Hey there I mostly just write for myself in blogs, and feel naturally I'm improving: however help is definitely appreciated. At times i feel I'm stretching out feelings/ideas too long, other times I worry I've not given enough examples to amply express my message. And always I'm looking for new, improved words to substitute my simple diction. I like being easy to understand, and yet it's important to me that i can obtain a larger vocabulary to smooth out any semblance of repetition. My name's Brian, and I'm looking forward to reading other peoples' work as well =) no faster way to learn than to read the work of somebody better than yourself, right? Ah, and yes; i use text faces when I'm making simple posts or replies: not to worry, i don't in my writings...
Just a quick note for you. Be careful about how verbose a vocabulary you use. Most of the time when people use language that's intended to be grand or sophisticated, I usually just facepalm myself and think what a pompous dink they must be Just a warning that there are readers/writers out there like myself, who prefer honest, simple language.
Hello Brian, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Given a choice between a passing familiarity with a vast vocabulary, and a mastery of a medium-sized vocabulary, I would choose the latter. Still, having a broad vocabulariy gives you more choices in how to express yourself, as long as you make sure of the precise meaning, connotations, and usage of words you don't often use. Posting your own work should not be the very first thing you do here. It is really worthwhile 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 reviewing as a critical 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!
