Jul 21, 2008 06:29 PM
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All a writer needs to do is type "Writing" into a search engine to find page
upon page of sites dedicated to the craft. With so many sites to choose from,
which site proves the best? Writingforums.com seems to be the most popular of
the bunch, but does that truly mean it's going to be the best? This all depends
entirely on what the writer hopes to achieve, of course. Writingforums boasts a
vibrantly active community of writers, readers, editors, and wannabes. The
navigation is simple, separating topics into sections for critique, discussion,
and resource. However, it's the critique section that shows the most promise to
the new member - critiques are generally well thought out and helpful, mixing
advice from seasoned professionals as well as writer's of all skill levels.
If a
writer needs only an outlet for his creativity, or a forum that will help see
faults otherwise indiscernible to the writer's own eye, then Writingforums seems
the ideal candidate among the plethora of others. Unfortunately, the critique
section is about the only saving grace for Writingforums. General
writing-related topics are often filled with condescension and lambasting. A
writer with an opinion contrary to the veteran community is widely discouraged,
much so that moderators are extremely lenient on older members whom clearly have
no restraints on conduct and disrespect. Even the moderators get involved in
heated arguments from time to time, resorting to ad hominem attacks which
clearly comprise their role as moderator. Moderators choose to take the position
of the more seasoned members when settling a debate, and rarely do they try to
curb the slew of lewd insults, profanity and abuse from the older members. In
fact, there's little the moderators actually do on the forum besides abuse their
misused power. Writingforums is an egocentric power trip for those that often
feel the impact of their rant-fused blogs turning sour on them.
They starve for
a new outlet for their repressed frustration, often at the expense of newer,
younger writers. Too often a young writer is attacked by a seasoned professional
and discouraged from ever posting again. Writingforums is without a doubt, a
private club, the equivalent of an elite prep school clique reserved only for
members who endure a vicious hazing period that doesn't seem to fall short on
humiliation.
If you're just looking for a place to workshop, then you would do
worse than choose Writingforums. If however, you're looking for a medium for
intelligent discussion and Q&A, Writingforums may very well convince you
that the literary community is filled to the brim with pompous snobs.
