Published by deborah.woehr on 19 Feb 2006 at 04:02 pm
Writer’s Forums vs. Blogs
I gave up on writing forums long before I started blogging. Melly’s Truman Capote and Fred’s 10 Things I’ve Learned Since Starting This Blog reminded me of why. The biggest reason I stopped going to these forums was the ego factor.
Some of these writers were way over the top when they had no real reason to be. I’m not referring to the egocentrics who have a published book or two under their belt, but the wannabes who took their frustrations out on those who succeeded. Although it’s human nature to feel jealous, it’s what you do with your emotions that defines you in the eyes of your colleagues.
In the five years I spent on various forums, I’ve come to the conclusion that writing forums can be a life-sucking waste of time. They certainly won’t help you reach your prospective readers.
Blogging, on the other hand, has proven to be very beneficial. Not only does it help me warm up for my writing, but it has been a great networking tool. Like Fred, I’ve met some great people through blogging. The only downside I’ve experienced is the time that evaporates while I’m posting and/or reading the blogs on my list.
I don’t mind this because I’m reading posts that make me think and whose writing makes me re-evaluate my own writing. I’ve discovered opportunities that I never would have thought of while lurking in a writer’s forum. Need I say more?
Benjamin Solah on 19 Feb 2006 at 8:06 pm #
I’m a forum junkie. I frequent three main ones, plus I just set up a new one myself. Sometimes they can suck your time away, but I have learnt a bit and made some friends.
Though, blogging is also awesome.
Lee Pletzers on 20 Feb 2006 at 12:47 am #
I think blogging is far better than forums.
I’ve had a couple of writing forums in the past and found them to be too time consuming especially when I was the owner.
The only forum I have now is the review site where anyone post reviews of anything. Again, I am the only one posting there, but that’s cool.
Another thing, if you want to reply to a forum, you need to register and then confirm via email and the go back to the post and reply. It’s a hassle. Blogs are much better.
deborah.woehr on 20 Feb 2006 at 9:43 am #
My husband is a forum junkie, too, Ben. The auto forum he’s addicted to has something close to 500k members. Although he’s been participating for close to five years, he can’t post anything in the off-topic forum (without getting flamed) because he hasn’t earned the post count. Weird, huh?
He’s made three offline friends because of this forum. So, from his perspective, forums are great.
deborah.woehr on 20 Feb 2006 at 9:46 am #
I tried to implement a forum on The Writers Buzz, after I got the blog set up. Maybe a handful went on their and posted something. After four months, the only posters were spammers.
Registering can be a hassle, especially if you want to post something right away.
fredcq on 20 Feb 2006 at 11:21 am #
I’m not much into forums anymore either. I liked them for a while but I tired of them quickly. There are always those people around who are the “know it alls” who tell everyone what to do an harrass the newbies.
Blogging is much better for me. It does eat away the time but I still am much more focused on writing that ever.
deborah.woehr on 20 Feb 2006 at 12:42 pm #
I hear you, Fred. I’ve found that I can gain much better insight and information from writers who blog.
Karen Lee Field on 20 Feb 2006 at 2:06 pm #
I’m the owner of a blog and a forum. Both are good in their own way, yet I find the forum to be frustrating at times. I think this is mainly due to the constant repeating of the same old questions and discussions. It drives me crazy at times, but I’m learning to just move on and leave the responses to people who WANT to discuss the topic…again.
I’ve pretty much moved into the background. I watch for trouble makers and spam, and fix these things. At the moment, this is working for me. However, if I find myself with a publishing contract…I think I’d put an end to the forum, because I will want the time I spend there for writing. I’m not sure yet, we’ll see what happens *when* (not if) the time comes.
deborah.woehr on 20 Feb 2006 at 8:16 pm #
I noticed the same thing about forums, too. The constant rehashing of the same discussions. I used to be a moderator for forum unrelated to writing. Half the time was spent getting people to follow the directions (i.e., using the search tool to find answers to questions about a topic or posting in the correct forum). The other half was spent on the troublemakers. The latter didn’t cause nearly as much frustration as the former.
I’m not sure yet, we’ll see what happens *when* (not if) the time comes.
You have the right attitude, Karen.
I’m rooting for you!
pat kirby on 21 Feb 2006 at 9:22 am #
I’ve never participated much in forums, though I’ll lurk if it’s an option. I much prefer blogs because there is less topical drift and…if I want to really dig into an issue, I can “take it to my own blog.”
The few writing related forums where I’ve lurked seem to be populated by tiresome know-it-alls. Or as mentioned, rehash the same stupid topic over and over. Nowadays, I only lurk at the forums at my fave online comic (strips/serials).
Also, the language skills of people at forums are often deplorable. Much more of the “no capital letters; no punctuation” crowd. Ugh.
deborah.woehr on 21 Feb 2006 at 9:31 am #
Ah, the language skills of some of those posters. It seems as though they’ve mistaken forums for chatrooms.