Also, SKYFALL gifs because reasons.
This prompted me to write a journal centered around the aspects of the idea:
Does activity equal community?
Granted, the journal has evolved quite a bit since its first draft, but I feel it brings up a point that we in the community need to think about.
As EclecticQuill explains it:
"Community is based on the interaction of individuals, so in a sense yes, activity does help increase the level of community someone experiences. But that being said, activity alone isn't enough, if there's no sense of inclusion, common ground and mutual respect, then all the activity in the world won't make someone feel part of the community."
As a member of the lit community who is always finding new and exciting writing to read, I am prompted with the following question often: how did you come across my work?
This question, usually a response to a feature, watch, or comment, had me wondering all the same about the great deal of writers on deviantART who do not market themselves, who are not participating in groups, who are unfamiliar with the lit community at large. This is where the give-and-take relationship that is the community mantra is brought up: if they aren't giving, who's going to give back?
It's important to remember that we're writers because we read and that the work we read doesn't necessarily present itself to us at our convenience. So are we chasing down what we want to read and pursuing our interests, or have we grown lax in waiting for the lit to come to us?
It's very easy to settle into a routine of watching what only comes through your message center. Considering the sheer volume, focus, and specialties of deviants and groups on deviantART, it would be impossible to watch every writer and group on this site for new literature.
However, this journal isn't here to say that taking advantage of your message center for what it is and who you prefer to watch is not a great way of keeping an eye out for exceptional lit. It isn't the only way though, and it won't find work for you. Posting their work to the site may not have any benefit for the new member when they are not receiving any exposure or feedback.
It comes back to creating an environment of 'inclusion, common ground and mutual respect,' which the give-and-take nature of the community does provide, but to those already in the community.
To get the most from what this community has to offer though, you need to put into the community what you want to get out of it.
This is a great mentality to have, but it isn't the most inviting attitude to people new to dA lit. This train of thought comes with a pitfall that weeds out those who are not receiving from the community in the first place. The incentive to give isn't always necessarily there.
Let's not lie to ourselves though: simply putting your writing up on this site will not garner results and exposure is not the same as feedback— exposure is not a guarantee for a response from your peers.
Maybe explosions do?
I find the problem of finding new reading material lies with my message center and its ease of access to new content. But I'd put a rough estimate of 99% of what comes through my inbox I have no actual interest in reading past the first few lines. I find my chances of finding literature I enjoy increase greatly if I browse and go through galleries or collections that focus on a topic I am interested in.
But what I, and possibly to some extent we can do, is stop relying on our message centers to feed us content we may or may not have interest in and start exploring the literature around us through the subjects and forms we enjoy.
1. Have you ever browsed through the lit gallery? What was your experience like?
2. What do you like to read about? Does your message center reflect your interests?
3. What are some methods you use to find new reading material?
4. Anything you agree/disagree with that you want to express?
