When Writing I Have to Stay Away From ABCtales

This is a kind of button-on to George's "Time to Ring Some Changes" thread below (or above as the situations change).

I've just finished my second book. It only requires one more read through, although that could take months. But I was only able to complete the book by steering clear of ABCtales and, in particular, the forums.

While it's certainly true that contributing to the forums detracts from the more serious issues of actually doing any writing, that's not what I'm talking about here. There is nothing on the forums, or indeed ABCtales that aids in my writing.

I don't mean that to sound as harsh as it at first appears. I have a great respect for Tony Cook, Mark Brown and ABCtales as a website. I have massive respect for all the hard work put in by the editors. And I truly believe this website is going places. It's come so far already.

But when I'm writing I also need to be reading. And I need to be reading the kind of humourous prose (Bill Bryson, Jeffrey Bernard, Bukowski, Ben Elton, Stuart Wilde) that my own writing style is modelled on. And while without a doubt there are many excellent writers on this site, many of them much better than myself, very few of them mirror my own style.

I also need to surround myself with funny characters. I need to surround myself with people who make me laugh. Some of my best writing has been done at times in my life when I've been associating on a daily basis with satirical, cynical people whose street wisdom is sharp as a wip.

That last sentence will no doubt draw critique, but I come from a piss-taking culture. Unfortunately that doesn't transfer well to Internet forums. Only seven percent of communication is words, and I've come across people on these forums who are far too sensitive, far too ready to jump on their white chager and steam to someone else's defence, even if throw-away comments have only been made in jest.

So it's very hard to remain "you" in the forums, which is okay for a little light relaxation but, as mentioned above, no good for real writing.

The forums have deteriorated of late. There's always been a small parcel of fools whose only goal is to antagonise. Their writing is poor, their humour untalented and indeed childish, and their minds as empty as a vacant lot, thoughts frothing up out of a damp landscape of old tyres and empty cans. Add to that those on a mission (wrong forum, guys, but you've been told that before) and the more recent brand of troublemakers - some new, some old - and you end up with a web-based community that is as compatible as hot water and icy paths, congealing to make a soggy mud of our relationships.

As always, its the few who spoil it for the many, and most contributors to the forums offer intelligent insight into their own individual ways of life, lively debate and true friendships that will probably last a lifetime (you know who you are).

Yet I can't write seriously when I'm reading the forums on a regular basis. In my opinion, and this is only my opinion, this writer's forum is no good for writers.

(And now watch me get shot down in flames for offering an opinion).