I have been lurking around the forums for a few weeks now, so I thought I should introduce myself. I like the forums so far and have seen some nice people with some real talent. It's kind of refreshing to see other writers out there struggling through the same things I am and succeeding. A bit about me: I am 22 and am finishing up my bachelor's degree in computer science at the University of California, Davis. After those four years, I've started wondering what I really want to do with the rest of my life. Have kind of rediscovered my passion for writing, which I had sort of let slip by the wayside for the first three years of college.... I like anime and manga! I don't consider myself to be a real "expert" on either, but I've followed a few series. Used to be a pretty avid gamer before I got back into writing. I still play, but they serve as a break from writing now. I like fantasy fiction, which is mostly what I write. I honestly haven't read very much of it, but most the animes/mangas I like have that kind of theme. I like bulleted lists. They are just so handy.... XD I look forward to exchanging more ideas and reviews with you all. See you around in the forums!
Hello Reality, 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 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!
