Hi, My name is Scott, and I've joined the writing forums in hopes to expose my good looks and bask in the amount fame and fortune that even Elton John would be envious of. But of course, I'm dreaming, and perhaps even joking, just a little. But on a serious note, I've been writing as a hobby for years and felt it'd be good to join a forum like this. Never wrote anything particularly good, only things I've written for fun, although, at the time, I thought they were pure gold that only a genius could think up. I'm still only in my early twenties, and I have much to learn yet. I'm not much of a critique, but I'll tell you if I liked it or not, I just feel bad picking things apart. Maybe one day I'll grow the backbone. All I can say, is that I'm looking forward to reading lots and sharing my thoughts and ideas with you. Thanks. ~ Scott
Hello Scott, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Giving an honest, focused critique is a helping hand extended to a writer. It is also beneficial to you, giving the critique. Improving your critiquing skills help you turn a keener eye to your own writing, making you a better writer. 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. 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!
That is some really good advice, and honestly, I've never thought about reviewing someone's work to be that way. I don't have much experience within writing forums, so I kind of had this weird idea about how people might act. But thank you, I really appreciate it, along with with all the other things you've told me.
