Price is one of the things I look for when buying something from the store. Quality, durability and functionality also play a big role in what I buy and why.
As a member of several online writing communities, I notice that I am more active in some than in others. If I were to buy them at Walmart, I’d have a value assessed to them so I knew which ones were worth my hard-earned cash.
One of my faves–and I won’t lie to make other networks feel good–is Agent Query. AQ has a vast array of writers. Some have very recently taken pen in hand, while others are seasoned veterans. My only disappointment in the AQ arena is that their juvenile lit groups are not as active as I would like them to be. I know, selfish, but there you have it.
Another great resource and community is the SCBWI. The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators obviously provides me with the one thing AQ does not–child centric conversation and commiseration.
Likewise for Verla Kay and the BlueBoards.
Then there’s twitter and Facebook. Both of which I fail at miserably. While I love, love, love the tight writing of twitter, I don’t get on there as much as I should or provide great insight like I could. Again, I’ve been limited in my contact over there and it is 100% my fault.
Facebook. Hmmm.
I used to participate in a very active group of NaNoBuddies on Live Journal, but then they changed some things and, unless I upgraded to a paid membership, I had to sit through annoying video ads EVERYTIME I switched pages. This saddens me to no end.
NaNoWriMo is my staple during the months of October, November and early December. I live there. I love there and I never want to leave. I’m sure my family is relieved when NaNoSeason is over. Obviously the downfall to this community is that it is filled with crazy wannabe writers who jump into the writing world feet first and fizzle out as the month progresses. Definitely not a long-term support. More like therapy for the insane!
And blogging. The love of my writing life. I could blog all day if it didn’t feel like such a time sucker. I am heartbroken when I don’t get to visit my fellow bloggers like I want to.
Writer’s Digest Community–the name speaks for itself. As an avid reader of the magazine for half my life, I can’t say enough about the integrity of its backer. However, as a whole, I have found that interaction is a bit slower and somewhat one-sided than some of the other sites I frequent. Though I must say my time on there has been well worth it in finding fellow writer and blogger, Elisa!
I won’t rate my social network groups, as I love them all for various reasons. However, the fact that I will be starting back to work (outside my house) full-time means that I will have to prioritize.
Price check on aisle three. How do you decide which communities to engage in? Why do you spend more time in some than in others? If you had to pick just one, could you do it, or would you find yourself cheating as time went on?
Words from the Woods 