| Are they really free? Are they actually
| |
| | variety of thing that would take days of
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| helpful?
| |
| | scanning newspapers, magazines and the
|
|
| |
| | fabulous opportunity of getting another
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| Why do writers subscribe to these lists?
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| | take from likeminded people around the
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|
| |
| | world."
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| Why do people start lists for writers?
| |
| |
|
|
| |
| | "I'm a debut historical romance author,
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| While there's no definite answers to any
| |
| | or at least I was when I joined the
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| of those questions, I can share some
| |
| | Tobeez email loop," says Cheré Coen,
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| opinions of other writers, who have
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| | Online features editor for The Advocate
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| participated in discussion lists, and
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| | Online. "Tobeez stands for To Be
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| links to websites with more information
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| | Published. The group began when a few
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| so you can make your own decision!
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| | newly published romance authors began
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|
| |
| | chatting online and realized there were
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| First let's start with the basics. An
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| | many things new authors needed to know
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| email discussion list is not the same as
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| | and that other new authors could benefit
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| an ezine, an email newsletter or an
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| | from such a network. This list has been
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| announcement list.
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| | my saving grace. I have learned so many
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|
| |
| | things that only come from going to
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| A discussion list is different because it
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| | conferences, chapter meetings of the
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| allows you as a subscriber to post your
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| | Romance Writers of America (which I'm a
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| own messages, as well as read and reply
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| | member) and from doing a lot of reading
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| to messages from other subscribers. The
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| | in industry magazines, none of which I
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| ability to interact with other people is
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| | have much time or money for. We exchange
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| the defining feature of email discussion
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| | information about promotions,
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| lists.
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| | booksignings, contract negotiations,
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|
| |
| | agents, editors, press kits, personal
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| Many such lists exist - some with as few
| |
| | fears and good reviews, among much more.
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| as 5 subscribers and others with more
| |
| | The list contains members from Australia,
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| than 500 subscribers. The number of posts
| |
| | New Zealand, Canada and most of the
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| each day varies just as much depending
| |
| | United States, and because of this we are
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| upon the list.
| |
| | also able to share information on
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|
| |
| | research for upcoming novels."
|
| For example, Childrens-Writers List which
| |
| |
|
| is dedicated to the discussion of writing
| |
| | "I'm subscribed to a half dozen lists
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| (and illustrating) for children,
| |
| | related to books, writing, and
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| including such topics as creativity, work
| |
| | publishing,'' says Peggy Tibbetts, Author
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| styles and techniques, marketing and
| |
| | of Carly's Ghost and Rumors of War.
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| promotion, dealing with rejection, etc. -
| |
| | "Booklocker's online promotion kit and
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| has more than 500 members and had more
| |
| | "Secrets of Our Success" both recommend
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| than 1,200 postings last month.
| |
| | discussion lists as a good way to promote
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|
| |
| | online to a broad audience. What I've
|
| While the Romance Writers Support Group,
| |
| | found to be rather curious in reality is
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| which was created to discuss romance
| |
| | that there is a surprisng number of list
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| writing and offer encouragement and
| |
| | subscribers who deeply resent promotional
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| advice to romance writers, had less than
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| | posts by other subscribers, some to the
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| 100 messages posted between its 34
| |
| | point of calling them spam. As a result
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| members in the year 2000.
| |
| | lots of posts are generated arguing and
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|
| |
| | complaining about the propriety of
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| This is one of the reasons that most
| |
| | promotional posts. In the end, what's
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| email discussion list hosts offer
| |
| | more aggravating, deleting one promo post
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| subscribers the option to receive
| |
| | that doesn't interest you or eight to ten
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| individual emails or a daily digest of
| |
| | posts bickering over it? Seems like a no
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| all messages. Some hosts also allow
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| | brainer to me. I don't understand why
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| subscribers to read the list only on the
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| | someone would subscribe to a list and
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| web (by logging into the list archives at
| |
| | then complain about promo content related
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| the host site, subscribers can choose how
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| | to the subject matter. In my mind, part
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| often they read the postings).
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| | of the purpose of subscribing is to learn
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|
| |
| | what's new and what others are doing
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| You never know what you may learn from
| |
| | online--a means of sharing. If that
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| others, who share your interests and
| |
| | involves promo posts, then so be it.
