Scribophile

I've been keeping half an eye on this site for a little while now. I heard about it from a fellow MyLotter and it struck me that it was somewhat similar to the Authonomy site that Moonglow posted about.

The big difference here is that Scribophile is not run by a publishing house. It's a social thing, with lots of writers of all kinds reading, critiquing each other's work, sharing ideas and the usual nonsense in the forums. Consequently, there's less pressure on the people posting their work: there's also less possibility of it being picked up for publishing, but that's the trade-off.

I've spent some time on there today, having a look around, and it seems really friendly. There's some great stuff available to read, the work-posting options cover the problems of copyrights nicely and it seems to be a fairly active community.

If you're a bit put off by Authonomy's publisher tie-ins and just want to share your work with other amateurs (and professionals, but in a more social setting), it might be a good choice.

I shall be going back, I think. We 'philes should stick together. And not because someone spilled glue on us.

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Posted By: SpikeTheLobster - Category: Writing

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Comments

13 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by S.L.

April 14th 2009 19:14

The Political Brief

I once taught creative writing classes, Lobster. It was a lot of fun, except for a few unpublished turkeys who were just a bit full of... themselves. LOL

Comment by SpikeTheLobster

April 14th 2009 19:25

Qwerk
Peanut Butter

The only teaching I've had was at school. I know writing is something that can be taught, but I'm not sure I can learn in that way!! Trial and error...

What age did you teach? Adult classes?

Comment by S.L.

April 14th 2009 19:34

The Political Brief

Yes, adults. You can't really teach the talent or creativity, but mechanics and the linguistic basics are easy. I had one young man (about 20 or a little older) who was writing the "great American novel." I asked him if he'd like to read some to the class, after one of his lengthy droning sessions (he loved to monopolize the class time). He said it wasn't quite ready to read. I asked how long he'd been working on his masterpiece and he said "Two years." I asked him how near it was to completion, thinking that all his bragging might have something interesting in the offing. "Almost the first chapter!" He proudly announced. It seems he rewrote it several times a day, every day. I've often wondered if he ever did anything but re-writes.

Comment by SpikeTheLobster

April 14th 2009 20:09

Qwerk
Peanut Butter

Now that's what I call being stuck in a rut! Yikes, even I'm not that bad!

Comment by S.L.

April 14th 2009 20:23

The Political Brief

LOL He was a little OCD! When I write a book, I have the whole story completed in my single cell brain before I get near the computer. My first novel took six days to write! A month to come up with and complete in my head, but only six days to punch in. The latest one has taken almost a year, but not because I did any re-writes, because I keep getting interrupted. I could finish the last chapter in a day if there weren't a hundred other things I have to do first. The next book is already cooking! It's great to make a living doing what you love!!

Comment by SpikeTheLobster

April 14th 2009 20:43

Qwerk
Peanut Butter

Cue jealousy. Spike seethe. Spike slap self for not concentrating on novel. Spike sigh.

Comment by S.L.

April 14th 2009 20:56

The Political Brief

Spike chains himself to computer and works tail off! LOL

Comment by SpikeTheLobster

April 14th 2009 21:17

Qwerk
Peanut Butter

Well, I just landed another bit of blog-writing work and maybe an entire 120-page book to ghost-write, so mine is back on the back-burner again for the moment!! I do so want to finish it, though.

Comment by Janet Collins

April 14th 2009 22:09

Acceptable Etiquette
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog

That's an interesting site, Spike. I'll have to get back to it again later.

If you all keep finding more sites for me to go on to, I will never get off the computer

Comment by SpikeTheLobster

April 14th 2009 22:37

Qwerk
Peanut Butter

In the first hour since I joined, I've had half a dozen answers on my forum posts, read one item and had a couple of comments from other folks on the 'scratch pad' message thing. They're certainly VERY friendly, and it feels more homey than Authonomy. The item I read had loads of proofing errors, too (it was a first draft), which in itself is reassuring!!

Comment by Natalina

April 15th 2009 09:19

My Life My Muse
Beta Girl Blog

Sounds interesting. I'll check it out.

By the way, I LOVE the new design of your site. It looks great, and is very easy on the eyes. Appropriate to your subject matter as well. Well done, you! (That last phrase made me sound right British!)

Comment by SpikeTheLobster

April 15th 2009 11:12

Qwerk
Peanut Butter

Thanks, Natalina. It was horrid for a little while, but I liked David's suggestion of the old typewriter font and couldn't decide on a background. So it's just plain. It's growing on me!

Comment by manicD

October 21st 2011 07:04

I've been reading since I could hold a book, but I didn't start writing until I was 56. I'm 67 now and after 10 years of searching for an agent or a publisher for my many genres, I decided to go "Indie". All my books (18) are on kdp.amazon. I'm not out to get rich. The first thing I was told about writing is to consider another line of work if I was out for the money. Selling drugs was one suggestion, playing the lotto was another. As I consider the lust after money the greatest of all evils, I carried on writing with the hope that somebody would like my work. So, I searched for a second opinion (as the first came from my dear wife).
I've been round the beginner author sites, I played around on authonomy until I found out that HC has never printed a book from this mildly interesting slush-pile library.
I stopped in at Bookrix (another slush-pile) as Scribophile was given the thumbs down.
I left BX, my mind numbed with "bad writing". I considered one of the moderators illiterate, she was a German, enough said.
I had a look at scribophile, just out of curiosity and I was more than impressed, not by the many authors invigorating imagination, but also by the quality of writing. I was moved to tears by one short story about a nine-year-old's account of her drug-addicted, hallucinating mother. Yes, I can recommend this site whether you are an author looking for assistance or feedback or if you are just a reader looking for a free read (if you are, don't forget to leave a comment and say thank you).
It takes a lot courage to post your work on a public site, it takes a lot of courage to be a writer. You have to believe in yourself. "To thine own self be true".
Someone wrote: "Where would the world be without the written word?" I hate to think about it.

M.

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