Hey, guys, the name's Captain Garlock, but you can just call me Evan, if you'd prefer. For all intents and purposes, I'm...pretty much a newbie in every possible sense of the word. When it comes to writing, I'm quite inexperienced; that is to say, I've yet to come up with a story that I've stayed with for any significant period of time before declaring it utter trash and throwing it out. Still, I like to think that my brief string of self-inflicted defeats have shaped me into a reasonably competent writer, as far as beginners go. I've got a leg up on a lot of other newbies, anyway, because I like to think that I actually learned a thing or two from my past failures. As for me as a person? I guess you could call me an all-around nerd. Science fiction, comics, anime (er...not the creepy ones for people with weird fetishes- I tend to go for things like Cowboy Bebop and Ghost in the Shell), etc. are the order of the day for me. However, I try to balance out my nerdiness with...decidedly "manlier" activities like football and martial arts. So, why'd I come here? To improve my abilities as a writer, of course. But...I've kind of got a shyness problem when it comes to new forums- odd, considering I'm pretty outgoing in real life- so don't be surprised if I'm a bit slow to start posting with any sort of frequency. So...here's hoping I can overcome that quickly and get around to improving. Oh, and yeah, I do speak more casually once I start to open up. Just trying to make a good impression, that's all.
Hello Evan, 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!
