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Snoop Around for Insider Info
by Rusty Fischer

So, by now you’ve got a slew of your favorite freelance writing sites bookmarked, including this one, natch, in order of daily, weekly, and monthly updates. Nice. You check them periodically, making note of the ads you want to respond to, and ignoring those you don’t. Super. You’ve also probably subscribed to a few of the best e-newsletters going, and pick and choose your markets from them as well. Awesome.

Now you’re ready to start mining another online oil well full of great writing resources, the freelance message board. Message boards come in all shapes and sizes. Some are jam-packed with messages running the gamut from how to write a query letter to the name of a good agent. Others are poorly maintained or marketed, and a quick look at the dates next to the messages will tell you that no one’s dropped by in months. For a quick primer on getting the most of these message boards, read on:

Go for a Genre

Despite the fact that you’ll submit about anything to anywhere, in your heart of hearts (come on, admit it) you are a genre writer. Whether it’s pulse pounding thrillers or bodice ripping romances, your hope chest is full of finished and half-finished manuscripts that you’re just sure would be the next bestseller if only someone, anyone (besides your mother, that is) would take a look.

Naturally, you don’t want to spend your time at a children’s writing message board if you’re a true crime writer. Luckily, most message boards tend to cater to a certain kind of genre, whether it’s sci-fi scribes or women’s writers. While you may have to go searching a little more (sorry) for these kinds of sites, they’re out there and they’re well worth it.

Despite the fact that these message boards take awhile to load and you may have to weed through numerous inside jokes and petty grievances between the regulars, you’ll also find valuable contact names at publishers and possibly inside info on calls for submissions and other market info. But what’s the point if you’re halfway through an erotic Gothic vampire tome and your children’s writer’s board just leaked the fact that the senior editor at Scholastic quit!

Lurk Awhile

Before jumping into any message board with both feet, hang around awhile and read what it’s all about. This is called "lurking," but everybody does it, so don’t let the name fool you. Many message boards look awesome on the outside, but after lurking for an afternoon, you could find that most of the regulars’ time is spent tattling, harping, and name calling on each other. This is not where you want to spend your time.

Many message boards are simply props for some Web master’s (they take the name quite literally) hidden agenda. While it’s sad, it’s also true. Blinking ads and self-serving posts are your first clue, but it often takes awhile to realize that a message board isn’t right for you. Jumping in before you lurk awhile is a waste of your time, not to mention typing energy.

Participate

However, if you’re learning lots of valuable advice, stick around and participate. Maybe someone is asking for an editor’s name at a publisher you just queried. Why not provide the answer? Or perhaps someone is talking about submitting to a house that just informed you they were going out of business. No reason to sit on the information when it could save some poor writer hours, days, and week of "waiting in vain."

Message boards are a great way to communicate with like-minded individuals. Having a down day? Experiencing a little writer’s block? Just got your third rejection of the week? Let the other posters know about it and, before you realize it, you’ll get a flurry of heart-warming responses.

After all, we’re all in this together.

Don't Dilly Dally

Be forewarned, lurking around a freelance writer’s message board is as addictive as chocolate or cyber porn. You will get to know screen names (SillySally and What’sUpDoc?), and will hear about relatives and children and all sorts of other heart-warming, yet basically uninformative, personal information. This is great, and a sign that freelance writing is not all about business.

But if it’s your first week or so at the freelancing for money game, try to avoid getting sucked into this message board mania. While it’s tempting to boast about that writing contest you just won or the contract you just signed, it’s more important to win more contests and sign more contracts.

Remember, that’s why you’re here. Lurking around, picking up inside info on new contests, agent and editor names, calls for submissions, and the like is your sole purpose. Not sharing recipes with SillySally!

Copyright © Rusty Fischer

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