Get the poison arrows and flamethrowers out, folks. And I'll just add an extra coat of 'patented rhino-hide paint'. But here goes.

My thoughts here are based on what I've seen in many Internet writers' groups, lists and communities over a few years now. Read and discuss if you will, and go brew poison if you feel personally targeted, Formulate your own opinions and draw your own conclusions. I'd be interested to hear them. Gushing praise and full agreement is, of course, welcome too.

I suppose fiction groups are no different to any other groups on a great many counts, so some things I'm going to say here apply just as well to any other type of community. It's simply that writers have that particular knack with words, and in my opinion the keyboard can most definitely be mightier than the sword.

I've seen and joined in a lot of discussion revolving around many aspects of amateur writing in general and fan fiction in particular over the last few years. A lot of it has been sane, intelligent and fascinating debate, even if opinions differ. Some, on the other hand, has simply been a case of vitriolic attacks or what looks suspiciously like jealousy on the part of a few, plus anything from equally vitriolic counter-attacks or defence, indignation, or at times real distress on the part of those on the receiving end.

Then there are other unpleasant aspects: such as not bothering to give anyone the benefit of the doubt on certain misunderstandings, making accusations about other writers with the flimsiest of foundations, spreading rumours and stirring trouble behind their backs - or manipulating people simply because it's fun to sit and watch the fallout. All this happens, and often - and I tend to think there's nobody like a writer for this. Think somebody pinched your plot or even a phrase? Think somebody's getting more attention than you are? Don't bother to think the person in question might be innocent, or sincere, or even have a point to make. Just haul out a few well-chosen words and sling them in the right place. Those who worship you may be blind to what you're up to - at at least for a while.

Yes, writing is close to our hearts. Yes, it inspires a lot of passionate outbursts. This seems to happen throughout fandom.

But, people, this is amateur fiction. A hobby. Don't we get a little carried away at times? Do we, as a friend of mine once said, tend to act as hormone-drenched adolescents once we don our writer's cloak and engage in discussion on it? I think there's a lot of truth in that.

I don't think anyone can claim to be as white as snow in such an atmosphere where passions abound. I'm even fairly sure most people - including myself - have at times been a little quick on the draw with a keyboard and have acted at best without thinking and at worst with intention to hurt. Who doesn't love indulging in a little bitch at somebody else's expense now and then?

If you can say 'never', then please head for the exit and polish up your halo on the way out.

The thing is, though - some people get carried away at times, yet others thrive on stirring up trouble and turning a molehill into a honking great mountain, with very large quantities of mud being flung and shit hitting fans.

There seem to be few places where mud sticks faster or a misunderstanding turns into war more easily than via the Internet, too. What could be probably be slogged out over a drink, face to face, can turn into a massive, tangled web of unpleasantness flying around the cyberwaves. And once again, writers being writers are extraordinarily talented at this. A little twist here, a little nuance there, and hey presto – it's time to count the bodies.

This leads me to subtext (yes, a favourite rant), which can be more insidious still. What is it? One good definition is "between the lines communication that conveys powerful messages indirectly". Take one person who is clever with words, somebody on the receiving end who is sensitive, and the basic ingredients are in place. From there on, it's easy. Even worse, it's all too simple to start reading things into everything or sliding in some very subtle messages yourself. Sometimes it soon becomes hard to even see how it all began (the chicken and the egg, Internet style). Ending it once the slippery slope has started is well nigh impossible.

An example of subtext would go something like this. Writer X writes to writer D plus a few others: "I'm just so happy with this story and about finishing it in time for the Z challenge and getting lots of great feedback. Oh, and I just can't wait to see A, B and C this weekend and gossip about writing – shame D can't make it."

Taken at face value, the message may mean what it says, but if X's intentions are to hurt D, it could also mean 'look at me - I don't get writer's block and am never late submitting things - and I'm a well-loved writer too'. And, of course, if X also knows full well that D did actually want to join A, B and C for the weekend, but X somehow made sure she wasn't even invited (maybe she forgot to send glowing feedback to X, for a start), then you're looking at a case of subtext in all its glory.

Subtext hurts. And no, there is none here, nor passive aggression, although again I'm not sure I always avoid slipping in a nuance or two.

Quite apart from subtext and vitriol, however, the Internet is a very dangerous place for the sensitive who can easily feel threatened, inferior, or picked on. Writers are usually sensitive, I've found.

What's more, I think, things seem to get ten times worse when an online personality is light years tougher than an offline one or at least different in some way, and most of all if behind a witty, bouncy person online is far more of a timid - or at least reserved - individual inclined to take everything to heart. .

Who exactly are we dealing with when we interact online? The person as she comes over on the Net, or as she is when she's sitting facing you and you know her, and her circumstances and background a bit better? Are we the same on a keyboard or wrapped around a gin and tonic? Do people actually exist whose online personality is exactly what you get when you are face to face?

To be honest, I really don't know.

Well, you can say, if you're going to interact with people online, deal with the shitty side of things or you won't survive. Get rhino hide.

