They aren't so much online communities as pocket universes. They talk about things so inside that you have to be completely "in" to get it, and that's not always possible, especially if it requires a paid subscription...
Why am I here? That's a funny sort of question, as I'm here quite by accident, in both the literal and figurative sense of the word. I stumbled across this place due to an errant email I received sometime back in late May of 2022. I was into my fifth month of being off from work with full pay due to an accident in which one of my best friends had been killed. I was directly involved in this accident, and it fucked my head up pretty good. I still have triggers, but just don't know what they are, as this is new territory to me. That's why I don't put trigger warnings on my stories, I don't know what the fuck they are for me, how am I gonna know what they are for others?
To put things into perspective, I've always been a writer. I just never applied myself when it came to trying to publish my stories. All these stories I've been putting up are all stories I wrote years ago. The new ones are very few. Three that I can think of for sure, as well as my serial novels. I first put my stories up as a form of therapy. I was trying to get my shit together. I've always been the kid on the outside looking in. I've never fit into groups. I was never one of the cool kids. Just average when it came to sports. I wasn't the water-boy, but I wasn't the star quarterback either.
So I came here. And I got what I needed from the people here. I got whatever it was I was looking for, whether that's acceptance or whatever you want to call it. Recognition? I don't know. But I still hang out on the periphery. My 'Stack has grown in ways I never could have imagined. I have Followers and Subscribers, but somehow, still feel as if I'm living in obscurity. I have no community that I know of. I have a core group of Subscribers, but it's not that big. I've had to carve out a little niche of my own here, because not a lot of people write long stories. Sure, some are writing them, but mine are longer still. My latest, which is another old story, is currently 38,000 words, and will probably pick up another hundred or two before I finish putting it up. I guess you could say that I've gone from the Novella category to the "Serial" fiction category -- even if there is no such thing.
So I don't see all the cliché cliques, but I don't go out looking for them. I tend to hang out by myself. I'll offer opinions, and try to market myself like others do. Sometimes, I'll pick up four or five new readers, and some days I'll lose some. I like to celebrate my milestones like anyone else, but not too loudly. I do my readings, because I enjoy them--when I never thought I would. They're easy, because I don't have to stand in front of a room full of people, which is always nerve-wracking. I see lists of favoured writers and wonder why I'm not on it. I see and wonder why I'm not even noticed, and then put out a Note and have it go on and on, and get restacked and liked and still hang around, and then say...well someone's reading me.
I have never 'hung out' in Notes or any other social media platform. You're right, they are a bit like a high school clique and I never had many friends back then either. I write here because it makes me feel better. I need to vent my rage at the injustices of the world in a sane manner and this works for me. I don't care if anyone pays much attention. I have found a few that do and that is good enough for me.
Keep doing what you are doing and don't pay attention to the bullies of the social media world. If writing makes you feel good inside, call it a victory when you write something that makes you happy. If you find a few other like minded souls who also like what you write, so much the better. That can be your community. Forget the cool kids. They come and they go. Write for yourself and for those who appreciate your stories. I know that's why I keep coming back.
First I came here to read. And then, though I'm not really a "writer," I started writing, after a fashion. I have no delusions of grandeur, it's just for fun and to keep my brain from rusting away. I've "met" (as much as one can really meet anyone on line) some really neat people, and that's enough. You already said it: " ...a couple of online friends, and good acquaintances..." That's all anyone can ask for.
All that being said, I think Miguel S. runs a pretty friendly Substack page; the posters on "The Fiction Dealer" are a supportive bunch. In fact, I remember that you introduced me. 😎
I don't always agree with you (I'm an old hippie, after all), but I like you. I wish I could have hung out with you in high school... 😉
I've been busy but will always show up with a coffee for a good Kathrine rant blowing steam. I'm glad to be here in your commun...ohhhh, whatever you call this place! 😂😂
PS one of the reasons I avoid Notes, by the way. I'm sure it stunts my whatever "growth" which doesn't happen that much anyway, but if i wanted to be on FB besides checking on folks I care about and have no other way to, I'd be on FB.
