Hi everyone, I'll go by Cecil here. So, about me: I suppose I've always liked writing, but I never really got into it, or thought of it as a potential career, until high school. Unfortunately, my single biggest difficulty in writing at the time was laziness. Nowadays, I have the will and desire to write, but not the time. Since writing is not a reliable source of income (unless you really make a name for yourself in the industry), I am studying to become a teacher, probably of English, and probably at a high school level. I get around the lack of time (somewhat) by taking creative writing classes. That way I earn needed credits while I do something that I want to do anyway. Though whether or not those courses actually help my writing is pretty debatable. As for my writing, I'm all about sci-fi, fantasy, and supernatural stuff in general. I'm also really fond of vampires (or perhaps just vampire archetypes). However, I like my vampires to be scary, so I go for more of a horror effect rather than a romantic or fantastic one. And for the record, i have neither read nor seen any Twilight, but based on what I've heard, I don't think I would like it. My dream is to write books that people enjoy reading and have a good time with, while "serious literary value" is just a secondary objective. As for reading, my favorites are probably C.S. Friedman and Orson Scott Card. I've also enjoyed some of Anne Rice's earlier stuff, but not as much. One of my biggest weaknesses as a writer is probably getting my ideas onto paper. Thinking of ideas is almost innate for me, but actually writing them in a coherent and interesting way can be tricky. Also grammar. Sometimes I feel like I must have been sick during key lessons in elementary school, though I am getting better as I write. Also, due to time constraints, I probably won't be doing much writing for the forum for at least a while. I'm more here to get information and ask questions and stuff. Incidentally, what's the attitude here for people who don't post their work? I can see myself asking for or about ideas, or writing about my work, but actually posting it seems like a bad idea form a "get published" standpoint.
Hello Cecil, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Posting your own writing for people to comment on should not be among the very first things you do here anyway. 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 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!
