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A number of writers have noted there are individuals playing Author, the RPG (role playing game) based upon those individuals being published by vanity publishers. Once adorned with the false crown of being published, some of those individuals choose to simply let others adore them for their accomplishment. There's nothing truly wrong with that if that's all they really wanted out of publication. However, some become dangerous because they choose instead to dispense advice on publishing based on their lack of real knowledge because they know only the easy way to publication through vanity routes. Some mistakenly believe the entire publishing industry operates like what they've been through when it doesn't. The only cure to that is to reach out with accurate information to writers still seeking publication.
However, few have noted that there is a predecessor, namely Writer the RPG. Sadly, the existence of this situation unfortunately sets up many of those writers for continued failure and later introduction into the Author RPG. Terribly enough, some individuals with good intentions are responsible for creating or encouraging this situation.
Certainly, many writers are wondering if this claim is a joke, but it's not. There are a number of writer sites that believe in not criticizing new writers who display their work. While this might be meant as a way of encouraging new writers, what it does is set them up for later disappointment and failure because they may believe their words are now golden. They're not being criticized and that leaves their writing skills stagnating. While they might see that their words are being read by visitors because many sites have counters to show how many views a topic such as their contribution might have, it doesn't mean they're making any progress. It presents them with false encouragement.
This can actually be demonstrated by looking to see how many comments are also given. When contributions are commented upon, they tend to accumulate greater numbers of views. Generally, they'll score twice as many views as contributions that receive no comments. Keep in mind though that this doesn't apply to experienced writers whose work may already be in publication. A different rule of thumb applies to them, but let's return to how this affects new and inexperienced writers. Typically, they'll receive only a few comments of encouragement before other writers simply stop commenting. In fact, if anything, it causes new writers to produce more written work exhibiting the same problems.
However, the rule changes when the comments include constructive criticism. Based upon observations at several writing forums, such contributions often receive as many as five times as many views because writers want to see other writers succeed. Most writers genuinely want to help. In fact, when the contributing writer reacts to the criticism by taking it to heart and applying it to the contribution, it's not at all unusual for views to double and redouble. However, rather than point out any of those sites and there are quite a few, writers should just take note of the forums they frequent. If that forum has a rule about not offering criticism unless asked for, look at their view and comment counts. The writers making real progress toward and reaching publication are the ones receiving criticism. The writers falling for vanity publishing aren't receiving serious criticism. They aren't progressing even though they might think they are because they've been hanging out with real writers. They're the ones who were playing Writer, the RPG.