Ditching the Community...

So, I got rather irritated last night as I wanted to discuss a book on the WD Community site, The Art Of War For Writers. I bought the book as I was curious about its structure, but more because I was interested to gain insight into a published author's perspective on writing. I felt it would be interesting to read, if not at least for entertainment value.

I was met by responses form a couple members that I took as insulting. They told me that I could not "buy a magic key to writing"; that such books were written "by hacks to pander to the masses"; that "the way to write better is to write". No shit.

While I understood what they were getting at, or at least I was trying to keep an open mind, their responses were so uppity, arrogant, it rather pissed me off and for several reasons.

First of all, I love to learn. Reading a variety of information is a good way to exercise my brain. Now, if the book sucks, I will study it to figure out why I think it sucks, what I would do different and what I would not do.

Second, why not look at books that aim to help writers? Are we all not in this to learn more and more to hone the craft? And yes, I know writing is the best, if not the only, way to get better at writing. Worse case scenario, read it to warn others to stay away, that it may do harm or at least is a waste of time.

Third, how is this book any different than the advice these two gave on the site? They are two of the most commenting members by far, telling everyone else how good they are with sprinkles of feedback mixed in, of course. The very site they seem to monitor is no different than said book. It it another tool to help refocus, recharge the weary art of writing. There was a hint of resentment from the two, who had one published novel between them, I believe. And from what I read, nothing to pass along, just pass.

Last, this was suppose to be a site of support, a community, a place where we could not only share our work, but ideas and conversation. I guess not. It quickly reminded me of an AOL chat room gone bad.

Sure, I sought a dialogue; but I felt I received put-downs instead. So, after several exchanges, I decided this community was not something I really wanted to be a part of after all and deleted my account.

A bit hasty? Perhaps. However, I had been contemplating leaving anyway as I felt it wasn't really offering much in terms of a workshop environment as I had originally thought.