I take offense

[WR.PARK]

This may be well out of line (if so, I apologize), but feel I must make the objection. I am a member of half-dozen such author sites; sites that I anticipated were to help authors to improve their craft by discussions with their peers, share ideas, knowledge, defeats, and successes.

However, recently I am being bombarded by promotions by marketing firms that are also members and taking advantage of the membership to push their wares, legitimate or suspect.

Personally, I do not believe they should be part of those who legitimately wish to pursue their craft without being perused by the equivalent of lawyer ambulance chasers

It's a free world and a free site, but these are my sentiments. Right or wrong..

WR.PARK

[Zada Connaway]

I agree with you somewhat, WR. I get constant 'Join me at...' and 'Check out...' notices in my inbox. I have learned to simply delete them without even looking. I don't mind one once in a while, especially from those I know, but it borders on the ridiculous sometimes. I guess that is what the delete button is for. I enjoy being able to congratulate those whom I know on their successes, but it is tiring when everyone is trying to 'spam' us. And since many of them come from a 'ning.' address, it is difficult to block them without blocking everything.

This site is set up mainly to let us all know what the others are doing and what books are out there, On site promotion, and a a social atmosphere to encourage, and assist one another.

Are you amember of 'Published Authors'? It's a good site and offers a lively forum for tips on publishing, promoting and writing and social connections with each other. You might enjoy it.

[WR.PARK]

Hi Zada:

Yes, I'm a member of Published Authors as well as a few other author sites, but I find it a bit disheartening to add a message to forums and have no one reply. You can go down the line of messages with a 0 reply next to most of them. I wonder if members (after becoming members) simply lose interest. I find that on Facebook, too.

Bill

[Zada Connaway]

Bill, I know you're a member of the site, but there is also a forum that Shelagh Watkins set up that you would probably get much out of and enjoy.

http://publishedauthors.org/

You can check it out without joining, If that link doesn't work, you can get there buy scrolling about 1/3 of the way down the 'Published Authors' page and you will find the link in large red letters on the right hand side of the page. I think this is the type of interaction you are looking for.

Try it out and let me know what you think!

[WR.PARK]

Zada:

Thanks for the heads up.

Bill

[Zada Connaway]

So much for the great forum, it has been taken down. But the forum functions on the ning sites work as well, and sometimtes youcan elicit comments and discussions here.

As for the promos in my inbox, I simply go down the line and ANYTHING that says 'check out' or 'join me on...' gets deleted immediately, unless it is from someone I know and can trust. I don't think these people realise how annoying they are being and that they are shutting out some potential customers with their tactics. Perhaps they feel keeping their name or product in front of everyone is a good marketing technique.