Article: The Writer and the Forum

In this article SFFWorld staff member Shellie Horst examines the relationship between Forums and writers, providing answers to the thorny question – ” Are Forums important to the writer?”

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‘How do I find a publisher?’

After ‘Where do I get an agent?’, it’s one of the most frequently asked questions by those looking to find a home for their work. If you’re a writer sometimes placing that collection of words is just as hard as getting to the end of your story. If you’re starting out on that path, the problem quite often seems insurmountable. But so many talented emerging writers miss the opportunities already available to them.

You Are Here, SFFWorld’s latest anthology, closed for submissions at the end of September, with over 80 submissions – that’s substantially less than the bigger markets, and anyone who submitted will see their story read by some of the forum’s, and, (dare I brag on behalf of SFFWorld?) the industry’s most respected reviewers.

What better way to learn something than doing it?

It is just one opportunity awarded to the members of the SFFWorld forum, the opportunity to have work critiqued and gain much-craved feedback also exists. There’s little money in the venture. Why then would people give their time to slog through slush piles, curate and edit these publications? Nila White, who has been responsible for bringing about several of the SFFWorld anthologies, is often asked why she donates her time:

“I started doing it because I thought so many writers who frequent these boards needed an audience. Or rather, I thought there was an audience for the stories we were sharing with and I felt I had to go find it. So, I did. Also, I wanted to learn more about self-publishing. What better way to learn something than doing it?”

-N. E. White, SFFWorld Anthology Editor.

SFFWorld isn’t the only one offering the proverbial leg up the ladder, either. Publishers such as Tor.com, Angry Robot and Solaris have all over the past year opened their submissions desk to would-be authors. Forum SFFChronicles.com has seen the launch of small presses. Of the small presses, Tickety Boo Press, and more recently Woodbridge Press, used the talent pool there to add to the recently published Explorations: Through the Wormhole.

It’s no bad thing to get your name in amongst some bestsellers.

Of course, any writer who has done their research will be aware of the warnings to stay away from new presses until they are established, and that can put off many from sending in their work to these enterprises. So I asked a few of the contributing authors why they chose to answer the sub call for Woodbridge Press’s Explorations: Through the Wormhole:

“I’d submitted something to the previous anthology, The Haunting of Lake Manor Hotel, and been impressed with the way Nathan (the big cheese of Woodbridge Press) handled things. The turn-around was quick, communication was good, and he’s proactive when it comes to marketing. Not to mention there was a very good lineup of authors, and it’s no bad thing to get your name in amongst some bestsellers.”
–Thaddeus White. (The Hero of Hornska series)

Forums aren’t home just to the newbies in the industry either. There are a whole range of ability levels, those with and without agents, as well as those who write full time.

There’s always ‘the fly-by-night’:  the one who pops up on a thread to promote their book and is never seen again. If a forum is lucky they might stick around to gain the number of posts required to post their “Buy My Book!” request. Let’s face it – how many of us are willing to part with our cash for something we just don’t know is any good?  Forums add a level of authenticity for writers, book discussion threads help spread the word of a new author or book, and anthologies offer a safe middle ground making use of the audience.  Anthologies need established authors to add reach, as well as new vices to introduce to their readers, and forums are an excellent place to find both. This is something of which Stephen Palmer, an author who is both well-established and supportive of new writers, was aware when he was approached by Woodbridge Press:

“I was asked by Nathan (who is a keen fan of my novels) to submit a story. For a while I struggled, through sheer lack of time and complications in my private life, but I managed to submit a story for him in the end, albeit very close to the deadline. In the intervening time he mentioned to me that he had not had any really far-future tales, so that suited what I had in mind – something strange and enigmatic set way, way off in the future…”
-Stephen Palmer (Memory Seed, Glass, Beautiful Intelligence)

A challenge to try something different.

With authors often getting snarled in a project, doing something different or having a target is helpful. Many see these smaller presses as simply another opportunity. In some cases like that of Rosie Oliver, it was a chance to stretch their creativity:

“I was having a break from writing my C.A.T. (a robo-cat) novel to refresh ‘the creative juices’ when the opportunity came up. It gave me a challenge to try something different and turned into something very interesting.”
-Rosie Oliver (C.A.T Series, Aphrodite Terra: Stories about Venus)

Find your forum.

With many forums offering workshops and critique threads, the potential for growth is sat there waiting to put to use. Many of the well-established writers pay it forward through the forums.

Jo Zebedee, found not just in SFFWorld’s pages but many other Forums too, is a stalwart fan of forum support:

“SFFChronicles have been my safe haven throughout writing. From early crits, to forming a writing group, to meeting my first publisher, my editors, to starting to blog, they have opened so many doors.

But it’s not just the Chronicles. Other sites have been awesome – SFFWorld, whose front page I browse at most days, but am in the discussion forum less frequently, BestFantasyBooks, who I enjoy the book chat, and not so much writing chat, with. I’ve made friends on them all – and that’s before I even get started on Facebook groups!

What I would say is that each forum and group has its own culture and feel. Find ones you fit well with. For me, the Chronicles are my online home. They are the one I’m on and off several times a day.”

-Jo Zebedee (The Inheritance Trilogy, Inish Carraig.)

Writing’s a lonely pastime, who else would opt to lock themselves away from society with only their imagination for company?  Forums, as well as being a lesser menace to the concentration/productivity than Twitter, provide a social network of support beyond that of writing. Many forums are run not for profit but for the love of the genre. There’s no outlay, no one is trying to sign you up to anything. As well as the hidden opportunities, new writers can build friendships, hone their abilities and have the chance not only to write for an audience, but submit to outlets with reduced competition for one of those coveted publication slots.

“No one makes this journey alone. Without the help over the years of Chronicles SFF site, I would not be published. It’s a wonderful site with a really good group of people.”

-P. J Strebor (The Hope Island Chronicles series.)

Those experienced in the industry don’t see forums as anything other than a positive thing for their writing careers, but that’s not the sole purpose they haunt such places. They find the time to contribute and share what they know to the benefit of everyone, while they are just geeking out.

 

“To me, coming to SFFWorld.com is like going down to the local cafe, except I get to interact with folks from all over the world and everyone is into the same stuff I like (i.e., fantasy and science fiction). But you are right that for some people, a forum like SFFWorld.com can be used to develop their online author platform, as well as a place to learn the craft of writing. Plus, we all get to interact with our writer-peers and learn stuff from them that would be hard to from other sources. And, for sure, I do all those things here, but those are not my focus. Really, I’m just here because I like hanging out here.

The reason I first came here was in search of folks to critique my work, so I guess that SFFWorld.com has played a critical role in developing my skills as a writer.”

-Nila White, Editor, Author & SFFWorld Contributor.

In short, forums like SFFWorld can be really helpful, not just for finding out what to read or discussing the latest episode of your favourite TV Show, but while you’re here you can discover new things too!

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 By Shellie Horst – SFFWorld.com © 2016

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