Hello, everyone! I guess you could say I'm a long time fan, first time poster. I was introduced to this wonderful site by a friend of mine who goes by the name "Wolfie©" on this board. My main reason for being here is that I'm finally at the point where I fully understand that I'm not going to get any better in my writing if I don't have my work analyzed by people who not only share my passion, but who are also more skillful and informed than myself. I mainly write poetry and a little bit of prose. Though, I do enjoy making the occasional short story, as well. So I'll thank you all in advance for any help that I my receive in the future, and I'm just happy to be a member here!
Hello Dreamer, 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!
Oh, thank you all for the warm welcome! As soon as I get some computer time, I'll check you guys stuff and maybe post one of my own (don't worry, I've thoroughly read the rules here, so there won't be any locked threads because of me any time soon).
