Social Networks: Writer's life no longer lonely

Writing is often said to be a lonely business, as is reading. But that's not really true these days, largely due to the Internet. Thanks to book websites and various social-networking sites, the literati have no shortage of friends, or distractions.

It started with a handful of book blogs that collected links to reviews and literary news: Bookslut, The Literary Saloon, Bookninja. Some of these sites offered discussion forums, and communities of like-minded people sprang up around them.

Then came the author blogs. Writers such as Neil Gaiman and Peter Watts use their websites to promote their work, keep in touch with fans and distribute material. Others use blogging sites such as MySpace and Livejournal, which are designed to connect people quickly and easily. Most of these sites allow comments, which makes the relationship between writers and readers more interactive.

Lit-lovers are embracing the latest generation of these sites. One of the most popular new ways to connect is LibraryThing.com, where you can catalogue your book collection and browse other readers' collections.

The success of LibraryThing has already led to some competitors, such as Goodreads.com and Shelfari.com, which earned a million-

dollar investment from Amazon. The differences between them are mainly esthetic, but you can expect to see more substantial changes once the venture capital truly starts flowing.

Perhaps the most popular literary site of all, at least in Canada, wasn't even intended to be a literary site. The social-networking site Facebook is the favoured meeting place of the CanLit crowd, and almost every writer you can name has a Facebook profile -- Griffin Poetry Prize nominee Ken Babstock, small press king Stuart Ross, CanLit founding father George Bowering, Internet superstar Cory Doctorow -- and there are groups for almost all the country's publishing houses and magazines. It's a Canadian literary phenomenon.

Writers are even using the site for creative outlets. Writer Brad Kelln has been serializing a new novel on Facebook -- featuring people who have joined his Facebook group -- and other writers are sure to follow.

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