Hi all, my name is Bob and I currently live in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I am a military attaché at the US Embassy. I am a lover of words whether I am reading or writing them. While I currently only write recreationally, I do hope to branch out. My hope is that I can learn from the rest of you. I have been browsing through this board and it looks like a good place to be. I look forward to contributing in what ways I can.
Hello Bob, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Posting your own work should not be the very first thing you do here. It is really worthwhile to see what other people have done to improve their writing, and see if some of it applies to your writing as well. That is part of why we require members to review other members' work before posting their own for review. On the other hand, there are no restrictions, other than content and copyright rules, on showcasing your work in your member blog. If you haven't explored the site yet, you should probably do so soon. Newcomers often gravitate to the Lounge, the Word Games, or the Review Room, but there is much more to be discovered if you poke in the corners. Remember to check out our FAQ as well, and be sure to read through the forum rules, too, to avoid any misunderstandings or hurt feelings. Respect for one another is our principal mandate. As for the Review Room, new joiners often wonder why we do things a bit differently on this site than on other writing sites. We emphasize reviewing as a critical writing skill. Training your eye by reviewing other people's work helps you improve your own writing even before you present it for others to see. Therefore, we ask members to review other people's writing before posting work of their own. The Review Room forums on this site, therefore, are true workshops, not just a bulletin board for displaying your work (and on that note, please only post each item for review in one Review Room forum). See this post, Why Write Reviews Before Posting My Work? for more information. And while you're looking around, don't forget to check out our Weekly Short Story Contest and Weekly Poetry Contest. They actually run more than one week apiece, but any member may enter, and all members are urged to vote for their favorites. Enjoy your stay here, and have fun!
Thanks Cogito, and don't worry, I am a long way from being at the point where I would feel comfortable posting one of my works (not that I have any as of yet). I also find it a bit obnoxious when the first thing a person does when coming to a board like this is posting their work wanting immediate feedback without having taken the time to get a feel for how the community works. I am also of the school that believes that one of the best ways to learn is to teach. Along that same line reviewing another's work can only help your own.
