must-read. She comments on everything – from Harry Potter fan theories to politics to Eurovision – and uses the platform to make direct contact with her fans. She is a Twitter master!
Apparently the Australian commentator called @surieofficial‘s stage invader ‘some absolute cockhead’ and I don’t want to hear another word about Australia being in #Eurovision ever again.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 12, 2018
Amna Saleem (@AGlasgowGirl)
I have been following Amna Saleem for quite a while, and I love finding her Tweets in my timeline, like hilarious hidden treasures. She is a comedy writer from Scotland, and her insights on race, culture, and family life will make you weep (appreciatively).
One time I got lost inside my duvet when I tried to make my bed so no I’m not trying to establish an Islamic state weird guys in my dms
— Amna (@AGlasgowGirl) March 25, 2017
Jennifer Down (@jenniferdown)
I’m not going to lie, my fangirling over Jennifer Down is almost creepy. I got to meet her at the Sydney Writer’s Festival, and it was pretty much the highlight of my year. Of course, she’s a brilliant writer (buy her incredible books here and here!), but her Twitter feed is all killer, no filler. I have literally lol’d on pretty much a daily basis ever since I followed her, she is just so damn relateable. Do yourself a favour…
me trying to plough through emails as quickly as possible: just typed “Dear many thanks for your prompt response” straight into the subject line pic.twitter.com/nE9oTNibE7
— Jennifer Down (@jenniferdown) May 8, 2018
Kaz Cooke (@reallykazcooke)
Kaz Cooke wrote basically the only pregnancy book worth reading (Up The Duff), and her feed is full of cartoons, hot takes, and the best of Aussie baby-boomer real talk.
Damnit, nobody called me a sexual degenerate when I became an @nlagovau ambassador. When I go in next week I’m going to hitch up my spencer and show my caesarean scar to the tune of Ta Ra Ra Boomdeay. Solidarity! https://t.co/rniFpT9fvo
— Kaz Cooke (@reallykazcooke) May 11, 2018
Behrouz Boochani (@BehrouzBoochani)
You might not have expected to see someone like Behrouz Boochani on this list, but his might just be the most important account here. Behrouz Boochani is a novelist, documentary filmmaker, and journalist, currently detained on Manus Island by the Australian government for the “crime” of seeking asylum in Australia. His Tweets are eye-opening, terrifying, and motivating. It is the best inside account we have of what is being done to asylum seekers in our name…
Wish Royal Commission would investigate how immigration spent $10billion in Manus & Nauru. Big corruption under secrecy and exile, companies like IHMS need to be investigated.#Manus
— Behrouz Boochani (@BehrouzBoochani) April 23, 2018
Roxane Gay (@rgay)
Roxane Gay just goes from strength to strength – Bad Feminist, then Hunger, then Difficult Women… and her Twitter feed is full of the same brilliance. But, if I’m being really honest, the main reason I follow Roxane Gay is right there in her bio: “If you clap, I clap back”. She promises, and she delivers. Her clap-backs are epic! I have no idea where she finds the emotional wherewithal, but damn, I’m here for it!
No. I put my name behind what I say. https://t.co/0hWWP0LjFm
— roxane gay (@rgay) November 8, 2019
Rebecca Slater (@slatterbrain)
Rebecca Slater wrote my favourite piece of 2018, it is hands-down one of the best things I’ve ever read, and she is the one to fucking watch, I’m telling you! Get all over her Twitter right now, so you can say you followed her when…
on millennials, masturbation and getting ‘fucked over’ in the property market: my contribution to @TheLiftedBrow‘s Levity series up online now!https://t.co/bW3FY69iuQ
— Rebecca Slater (@slatterbrain) April 23, 2018
Maxine Beneba Clarke (@slamup)
Maxine Beneba Clarke’s Twitter feed covers just about everything of interest (to me): politics, race, haters, poetry, prose, literacy, journalism, real-talk, and – most of all – hella relateable comedy. Come for the mind that brought you The Hate Race, and stay for excerpts from conversations with children that will have you howling.
Don’t hate me cause I’m tweetable.
— Maxine Beneba Clarke (@slamup) May 14, 2018
Quinn Eades (@quinn_writes)
I first discovered Quinn when he wrote what I considered to be the definitive series of essays on the Australian marriage equality vote of 2017, and I’ve been following his work ever since. His poetry is unflinching and beautiful, his book is incredible, and his Twitter feed is everything queer, sarcastic, and fantastic.
HI. WAT DOING? HI I LOVE YOU. HI PAT ME. HI WAT DOING? HI HI HI HI HI HI HI HI WAT DOING????? pic.twitter.com/K5NJEkMmbe
— Quinn Eades (@quinn_writes) February 27, 2018
Honourable mentions, of course, to @LeeLinChin and @cher – not technically authors (yet), but two Tweeters that make the platform worthwhile, as far as I’m concerned. If either of them ever leave Twitter, I will follow them in protest. And, well, there’s me! @shereestrange
Underused word of the day: strumpet.
— Sheree Strange (@shereestrange) April 28, 2018
Do you have any other favourite writers on Twitter? Make sure to drop their handles below for me (or share the love over at KUWTP on Facebook!).
November 16, 2018 at 9:33 PM
It is really neat to follow writers one likes on Twitter. I do not read too many new books but I have my list of those I like. I have also found that some of the less famous ones will chat a bit. I am now thinking about my own list of favorites.
November 18, 2018 at 9:53 AM
It certainly is, Brian! And I do also love seeking out parody accounts of classic/dead authors, there’s some hilarious Austen and Bronte ones that always give me a giggle 😉
November 17, 2018 at 7:58 AM
I love how helpful and informative your posts are!
I also love that you are on this list, although I think you should have made a bigger writeup for yourself, truly.
You know how much I adore following J.K. Rowling and her trolling already. Maxine Baneba Clarke sounds interesting. Right now, my list is mostly comprised of Indie Authors.
November 18, 2018 at 9:56 AM
Maxine Beneba Clarke is AMAZING and definitely worth a follow! She’s very honest and frank (which, clearly, I adore), and she always gives me something to think about.
No idea what I would have written up about myself! My Twitter feed is a mishmash of book stuff and “fascinating” insights into millennial married life… oh, and wine 😂