Whats The Deal With Discussion Lists for Writers? (Part Two)

What Are the Advantages and/or Drawbacks of Subscribing to Discussion Lists?

"I learn a lot about publishing houses, editors, etc., and we're like one big happy family," says Dotti Enderle, who belongs to several lists - the biggest being the Children's Writers List.

"Unfortunately, because we do spend a lot of time with banter, it takes away from my writing time. But I couldn't live without this list. If anyone has any type of publishing question, someone there can answer it. The members are quick to share notes from conferences. We cheer when someone gets published, and we console when someone gets that really tough rejection. If I could only be on one email list, there's no doubt which one I'd choose."

"Anyway, I'm no longer a debut author but I refuse to give up my list," Coen says. "It's been the best thing to happen to me fiction career-wise besides being published. And to top it all off, these women are the most supportive people I have ever been around, and that's not easy to say among fellow writers. Other lists that I have belonged to you had a lot of back-stabbing, jealousy-type issues, but not here. On some of my lowest days, my Tobeez buddies have really picked me up. I've made some of the best friends through this group of remarkable women."

"What I've found to be rather curious in reality is that there is a surprisng number of list subscribers who deeply resent promotional posts by other subscribers, some to the point of calling them spam," Tibbetts says. "As a result lots of posts are generated arguing and complaining about the propriety of promotional posts. In the end, what's more aggravating, deleting one promo post that doesn't interest you or eight to ten posts bickering over it? Seems like a no brainer to me. I don't understand why someone would subscribe to a list and then complain about promo content related to the subject matter. In my mind, part of the purpose of subscribing is to learn what's new and what others are doing online--a means of sharing. If that involves promo posts, then so be it. Perhaps it's incumbent on the list moderators to clarify for their subscribers whether promo posts are acceptable. Obviously everyone agrees that a promo post about a new weight loss program on a publish list is inappropriate. But as for promo posts related to the list topic, there's currently a good deal of ambiguity, even controversy."

"I primarily write nonfiction and historical fiction for young adults and only occasionally write mysteries, but I've been a member of The Short Mystery Fiction Society email list for nearly two years," says Tabatha Yeatts, who is a published author. "Not only do I enjoy hearing about great new mysteries, I feel the tips I receive from the list help my writing, as well as giving me ideas. I particularly like this list because it has a warm, supportive feel and is generally able to stay on-topic without seeming like it's "all business." My experience with other writing lists has shown me that I have trouble with a large amount of messages, that ones that are continually off-topic -- although they may be interesting -- are not what I'm looking for, and that jealousy can ruin a list. The Wordweave Creative Writing Workshops are also very supportive and helpful."

"I have had varied experiences on lists. Some are great, vibrant communities with committed people who do lots of great work and have tons of good advice," says Gwendolynn Gawlick, who provides Publicity Services. "When I join a list I look for people who will be able to contribute to my knowledge as well as look for help that I can provide. I've been on one or two lists that I unsubscribed because the other list members would continually ask inane questions without doing any of the work or research themselves. Then, they would flame each other and spend a week complaining about some imagined slight. That's a waste of time for EVERYONE. I've been able to connect with some great people on lists, and, as an aside, HIGHLY recommend getting the digest version wherever possible! :)"

"I have joined a few lists to exchange experience and learn from others," says Teresa Cottam, a writer from the UK. "One of the problems for me is people taking umbrage at what you write without understanding what you mean (I'm from the UK so maybe this is a cultural thing). But I think it can be offputting when someone starts accusing you of all sorts of things you didn't say in a very hectic tone. I can hold my own in arguments, but some of my female friends have avoided Internet discussions because they don't like e-mail aggression."

"Another problem is that you often get hundreds of e-mails about subjects that you don't have any interest in," Cottam says. "But I still have to sift and delete and then I worry I'm missing something so I end up reading a bit... it's a real waste of time. I also have to adapt myself to the lists, because a lot of them are US-based and circumstances etc are very different in the UK/Europe. Sometimes you feel a little isolated, because although you are on the Internet and it is supposed to be a worldwide experience, we are expected to adapt ourselves to the US experience. This makes a lot of non-US participants believe that the US and US writers are fairly parochial. US lists don't talk much about life etc outside the US and sometimes I don't really understand everything that is said because it is something that depends on an understanding of US things."

