Most of the jobs I’ve had have entailed using a computer, and often, one of the pleasures I enjoyed while working was to listen to radio online free. I also listened to my own CD collection but I loved listening to new music and finding new radio stations. One of my jobs was to place ads for a local radio station. At that job of course I listened to that station. When it had too much indie rock playing and I got bored, I could listen to their amazing music library.

That station had been our city’s university station until it became linked with a local museum that was funded by one of the region’s millionaires. I had to place around twenty spots a day to showcase this museum and it’s current displays.

The station also had a free streaming service so you could listen to free radio online as far away as Thailand. One of my best friends had relocated there, and he streamed in the station. There is a fifteen hour time difference between Seattle and Thailand so he heard the night broadcasts.

He was still under the assumption that the radio station only played a wonderful, eclectic mix of music.

I knew better since I worked there during the day. I thought he was lucky to be able to listen to radio online free at night when I was sleeping.  There were no ads at night, or very few. The DJs could play whatever mixes they wanted to. There was no pressure.

During the day however, I had found there was a shelf of popular, usually boring music in the DJ booth. The DJ had to cycle a number of songs from these CDs an hour. Plus the ads played by the station had gotten more and more commercial even though the station was a National Public Radio station and still had to follow guidelines.

They gained a following of individuals who enjoyed emo or indie rock. Most of the in-studios they hosted while I worked there featured those genres. I’ve always tended to listen to the blues, punk, metal or hard rock, mixed with blue grass and country. Weird mix I know, but I became disgusted with the music the station played and that ultimately affected my decision to move on. Even though as ad placer I got great free perks like getting to be on event lists plus getting to go free to the concerts of my choice.

Unfortunately, the choice was limited because of the genres of music they were spending most of their time on. My friend from Thailand visited and listened to the station during the day. He told me he’d had no idea they’d gotten so limited. He didn’t like it either. It’s possible they have changed again, but I lost track years ago.

As a writer, the online writing community is an important source of encouragement and feedback.  Feedback is the breakfast of champions.  But there are times when feedback is negative.  When you find a particular online writing community forum or site that becomes like a family to you, it can feel especially hurtful.  Sometimes negative feedback is worthy of your most honest consideration.  Other times it is just unkind ranting and projections of the irresponsible and immature.

As an online writer, you are tuned into words and probably a mite bit more emotionally sensitive than a non-artist type.  So you may take verbal and written criticism a little hard.  As wonderful and helpful as the world of the internet is, online communication presents a double edged sword that makes misunderstanding and offense much more likely on line.

On one hand, people writing alone don’t have the natural filters that come with being face to face.  Have you ever written an angry letter that spells out exactly what you think is wrong with someone else’s behavior, and then decided to talk in person and found that somehow you were able to find words to say the same thing more diplomatically in person?  It’s ironic because in writing we have more time to think. But face to face, we are fully in touch with our natural human instinct not to harm each other (or to try to avoid the anger we might get in return.  On line, people say whatever they want because in writing it seems less severe to the writer, and there is less fear of natural consequences. You can always walk away from the computer. Less so with a yelling person right in front of you!

Sadly, though words can seem less biting to the writer, they usually seem more biting to the reader.  With words on a page, there is always a range of affect that the reader can interpret.  Unfortunately, for whatever reason, we often seem to imagine the worst possible intentions and tone of voice.  We’ve all experienced that emotionally charged topics are better handled in person.

But this limitation of online writing communities turns out to be a blessing in disguise.  The thing written communication has going for it is that you get to think before you react and choose your words carefully.  If you do this, you can use online criticism as an opportunity to enhance your self-awareness, communication skills, conflict resolution skills, and writing skills.

Watch yourself imagining the tone of voice and intention in what you are reading. Practice trying on a range of possibilities.  Reflect on how your readers may read your characters or narration. Remember that these strangers on line could be anyone.  They may very well be people that you wouldn’t take seriously for an instant if you met them.  Practice getting that thick skin that is much needed for artists.  This tends to come with practice getting rejected over and over and over.  Rejection and criticism can become a non-event when you’re used to it, especially if you also have your share of accolades, friendships, and support.  Notice how often our criticisms are only projections and reflections of ourselves.  Develop an attitude that the criticism may be well founded or not.  Worth considering because everything that could possibly make your writing better is worth considering, not because the criticizer has any particular insight.  Maybe they do, maybe they don’t.  If you are willing to try on any and all ideas, then you can comfortably reject those that you know don’t fit.

If you are a writer, you know that there are basic things that keep your juices flowing.  Reading the work of other writers inspires you with fresh ideas.  Getting feedback on your work helps you to craft it.  Having a support network can keep you going when you face rejection, writers’ block, and struggle to manage the lifestyle issues of the creative type that you are.

All of the above needs and more are supported in on line writing communities.  Thank goodness for the internet!  Where once it may have been difficult to find like-minded kindred spirits, now they congregate on the internet and you can find them no matter where you live.

Once you find one or more online writing community that you resonate with, you will find that mentors, friends, and understanding souls are abundant.  You can exchange feedback with fellow writers, which keeps you reading and gives you the feedback you need. Sometimes it’s easier to show your work and face possible rejection from a stranger, rather than a friend or family member.  Strangers are more likely to be honest rather than polite.

Since writing is a solitary activity, where the writer goes deep into meditative creativity, it’s easy to go off into the wild yonder of your own imagination and loose touch with what makes sense to other people.  You can write passages that touch the deepest part of your heart and make you weep as you write it, only to find that others find it less than inspiring, or even less than comprehensible.  Art is always about making those deep and profound personal experiences and ideas available to people outside yourself.  Of course, not everyone is going to get it.  You are free to accept or reject feedback you receive. But isn’t it worth the ego bruise to really listen to and incorporate good feedback worth it, if it helps the core intent of your work come out?

The moral support and inspiration to keep writing is probably the most valuable thing about an online writing community.  As artists, we often struggle with issues of how to make a living and also have time to pursue our creative interests.  Some of us feel as if we must create or die!  That’s what makes the prospect of making a living with our art so attractive.  But, it’s hard to do.  A lot of people want it.  An online writing community can be your reality check.  It can be a great networking tool to help you find the resources you need.  It can be a source of reassurance that you’re not the only one facing challenges, AND that successes do happen.

Creative types are often ultra-sensitive people, so after the creation phase is over and it is time to exhibit your work, the hustle and bustle of marketing, the personal sense of vulnerability and exposure, and ego-bruises from negative reviews can be overwhelming and hard to take.  Your writing friends can be a serious source of solace and keep you going.  After all, there is a reason we creative types keep coming back for more.  The sheer joy of creation, the catharsis of self-expression, the hope of helping others, and the almost spiritual experience of being in THE FLOW are worth all the sacrifices and hard work.  Your online writing community can be a source of kindred spirits who remind you why you keep going, when it counts the most.  So, get your nose out of that book, get on line, and invest in some friendships that could be building blocks to your career as a successful writer.