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| goals. By communicating with other
| |
| | Perhaps it's incumbent on the list
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| writers via discussion lists, you can
| |
| | moderators to clarify for their
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| potentially find support, advice, ideas
| |
| | subscribers whether promo posts are
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| and new resources.
| |
| | acceptable. Obviously everyone agrees
|
|
| |
| | that a promo post about a new weight loss
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| Just as list size and posting frequency
| |
| | program on a publish list is
|
| varies, the content and quality of
| |
| | inappropriate. But as for promo posts
|
| messages are equally diverse depending
| |
| | related to the list topic, there's
|
| upon the other participants and list
| |
| | currently a good deal of ambiguity, even
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| owners. But the only way you'll find out
| |
| | controversy."
|
| if discussion lists can be beneficial to
| |
| |
|
| you, is by giving them a shot! You have
| |
| | "I began an "Intranet" site rather than a
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| nothing to lose - most are free! And
| |
| | listserv, as I felt that this would
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| you're usually not required to post
| |
| | enable people to chime in on their own
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| messages or respond to others' messages,
| |
| | accord, rather than filling an inbox ..."
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| if you choose not to.
| |
| | says Julie Selman, Seattle Writergrrl,
|
|
| |
| | Webgrrl, Techwr-L'er, Woman of the
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| You can just sign up, read postings at
| |
| | Woods... "My husband is an active member
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| your leisure and then decide whether you
| |
| | of a listserv that has been a real
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| want to contribute or cancel your
| |
| | community for him for years. These people
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| subscription!
| |
| | share the same passion, and they are
|
|
| |
| | very, very involved. They will be meeting
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| Selecting a discussion list that will
| |
| | in the spring for the first time at a
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| deliver what you want is obviously a
| |
| | conference that they are setting up. I
|
| subjective process. However, you may want
| |
| | know that he and I will be looking
|
| to read some opinions of other writers,
| |
| | forward to it. Drawbacks that we have
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| who have participated in various lists.
| |
| | both seen is that we feel guilty if we
|
|
| |
| | have not read all of the listserv -- and
|
| So why do writers subscribe to discussion
| |
| | we both subscribe to listservs in digest
|
| lists?
| |
| | form. Cross postings do happen,
|
|
| |
| | especially if you belong to several
|
| "Subscribing to a writers list is the
| |
| | listservs for the same community.
|
| same as shopping for new shoes,'' says
| |
| | Managing them is more time than either of
|
| "Shydove." "It takes trial and error, but
| |
| | us usually have. People on some of the
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| then you find the right group, the
| |
| | lists are not aware of the "etiquette" of
|
| 'write' answers of which you can pick and
| |
| | cut and paste -- or don't know how to
|
| choose at will."
| |
| | sign up or get off, or how the
|
|
| |
| | communication works -- or about propriety
|
| "I chose a diverse group of writers in A
| |
| | ... some things you just don't post to an
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| Writing Parent as I am a stay at home
| |
| | entire list! Lurkers are an issue -- how
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| grandmother.'' Shydove added. "New to
| |
| | do you know what you are posting won't
|
| online writing, and still seeking my muse
| |
| | get back at you in some way? Who is
|
| and genre, there are varied questions I
| |
| | listening, anyway? On the more positive
|
| ask that someone is ready to answer. They
| |
| | side, it is a constant source for
|
| have been more than willing to share
| |
| | information and contacts in areas that
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| their experience with me.''
| |
| | interest us. They can be deleted, and
|
|
| |
| | often the archives can be visited on some
|
| "I generally subscribe because I want to
| |
| | associated web site. Like the early days
|
| be kept in touch but will not remember to
| |
| | of bulletin boards, I would imagine that
|
| visit as a favourite as mine are so
| |
| | these lists will evolve, and some of the
|
| many,'' says Jennifer Francis, who is
| |
| | issues will "fall away."© Danielle
|
| currently subscribed to a few lists. "I
| |
| | Hollister (2004) is the Publisher of the
|
| am a member of two or three good ones
| |
| | Free Ezine for Writers featuring news,
|
| covering public relations, sponsorship
| |
| | reviews, and continuously updated links
|
| and sometimes the others present
| |
| | to the best resources for writers online
|
| interesting articles and/or links. But
| |
| | like - freelancing & jobs, markets &
|
| convenience is the main issue for me to
| |
| | publishers, literary agents, classes &
|
| be kept in touch. I think it is an
| |
| | contests, and more...
|
| efficient way of being informed of a
| |
| |
|
