Twitter / @fiftyshadesUK

I’m a big fan of Twitter chats. They can be really informative, help you find interesting people to follow and can go a long way to creating a sense of community.

Twitter Q&As on the other hand? Well, I try to avoid those as much as possible, not so much as a participant but as a social media manager. Twitter Q&A’s can be unpredictable and hard to keep on track. Once a conversation is started, it’s difficult to rein it in. Just ask the team at JP Morgan.

When I heard about Monday night’s Q&A with Fifty Shades of Grey author EL James, I couldn’t help but chuckle. Who on earth thought that a Q&A with the author of a series of controversial books would be a good idea?

The PR team behind EL James, apparently.

Mon 29 Jun at 6pm UK time, @E_L_James will be doing a live chat with @TwitterBooks. Use #AskELJames to ask a question pic.twitter.com/Ixu9fPo31v

fiftyshadesUK (@fiftyshadesUK) June 23, 2015

 

The session got off to a rocky start:

 

At 6pm today we will be asking ELJames why she continues to romanticise #Domesticabuse on her hashtag #AskELJames pls feel free to join in — 50 shades of abuse (@50shadesisabuse) June 29, 2015

Sweet mecy, there’s so much I want to #AskELJames Most start with “why” and end with the implacable howling of the damned.

Dan Olson (@FoldableHuman) June 29, 2015

#AskELJames What’s your favourite shade out of the 50? Is there a chance that more shades will be added? — Jack Howard (@JackHoward) June 29, 2015

There were plenty of questions about Stephanie Meyer

Will you be rewriting the book from Stephenie Meyer’s point of view next time? #AskELJames

Skeptical Dinosaur (@skepticosaurus) June 29, 2015

#AskELJames What’s the minimum distance you have to stay away from Stephenie Meyer at all times? Kayleigh Anne (@Ceilidhann) June 29, 2015

Did you see the abusive relationship of Bella and Edward and think “hmm needs more abuse” #AskELJames

R_chelCh_rlt_nD_iley (@RachelCDailey) June 29, 2015

And there were questions about EL’s writing style:

 

Which do you hate more, women or the English language? #AskELJames Ian Robinson (@eyeswideshut75) June 29, 2015

#AskELJames No question: Just, as a fellow author, thank you for proving to me that you can get anything published, no matter how awful.

Cersei the Fair (@NiceQueenCersei) June 29, 2015

#AskELJames Did you ever consider using a thesaurus, or did that sound too much like hard work? Amy (@scifisunsets) June 29, 2015

I’ve just been sick and some alphabetti spaghetti landed on a blank piece of paper, could I have your publisher’s email address? #AskELJames

Jake Lambert (@LittleLostLad) June 29, 2015

The majority of the tweets were about the relationship between the characters in the books:

 

#AskELJames I need advice on making a BIG romantic gesture. Should I put a GPS tracker in her phone and make threats if she tries to leave? Liam Dryden (@LiamDrydenEtc) June 29, 2015

Is stalking ok as long as I use a private jet to get there? #AskELJames

Spanky McDutcherson (@thatdutchperson) June 29, 2015

#AskELJames Are you aware that using alcohol and manipulation to gain consent is incredibly abusive and negates any consent given? 50 Shades is abuse (@50shadesabuse) June 29, 2015

#AskELJames Do all these negative tweets sent to you seem abusive to you? I think it’s romantic enough to be turned into a novel!

Stephan Krosecz (@Krosecz) June 29, 2015

#AskELJames what’s it like telling millions of women it’s okay to be in an abusive relationship as long as he’s rich. Asking for a friend. matt (@reginaIdkray) June 29, 2015

I’m not sure who’s bright idea the Q&A was, but I think this summed up the experience pretty well:

The EL James PR team right about now. #AskELJames pic.twitter.com/bZ3jyIdPUG

Deb Bailey (@DebBC) June 29, 2015

The next time you’re thinking of having a Q&A on Twitter, remember the hilarity that was #AskELJames.