Life Writing for Publication

We have read your manuscript with boundless delight. If we were to publish your paper, it would be impossible for us to publish any work of lower standard. And as it is unthinkable that in the next thousand years we shall see its equal, we are, to our regret, compelled to return your divine composition, and to beg you a thousand times to overlook our short sight and timidity.

The lesson: even for the most capable and determined of writers, getting published takes persistence and patience. The next thousand years?

In later columns, I'll provide you with information on the time-honored routes to publication for women life writers. I'll write about markets, agents, professional standards, even about grants that support the publication of women's biography, autobiography, memoirs, journals, diaries and letters.

This time, though, we're taking a shortcut . . . on the (infamous) "Information Superhighway," the Internet, the "Web." In short, I'll persuade you, I hope, to consider life writing online.

Does the mere idea of online publication seem even more overwhelming than the deepest imaginable publisher's "slush pile"? (That's were unread manuscripts wait for an editor's attention.) I think otherwise. Because online publishing can get your writing to readers faster, and bring you the satisfaction of seeing your words in print, I propose it as the very best place to start.

Life writing online has grown tremendously in the past several years. Diarist.net (more in a bit) tells us that the number of online journals has grown from just a dozen or so in 1995 to more than 800 today. And the quality of online life writing matters as much as its quantity. Sure, Web-slush happens-just as hard-copy-slush happens. But on the whole, online journals are usually open, spontaneous, fresh, and fun. Yes, some online journal writers can be snobby and cliquish. But for the mosot part, you will find no gatekeepers to online publication of your life writing. Write what you want, without rejection, without "no."

The Web offers two outstanding sites for women online life writers. The first, Diarist.net (http://www.diarist.net) calls itself the "comprehensive starting point for both writers and readers of online journals." It entices the novice online life writer with these advantages, plus more:

• people who can help you with the technical aspects of online publishing
• a list of host sites where you can publish your life writing even if you don't have your own website or much Internet experience
• a showcase for new online journals
• interviews with experienced online life writers
• discussion groups for online life writers
• a "start-up" section designed to helped newcomers get their life writing on the Web

The second source is a "zine," or electronic magazine. It calls itself Metajournals (http://www.metajournals.com). The site features:

• a "diary of the day" and a "mystery diary"
• news and updates from the community of online life writers
• advice on decisions that online journalers need to make: "Do I need to learn HTML?" (Maybe, maybe not.) "Should I obtain my own domain name?" (It depends.) "How do I design an online journal?" (There are many possibilities.)

Both of these sites offer registries of currently active online life writing sites, operate surveys for online life writes, and link people interested in online life writing to other helpful websites.