Hello all, I'm glad to find such an organized and populated forum site to connect with like-minded writers and exchange ideas and advice about writing. I recently started reading a first-novel by an average writer. Judging by the quality of work, the marketing hype, and the fact that the novel will soon be turned into a movie, I decided that I should write my own novel since I have a solid story (based on a real story) supported by much scientific research. My only problem is that English is my second language! I do not feel discouraged by this, however, I know that no matter how well my story is, no matter how interesting my research is, I would still lack the necessary writing skills to produce a manuscript that publishers would be interested in. So here I am, just trying to learn from everyone else and receive advice. I am 45% done with my first chapter -which I think will later be modified to be in the middle of the novel- and I would like to share it with you guys and have some point out any comments which you feel should be shared with me. The novel talks about esoteric, occult, and religious texts. A middle eastern kid finds a ring in an old area of Saudi Arabia then tries to decipher an inscription he finds hidden in it after weird incidences start happening in his daily life. The curiosity of a child drives him to a portal of hidden knowledge that very few people know about. That's my story -or novel, in this case- and that's why I'm here!
Hello Deity, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Please read How to Use the Review Room before you post there. Posting your own writing for people to comment on 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. Also, be aware that posting a piece of writing on any public site, including this one, will greatly diminish your chances of selling it for publication. Removing the writing later does not alter that fact - once posted, it is irreversibly considered published. So do not post anything more than a small excerpt of any piece you are planning to submit for publication. 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). Also, please use the same thread for all revisions and additional excerpts from the same piece of writing. 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 the RPG forum for improvisational fiction. Also try 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!
I guess you could write your book in your first language. Very sure there are plenty of books published in other languages. If you don't feel that would be in best interests though, you can just take the time and really work on your English skills. Good to have you here and don't give up.
Welcome. It's good that English being your second language isn't discouraging you - it shouldn't. You could write it in your first language, like S-wo said, and then maybe afterwards translate it into English. Good luck with the novel, and your writing, anyway.
