If you are an aspiring writer, an author, or even just like to hang around
writers, then the website of
Absolute Write and it’s
forum board is for you. Absolute Write is one of the most popular and “
legitimate” forum boards on the net, (
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/)boasting over 5000 members, many of whom are active on a daily or weekly basis.
Absolute Write is the brain-child and run by free-lance author, Jenna Glatzer, who has published a myriad of books and articles on anything from writing to children’s books. Her personal web site which can be found at: http://www.jennaglatzer.com/ is one of the most user/ reader friendly web sites on the net.
Ms. Glatzer, or as she is known to the board, Jenna, sets the tone for the Absolute Write Forum Board. Everyone stays on an even keel, and even when some threads contain possible “explosive” subjects, such as religion or politics, there is a great deal of maturity and respect displayed for all.
This is not just another small web forum board to browse messages by would-be-writers starving for some recognition. Many of the members of Absolute Write are published, serious writers in any genre you can think of. From Fiction to serious non-fiction, from poetry to fantasy, from erotica to religious works, you can find and meet those who are serious about the craft of writing on this forum board.
After awhile, you will get up enough courage to post a chapter of a WIP (“work in progress), or a poem, for critique by your fellow writers. This critique is invaluable, as it is always given objectively, and by those who really want you to succeed!
Looking for legitimate markets? Paying? Non-Paying? The Absolute Write Forum Board has a Forum just for that. You can find some really interesting markets here, some new, some old, but all looking for your work, and they are checked out to make sure they are legitimate. The writers of the Absolute Write Forum Board take their writing very seriously.
Some of the special forums on this board:
1. “Ask the
Agent” where you can post your literary agent question to renowned and legitimate agent, Andrew
Zack (The Zack Company).
2. “Ask The Editor” where you can post your questions to a REAL publishing editor, Lauri Berkenkamp of Nomad Press.
3. James D. Macdonald, famous author, also calls the forum board home. Known to one and all on the board as “Uncle Jim” he keeps up with the myriad of posts directed to him on the art of writing and is an incredible source of encouragement to both new and known writers.
4. An absolute MUST for any novice writer, (and even for those who think they know it all) is the Forum “Bewares & Background Check” run by Uncle Jim and Victoria Strauss (who should get an award for what she does). You have a question about the legitimacy of an agent, publisher, contest? Will they really pay you? Are they scamming you? Just post it in the thread and you will be answered. It is one of the most popular threads on the board as there are many scams that abound to get writers to give in their work for free, or worse pay the publisher to publish it. Her site Writers Beware which can be found at: http://www.writerbeware.org/ is a godsend for writers. And her personal site at http://www.sff.net/people/victoriastrauss/ shows how serious she is about her craft.
In short whether you are 16 or 75 the Absolute Write Forum Board at: http://absolutewrite.com/forums/ might be for you. Take a look. The best thing is you do not have to join to view all the information or thousands of posts divided into Categories and sub-categories. You can lurk in the background for as long as you want, until you get up the courage to join and introduce yourself on Newbie Board. If you are trying to break into writing the Absolute Write Forum Board is made for you.
And as they say there, “Welcome to the Cooler.”
Published: November 09, 2005
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