The Following Column was adapted by Barbara's column "But.... Is It Promoting?" on StoryWrite. To see the original version, click here.
On AllJournal, promoting means using the chatterbox, forums, IMs or critiques to ask others to read your works.
Promoting is NOT allowed in the chatterbox, forums, critiques, or random IMs.
What you can NOT say:
These would all count as promoting:
-"I posted a new journal. You should read it."
-"I posted a new journal."
-"No one reads my stuff, and I wish they would." (You're hinting at getting reads.)
-"I just finished my journal!" (borderline... and would depend on what you say next. You're not telling people that you posted it... you're just telling them that you finished. Although too many of those comments, and it will turn into a promoting thing.)
-"Hey, what's your best journal?" Yes, that's asking them to promote. ("What's your best journal?...mine is 'title'") Don't ask for titles, and don't give them. Take it to IMs.
-Discussing someone else's journal, with them, in the CB...telling them what you liked, and didn't like. That's a critique, and doesn't belong in the chatterbox.
-Telling people "Don't read my story." Reverse psychology is not allowed.
-Asking others to read someone's journal. "You should read (whatever) by this guy... he's good."
-Leaving critiques that ask others to read your journals. ("I like this, it's great, come read mine.")
-Saying something like "My journal was private, but I've decided to open it up to comments."
Your friends don't need to know that you've finished a story. Once it's posted, it will show up in their list.
If you want other people to know about your journal, then you can feature (?) it. It costs points, but isn't a small investment better than a warning that would be added to your file?
What isn't promoting....
-Discussing a certain journal in the chatterbox is NOT promoting it, if your discussion is not about how people should read it. Some chatters follow certain journals, and discuss them. Only, at times, it usually gets into someone mentioning the journal title, or someone asking what it is, and instead of IMing, it gets mentioned in the CB.
One good way around this is to create a group to discuss things.
-Asking someone to trade reads/comments is NOT promoting. Once the agreement is made, then it should go to IMs to trade titles. The title of the journals (or even 'my newest one') should never appear in the CB.
"Anyone have any new journals?" "I do!" ..... "Anyone want to trade reads/comments?"... after that, IM the title to each. Don't mention it in the CB.
"I just read your journal." This is okay because, after all you are on a writing site and you've just read someone's story. As long as no titles are exchanged in the CB, or no one says "The new one/old one/novel/any other distinguishing features" then it's not promoting... as long as someone doesn't abuse the right to say it. Constantly mentioning it will be looked upon as promoting.
When in doubt about promoting, take it to IMs or ask if it would be okay.
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