Hey everyone, I've been lurking around this board (and a few other writing boards) for a couple of months now and from what I've seen this one appears to be the best, so I decided to join. Since I've been lurking around for a while I'm pretty familiar with some of the people and rules around here (for instance, I could probably recite word for word what Cogito's reply to my introduction thread will be ) I'm twenty-four years old and when it comes to writing I usually stay within the thriller genre, though i've only completed one novel-length work to date (which is still in the process of being revised.) I'm not sure how often I will post my work here (though I might occasionally), but I'll try to review the pieces of others whenever I get a chance as the entire review room concept is interesting to me and I hope that critiquing the work of others will improve my own work. I also like sports (mainly baseball, football, and golf), reading, and movies. I'm looking forward to posting with all of you. -Kevin
Welcome! Nice to hang you along and etc.! You've probably heard it all already if you've been lurking and whatnot!
Hola Kevin, 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 site 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! (P.S. Can you find the changed words from the standard template? You will be tested ... )
