The Writer Beware/The Write Agenda discussion

... and I do use the word "discussion" extremely generally. You've probably seen various postings about TWA (I always have a moment of "TransWorld Airlines" time-lag) and their inane and paranoid vilification of the folks of Writer Beware, and assorted others. If you haven't, or even if you have, I encourage you to read Jim Hines's thoughts, the first paragraphs of which are included below. Then skip to my musings.

Originally posted by jimhines at The Write Agenda vs. Writer Beware

Some of you have seen this particular mess by now. For anyone unfamiliar with Writer Beware, they are “the public face of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America’s Committee on Writing Scams.” This group has provided invaluable information on how to avoid the scammers and the bottom-feeders for as long as I’ve been writing. Ann Crispin, Victoria Strauss, and Richard White volunteer countless hours in order to track, document, and share information on writing scams and pitfalls. Their blog should be required reading for pretty much anyone hoping to make a career in this business.

The Write Agenda is “a group of individuals, writers, want-to-be authors and inquisitive wordsmiths that have become ‘literally’ numb from reading the numerous author help related blog posts.” This group provides invaluable information on that time Victoria Strauss used the f-word on her Facebook page. This site should be required reading for pretty much anyone hoping to be a bottom-feeding douchebag.

Like Jim, I wonder if I have not been doing my job as watchdog and educator because I'm not on TWA's "Banned" list and -- as far as I know -- they're not asking people to send them copies of my books so they can burn them. (An appropriate response might be to run out and buy those books -- there's some great reading on the list!) Also like Jim, I wonder about the psychology (or rather, psychopathology) of folks who apparently have nothing better to do with their time than to put up such material. I have seen no hint of anyone racing to their defense, only "don't believe this stuff" or "geesh!" My first impulse is to stick them in the category of "People Behaving Badly In Public."

It's way too easy to poke fun at TWA. I suspect that one of the reasons the issue has gone viral is how ridiculous TWA's accusations are. Are we giving them a credibility they would not otherwise have by posting and reposting our responses? Or is it a bad idea to let such nonsense go unremarked and unanswered? Do we risk some poor naive newie taking this stuff seriously?

To me. the TWA site represents one of the less palatable uses of the internet. The combination of ease of publicity and anonymity makes it all too easy to indulge in insults, promulgate offensive falsehoods, etc., etc., you know the drill, all without the risk of being held accountable. Whatever else the people behind TWA want, I can safely say it isn't constructive dialog.

Above, I made a reference to folks who have nothing better to do with their time. As obnoxious and hilariously inept as the TWA statements/charges/charts/etc. are, they are also futile. They result in nothing of value. These people say they are writers or wannabee writers, yet they pour time and energy into this pathetic excuse for a "good cause." I thought, Gosh I could have written several novels in the time it must have taken to research all that.

By all means, let's be alert to the line between blathering and libel, and yes, let's make a public statement of what Writer Beware is and why we are grateful to the people who expose scam agents and the like. But let's also not forget that those who lash out like TWA, so ineffectually and irrationally, are most likely either mentally ill or in pain or deeply confused. Let's not make fun of that.