3 Ways to Make Yourself Quotable on Social Media
By Daniel L. Wick – Association & Media Publishing, Publications & Resources
Everyone loves a great quote that can summarize pages of paragraphs in just a line or two, which is perfect for today’s bite-size posts shared on social media sites. Many quotes are aphorisms, or epigrams, or have the qualities of an epigram.
Epigrams and aphorisms are both original thoughts that are usually concise and memorable; they’re brief, usually witty, occasionally profound observations on life, love, death, philosophy, religion, and virtually everything else. Here are some tips for crafting your own memorable quotes:
- Don’t be afraid to stand out. Have you ever liked or reposted a great quote shared by a friend? You may be circulating a meme, an idea that spreads from one individual to the next. It’s like a cliché on steroids when it goes viral. If you have your own thought, why not share it with your colleagues and friends? Many people believe that since they’re not Shakespeare, they have no business spreading their original pithy observations…but you may be surprised by the response.
- Repurpose conventional quotes. If you’re tired of conventional wisdom, put your own twist on that nugget of truth. People will instantly recognize the quote but have to pause to process its new meaning. A couple of examples: “Beauty is only sin deep,” and “You shouldn’t judge a cover by its book.”
- Ask yourself: “Does it feel right?” How do you know that you’ve come up with something that will provoke thought and delight? It’s one thing to succinctly pose a clever question that is deceptively profound; it’s another thing to confuse people with a poorly stated idea.
As any good writer would do, put yourself in the reader’s seat. After verifying the meaning and grammatical flow, read with a fresh point of view and ascertain whether or not it resonates with that something extra.
Of course, great ideas and great quotes don’t often reveal themselves on command; they usually spring forth on their own terms. My advice is to be open when a good idea presents itself.
What are some of your more memorable quotes on social media?
Daniel L. Wick is an international award-winning author of books, articles, and plays. He holds a Ph.D. in history from the University of California and has taught at the college level for more than 30 years. His latest book is An Epidemic of Epigrams or an Avalanche of Aphorisms