Rhino hide is a wonderful thing, but I tend to think that even that can rip when the right nerve is touched - and the most surprising things can trigger it: what seems innocuous or insignificant to one person can seem like the end of the world to another.

I'm not saying it's a bad thing to have an 'Internet persona', by the way. It can be very useful for shy people who can actually blast through their timidity barrier thanks to it. I just find it easier – again a personal take on the matter – to actually know who I'm dealing with.

I've said this before, in other things I've written on the subject of writing on the Internet and also earlier in this piece: there is a great deal to be said for body language or the expression on a face, and particularly if you somehow can't get a 'handle' on somebody via written communication. It doesn't cure all ills, but it can certainly clear up a lot of crossed lines. The Internet is a wonderful means of communication and has been instrumental in making writing a lot more accessible to authors and readers alike and for that I appreciate it hugely. On the other hand, it can also lead to relationships that are extraordinarily complex and in many cases tricky. And just as intense as face-to-face ones - yet oh, so different.

And finally, let's turn to what I see as another downside of online writing sites, lists or groups (but may well apply to those that involve physical persons in a real room, albeit to a lesser extent perhaps if a few issues can be dealt with 'in person' rather than via the cyberwaves).

I have the impression that a lot of hostility seems to stem not only from differing views on stories that appear in the communities, but also from people jostling for position within some kind of Inner Sanctum. Again, it's a question of relationships and interaction, which can easily go astray once things start to be misinterpreted. After all, who is better placed to start a conflict than those who pull strings of some kind? Fortunately, not everybody wants that degree of involvement in a group, or it would be even worse!

This wish to get 'in with the in crowd' often includes trampling on a few other people along the way, whether in fiction groups or political parties or the parish council. What's more, once they get there, these 'Top Dogs' can also quickly turn into Top Bitches with a view to keeping this hard-won position.

I do think both the world and fiction groups need Top Dogs; don't misunderstand me here. The idea of total democracy just doesn't work for me because somebody has to be in charge of or co-ordinate things, whereas others are perfectly happy to play along with whoever's in charge - whether this applies to running a galaxy or three or the local gardening club.

I must say, however, that. I can't think of any greater minefield than trying to 'run' a group of amateur writers who have a whole arsenal of words, nuances and similar weapons for their attacks. Trying to keep the peace must be hell.

Fortunately, however, I've seen places where the head honcho of some sort of writing communty manages to create it and/or and maintain it with sensitivity, fairness and humour and even succeed in making newbies feel welcome and integrated – just as we've all seen politicians or other world leaders who actually get a few things right. It can't be easy. Thank God such places exist, though!

However, I've seen other places on the Internet where it looks as though the sole aim of a few people is to mutually feed egos, while eliminating those who represent a potential threat. Often, some sort of diva figure emerges and 'rules' over a community by means that range from the subtle to the downright dirty, often with the help of a few minions hanging on to their every word.

Of course, if you join a group of any kind you have to take it as it is once you're in it. I'm saying this because these days I join or stay in a community knowingly and if things get difficult it's a case of either taking the heat or getting out of the kitchen - or hanging around and saying nothing much at all. I've done all three.

I was a whole lot more naïve at first, blundering into places and rather stupidly imagining that writers, because they shared a passion, would therefore play nicely together. In that respect, I've left adolescence behind, thanks.

So what am I getting at here? Apart from sounding cynical and disillusioned?

First, I'd like to think that my own thoughts on this won't be interpreted as 'oh, she just wants to play Top Dog herself and have a swipe at others because she thinks her fiction / personality / ideas are better than theirs'. It isn't that, and I have few illusions about my talents or my character shortcomings let alone precious little time to lead much more than a very busy life. I just like stimulating discussion, debate, without the feeling that one word that displeases somebody is going to provoke some sort of war.

Sadly, though, I've made a few mistakes along the way, for a number of reasons that range from clumsiness, irritation, the need to jump in and defend something and – let's be honest – that basic human characteristic of being gullible or provocative at times.

Life in the wonderful world of fiction is something of a rollercoaster and usually, I can live with that, frustrating and sad as it can be in some cases. Why? Because writing and talking about writing and certain fandoms and characters from them meanthat much to me. There's good there too, however bitter or sanctimonious some of this might sound, Finally, and most importantly, it's brought me some superb friends and that in itself is worth a whole lot of shit.

To close, I know that whatever I - or any other writer - says is open to interpretation or misinterpretation, whether it's our fiction or anything else we say. So feel free to react to what I've said, dear reader, whether to agree or to tell me I've lost the plot.

What I personally would like to see within amateur fiction communities on the Internet is a little more mutual respect and tolerance, more people taking others at face value - and fewer drama queens and people who stir up trouble for the hell of it. I'd also like to see far less vitriol, subtext in discussion, and people jumping on bandwagons - and I include myself in all that. I've not been a paragon of virtue either.

Mind, it would be nice to have world peace, see disease eradicated, the globe to stop warming and the whole world knowing where to put the apostrophe or semi-colon, too.

June 2002

Poison arrows or gushing agreement to: [email protected]