I'm not really from Hawaii, I just like to pretend. I'm in Washington state and it's getting cold and dark up here. I've been writing since about the sixth grade when we were given an assignment in English to write a "scary" story for Halloween. That was the beginning. I've never had anything published but then I really haven't tried very hard. Someday I'd like to have something published but I feel that I have a ways to go as far as developing my writing skills and my 'style' before I go for it. I stumbled onto this website and decided to give it a shot. Talking to others about writing forces me to examine my own from a different perspective and we all need a little perspective. My goal is to submit something most weeks to the short story writing contest thread. It forces me to write and to write about something I didn't choose. If you see my work feel free to PM me and give me feedback (constructive criticism is greatly appreciated) let me know what works for you about my writing, what doesn't, and why. See you all around!
Aloha Ink Dream, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Posting your own work should not be among the very first things you do here. It is worth taking the time 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. Also, be aware that posting a piece of writing on any public site, including this one, will greatly diminish your chances of selling it for publication. Removing the writing later does not alter that fact - once posted, it is irreversibly considered published. So do not post anything more than a small excerpt of any piece you are planning to submit for publication. 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 constructive critique as a vital 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). Also, please use the same thread for all revisions and additional excerpts from the same piece of writing. 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!
That's exactly how I feel about the short story contest. Only about a week ago did I realise that it's probably the best way to improve your writing, since you're constantly having to think up new and imaginative scenarios and break out of your normal writing style and genre. So welcome. Also, I liked your suggestion for the short story contest. Very interesting and very applicable.
