Hello all, My name is aaron, im new to the thread and would like some advice on my writing style. i find everything i write so flat and unexpressive. i was never much of a skilled writer, i was always more of a visual guy, that is why i work as a tv editor, but now i need to do some writing and i would like some help/advice. my situation is this, i will be applying to a film school, and i need to write a personal statement. I need to say a little about myself, why i chose this school and what i plan to accomplish, i think the usual questions. thanks for the help, aaron
Hello Aaron, Welcome to the Writing Forums. We cannot give you detailed assistance on your personal statement. That is supposed to reflect your own work, not a collaborative effort. Please read the site rules. 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!
Read the jacket covers of novels, see how writers describe their work. Think of yourself as the greatest piece of literature the world over.... Then write some stuff about yourself. Remember you're applying to a film school, your written statement isn't going to go nearly as far as your work is. Try being good at film editing and paying your tuition and you'll be fine.
Aaron, As Cogitio has pointed out, when it comes to work related to school the site can help only so much. It would be good idea to read over the forum rules so that we all start off on a good foot. Berlin? Germany? So many fond memories I have of living in Berlin in the late 80's. I was stationed at Templehof. Loved it. My friends discovered the Linientrue club on Budapester Straße and we were there ever weekend. *giant wave of nostalgia knocks me down* Anyway, welcome!
sorry guys, i hope that was a typical rookie mistake. ill check out the rules. should i remove my post until i have wondered around a bit and done a couple reviews?
Welcome to the forums, aaron. Hope you get the help you need, but don't expect us to fix your actual statement! - Andy
are you refering to the file format? i tried saving it as pdf but it was too big, doc as well, so i choose txt. i will learn the ropes soon, sorry.
Read the rules, please. Attachments for critique aren't permitted in any case, but you won't be permitted to post your personal essay for critique anyway.