Of course I restack etc, and comment under restacks, but that's a bit different
"Community" is a sacred word in the US :) there are several words like this, they tend to open many doors and worlds.
Once I was banned from FB, I guess because in DM to someone, I was actually asking about aparments and he had an ad for sale, I stupidly signed my real name, and he complained to FB?
I'm going under the same nickname almost everywhere since Internet came to exist. But FB started then having "only real name policy".
In short. Nothing helped until I wrote to them that my community wouldn't recognize me otherwise, that really made an impression, also I had to send them documents(sic!), like two forms of ID or something. then they let me in again and allowed me, under special circumstances of "the community", to continue as I am. By the end of this year-long saga I didn't even want to be there already.
All platforms have this stuff, to this or that degree.
Because all people do, when there are too many of them.
lol. well, most of the time they didn't answer me at all, so the fight itself took but a few days
It was a Covid year and it so happenned that I found myself alone in my other country. Quarantines were quite heavy. I did manage somehow to do miracluosly lots of things I came to do.
Oh, yeah… that was a weird time. Since I had a new-born to take care of, I didn’t have much time to feel lonely, or to feel anything else but weariness.😅 But I do understand you.
I feel ya... I was never one of the cool kids way back when and I don't feel cool now. I do however read a lot of people here and feel encouraged to continue to right. IF I comment and interact. I will never mute someone... I truly believe we can be better... And I look forward to your notes.... I'm just sayin...Write on dear one! Di
Online community?! Heavens to Betsy, what kind of socialite do you take me for? I'll be nice to you if you're nice to me, but that's about as far as it goes.
They aren't so much online communities as pocket universes. They talk about things so inside that you have to be completely "in" to get it, and that's not always possible, especially if it requires a paid subscription...
A writer's community is the target readers. I am not sure competing writers is the community needed.
Why am I here? That's a funny sort of question, as I'm here quite by accident, in both the literal and figurative sense of the word. I stumbled across this place due to an errant email I received sometime back in late May of 2022. I was into my fifth month of being off from work with full pay due to an accident in which one of my best friends had been killed. I was directly involved in this accident, and it fucked my head up pretty good. I still have triggers, but just don't know what they are, as this is new territory to me. That's why I don't put trigger warnings on my stories, I don't know what the fuck they are for me, how am I gonna know what they are for others?
To put things into perspective, I've always been a writer. I just never applied myself when it came to trying to publish my stories. All these stories I've been putting up are all stories I wrote years ago. The new ones are very few. Three that I can think of for sure, as well as my serial novels. I first put my stories up as a form of therapy. I was trying to get my shit together. I've always been the kid on the outside looking in. I've never fit into groups. I was never one of the cool kids. Just average when it came to sports. I wasn't the water-boy, but I wasn't the star quarterback either.
So I came here. And I got what I needed from the people here. I got whatever it was I was looking for, whether that's acceptance or whatever you want to call it. Recognition? I don't know. But I still hang out on the periphery. My 'Stack has grown in ways I never could have imagined. I have Followers and Subscribers, but somehow, still feel as if I'm living in obscurity. I have no community that I know of. I have a core group of Subscribers, but it's not that big. I've had to carve out a little niche of my own here, because not a lot of people write long stories. Sure, some are writing them, but mine are longer still. My latest, which is another old story, is currently 38,000 words, and will probably pick up another hundred or two before I finish putting it up. I guess you could say that I've gone from the Novella category to the "Serial" fiction category -- even if there is no such thing.
So I don't see all the cliché cliques, but I don't go out looking for them. I tend to hang out by myself. I'll offer opinions, and try to market myself like others do. Sometimes, I'll pick up four or five new readers, and some days I'll lose some. I like to celebrate my milestones like anyone else, but not too loudly. I do my readings, because I enjoy them--when I never thought I would. They're easy, because I don't have to stand in front of a room full of people, which is always nerve-wracking. I see lists of favoured writers and wonder why I'm not on it. I see and wonder why I'm not even noticed, and then put out a Note and have it go on and on, and get restacked and liked and still hang around, and then say...well someone's reading me.
