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