"On the positive side though I have learnt a lot from US lists simply because people do things differently and the writing/editing experience is somewhat different," Cottam added. "For example, in the UK a lot of the publishing industry looks down their noses at you when they find out you work in technical publishing - it's been really great to find people who are making money out of it and are proud! I feel as though I'm part of a wider community of technical editors/writers. I'm now trying to persuade my boss to send me on one of these conferences in the US that all the lists talk about. Well, I can but dream."

© Danielle Hollister (2004) is the Publisher of the Free Ezine for Writers featuring news, reviews, and continuously updated links to the best resources for writers online like - freelancing & jobs, markets & publishers, literary agents, classes & contests, and more... Read it online at - http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art157.asp

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Google News Updated : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:08:02 GMT Fed may extend Wall Street lending - Reuters ABC News Fed may extend Wall Street lending Reuters - 2 hours ago By Patrick Rucker ARLINGTON, Virginia (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Tuesday the US central bank may keep an emergency lending facility for big Wall Street firms open longer than it initially intended, a signal the Fed is ... Bernanke says Fed may extend bank discount rate guardian.co.uk Bernanke Says Fed May Continue Lending Into Next Year (Update3) Bloomberg CNNMoney.com - Forbes - MarketWatch - Bizjournals.com all 1,278 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:34:02 GMT Bush pushes US-India nuclear deal - The Associated Press Washington Post Bush pushes US-India nuclear deal The Associated Press - 47 minutes ago TOYAKO, Japan (AP) - President Bush defended a languishing deal his administration negotiated to sell India nuclear fuel and technology, saying he reassured India's prime minister that the pact was important for both countries despite heavy opposition ... India Singh to Seek Vote Before IAEA Approval on Nuclear Accord Bloomberg UPDATE 1-India says relations with US in good shape Reuters UK Washington Post - Voice of America - AFP - Reuters India all 986 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:20:36 GMT Church divided: Women bishops an obstacle to unity, Vatican warns - guardian.co.uk Telegraph.co.uk Church divided: Women bishops an obstacle to unity, Vatican warns guardian.co.uk - 2 hours ago The Vatican yesterday criticised the Church of England's decision to press ahead with the ordination of women bishops, saying it presented a "further obstacle" for reconciliation between Canterbury and Rome. Vatican 'regrets' female bishops CNN International Vatican angry over women bishops BBC News The Associated Press - Reuters - New York Times - AFP all 2,159 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:02:59 GMT Alcoa beats the Street - CNNMoney.com HispanicBusiness.com Alcoa beats the Street CNNMoney.com - 49 minutes ago The aluminum producer and Dow component kicks off the latest round of earnings reports by saying that higher volume and prices offset rising commodity costs. UPDATE 3-Alcoa's profit lower but tops Street forecasts Reuters Alcoa's Second-Quarter Net Fell 24% Wall Street Journal MarketWatch - Bloomberg - Forbes - The Associated Press all 225 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:18:45 GMT War Powers Act needs fixing, bipartisan panel says - CNN William and Mary News War Powers Act needs fixing, bipartisan panel says CNN - 5 hours ago WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States needs a new law requiring that the president consult with Congress before going to war, a blue-ribbon panel led by two former secretaries of state said Tuesday. Video: Panel Calls for New War Powers Legislation AssociatedPress 'War Powers' Plan Faces Steep Odds Washington Post Reuters - The Associated Press - BBC News - ABC News all 601 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:10:08 GMT Cipro joins the 'black box' club - Los Angeles Times KSFY Cipro joins the 'black box' club Los Angeles Times - 1 hour ago The club may not be as elite as it once was -- or perhaps, in an ideal world, should be -- but the Food and Drug Administration has decided Cipro and its ilk deserve to be members. UPDATE 3-Antibiotics can harm tendons, US FDA warns Reuters FDA orders 'black box' label on some antibiotics CNN Wall Street Journal - The Associated Press - Atlanta Journal Constitution - KRDO all 552 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:12:01 GMT InBev seeks summary judgment in court - Reuters ABC News InBev seeks summary judgment in court Reuters - 33 minutes ago PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - InBev NV (INTB.BR: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) on Tuesday asked a court to make a summary judgment on its lawsuit over the possible removal of all 13 directors of Anheuser-Busch Cos Inc's (BUD. Anheuser-Busch sues InBev Bizjournals.com Busch sues InBev over takeover attempt guardian.co.uk New York Times - Wall Street Journal - MarketWatch - Bloomberg all 1,185 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:34:28 GMT RSS2Blog Display RSS Feeds on Your Website

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