All social media is the high school cafeteria, unfortunately
No community? and after RH snow and I adopted you as a honorary Texan?
That hurts. But it's cool. Texans have thick skins and we love you no matter what you do.
You're always welcome wherever I am.
Being an adopted Texan is above any online community. ❤️
I have never 'hung out' in Notes or any other social media platform. You're right, they are a bit like a high school clique and I never had many friends back then either. I write here because it makes me feel better. I need to vent my rage at the injustices of the world in a sane manner and this works for me. I don't care if anyone pays much attention. I have found a few that do and that is good enough for me.
Keep doing what you are doing and don't pay attention to the bullies of the social media world. If writing makes you feel good inside, call it a victory when you write something that makes you happy. If you find a few other like minded souls who also like what you write, so much the better. That can be your community. Forget the cool kids. They come and they go. Write for yourself and for those who appreciate your stories. I know that's why I keep coming back.
First I came here to read. And then, though I'm not really a "writer," I started writing, after a fashion. I have no delusions of grandeur, it's just for fun and to keep my brain from rusting away. I've "met" (as much as one can really meet anyone on line) some really neat people, and that's enough. You already said it: " ...a couple of online friends, and good acquaintances..." That's all anyone can ask for.
All that being said, I think Miguel S. runs a pretty friendly Substack page; the posters on "The Fiction Dealer" are a supportive bunch. In fact, I remember that you introduced me. 😎
I don't always agree with you (I'm an old hippie, after all), but I like you. I wish I could have hung out with you in high school... 😉
I've been busy but will always show up with a coffee for a good Kathrine rant blowing steam. I'm glad to be here in your commun...ohhhh, whatever you call this place! 😂😂
Aw, you’re lovely, Alford!🩶
PS one of the reasons I avoid Notes, by the way. I'm sure it stunts my whatever "growth" which doesn't happen that much anyway, but if i wanted to be on FB besides checking on folks I care about and have no other way to, I'd be on FB.
Of course I restack etc, and comment under restacks, but that's a bit different
"Community" is a sacred word in the US :) there are several words like this, they tend to open many doors and worlds.
Once I was banned from FB, I guess because in DM to someone, I was actually asking about aparments and he had an ad for sale, I stupidly signed my real name, and he complained to FB?
I'm going under the same nickname almost everywhere since Internet came to exist. But FB started then having "only real name policy".
In short. Nothing helped until I wrote to them that my community wouldn't recognize me otherwise, that really made an impression, also I had to send them documents(sic!), like two forms of ID or something. then they let me in again and allowed me, under special circumstances of "the community", to continue as I am. By the end of this year-long saga I didn't even want to be there already.
All platforms have this stuff, to this or that degree.
Because all people do, when there are too many of them.
Oh, wow! I must commend your determination. I wouldn’t fight for a whole year to stay there.😅
lol. well, most of the time they didn't answer me at all, so the fight itself took but a few days
It was a Covid year and it so happenned that I found myself alone in my other country. Quarantines were quite heavy. I did manage somehow to do miracluosly lots of things I came to do.
But oh my, was I lonely
Oh, yeah… that was a weird time. Since I had a new-born to take care of, I didn’t have much time to feel lonely, or to feel anything else but weariness.😅 But I do understand you.
You can bet your ass this is going into DREAD
Uh-oh…🫣😬
I feel ya... I was never one of the cool kids way back when and I don't feel cool now. I do however read a lot of people here and feel encouraged to continue to right. IF I comment and interact. I will never mute someone... I truly believe we can be better... And I look forward to your notes.... I'm just sayin...Write on dear one! Di
Oh and why am I here... last year I listened to a podcast of Jane Friedman- I need a newsletter- she said try here and I've been here every since!
Online community?! Heavens to Betsy, what kind of socialite do you take me for? I'll be nice to you if you're nice to me, but that's about as far as it goes.