I'm impressed! I've already posted a question that I, at least, found relevant (as it's something that I am dealing with right now in my writing) and I believe the advice I received will help tremendously. I might be new here, but I have to admit I'm very happy I found the place. My goals in this life aren't large, and they are most certainly attainable. I want to lead a happy and productive life. So far, so good. One goal that I do have, like I'm sure a great many people here share, or have even accomplished, is to become a published novelist. Most of my works are fast-paced in the vein of a James Patterson thriller. I'm a pretty heavy reader. My favorite author is Terry Goodkind, though I have many on my shelf... Stephen King, Terry Brooks, Tom Clancy, Dean Koontz, Michael Crichton, Dan Brown, James Patterson. I also have some classics... Mark Twain, Edgar Allen Poe, Ayn Rand, J.R.R. Tolkien. Despite my love of reading fantasy I don't really pursue writing it (if I ever do, I lean more toward tales of Arthurian legend, as I've had stories percolating in my head for a very long time). It's nice to be here. I want to thank everyone who has been so helpful, and I'm sure everyone will continue to make my stay enjoyable.
Hello Rainshadow, 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. 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). 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!
Thank you both! You won't likely see me posting my own work, actually. Rest assured, I intend to learn the site as best I can.
