| 7 months ago :: Sep 03, 2009 - 1:06AM #1 | |
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I am new to this website, only in the sense that I have just recently started poking around on it. I joined the better part of a year ago, but life intervened so I procrastinated really checking it out. While looking through the postings, they all seem to be very old. Does anyone really use this site? Does anyone of importance ever even look at it? Looking through the forums, the most recent postings are months old, often six months or more. I cannot escape the impression I get that this is simply a lonely heart society for aspiring, but failed, writers. "Where and how to sell what you write." is the sub-title below the logo. But "where: is that information and "how" do I access it? I am getting the impression that I am interacting - or, more accurately, failing to interact with people who have been dead for the better part of a year. Somebody, please explain. Carl |
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| 7 months ago :: Sep 03, 2009 - 5:23PM #2 | |
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Hi Carl, Dont' get frustrated and don't give up on the site. I think this community is mixed - some aspiring writers, some published writers. People get busy, and there are lots of online options out there. Personally, I check in about once a week. As a published writer, I try to post forum messages or blog posts that offer some resources to fellow writers on the site. If you're looking for in-depth information on "how and where to sell" I suggest checking out the main portion of Writers Market, rather than just the community portion. For example, on the main dashboard when you log in, there are categories for different genres. Within those, there are articles, Q&As and Expert Advice sections with information on a variety of topics. There is also a section with links to some of the latest industry news. These are all helpful for those just getting started. And of course, you have the market listings. You might also consider checking out www.mediabistro.com. It has a significantly more expensive annual fee, but it offers more in-depth articles on how to pitch specific magazines and agents, as well as more comprehensive industry news. Unless you live in New York, there isn't really much networking opportunity on that particular site.
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| 7 months ago :: Sep 12, 2009 - 6:15PM #3 | |
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I had joined Writers Market a couple of years ago, but let my membership lapse for a time. I just rejoined yesterday and was pleased to see this 'community' starting. I set out to join all the groups that interested me. I fixed up my profile, added a picture and then, tired, I went to bed. Got back up this morning, looking forward to some interaction, but I too noticed that both on the Forum and in the Groups I joined, posting was minimal at best. What's up? Writers who don't write? It's like photographers who don't photograph. Or musicians who don't play ... or ... or Writing is a lonely business, so coming here to see yet more empty halls ... I sincerely hope it's only the summer lull and that things pick up! I'm UBER busy with sites on the go, writing assignments, studies, family responsibilities, etc ... but would love to start interacting here if things pick up. |
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| 6 months ago :: Sep 17, 2009 - 8:56PM #4 | |
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Yeah, I'm with you Nina, I wish everyone was a little more active. |
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| 6 months ago :: Sep 17, 2009 - 9:56PM #5 | |
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My thoughts were similar when I joined Writersmarket.com in December. I was quite dissapointed actually when most posts were months old and when you posted something for advice or critique it would take weeks or months to get a response. I'll admit that i'm the worst procrastinator of the bunch, even when it comes to my own writing. Sometimes I need some inspiration, motivation, and someone to bounce ideas with. Sometimes that includes a good kick in the pants to get me to write. For the past four years of college i've taken at least one writing class each semester because that forced me to write all the time. I'm now taking over as moderator of the Fantasy Writing group in hope that will "force" me to be more active here. I really want to share what i'm learning at BSU, get some advice myself, and share ideas and my writing, because after all even though you are all writers you are also my audience and I need to know what you all think and I hope that you'll all be as mean as Simon Cowel. If I suck I want to know that I do so I can be better. In the mean time as the saying goes we "have to be the change we hope to see..." in this forum. i'll start by making a commitment to all of you to post more and be more active here. |
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| 6 months ago :: Sep 19, 2009 - 10:14PM #6 | |
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Speaking of procrastination... I do it. I think everybody does. When I'm writing, the only times I really procrastinate are:
I don't have the discipline or desire to make a schedule or set daily goals for my writing... like 5,000 words a day every day from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. I write when I'm inspired and/or motivated to write, and don't write when I don't want to. My writing is almost always better when I'm inspired and timetables have yet to inspire me! So work like the dickens when you feel like it, and chill when you need a break. That whole guilt thing will just give you ulcers! ;-D |
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