Dear writers: It’s finally time to join Twitter. Here’s how to get started.

When Washington, D.C., librarian and book reviewer Phil Shapiro began to follow Southern California elementary school superintendent John Puglisi on the social media site Twitter, he never dreamed Puglisi would fly him across the country to teach at a professional development conference.

“I tweet about my musical interests, and he saw that we’re both educators, both progressive, and both musicians,” Shapiro explains. “I saw that he’s an amazing person. He brings his guitar to work and asks students to compose songs with him on matters that are important to their lives. I wouldn’t have met him if it weren’t for Twitter.”