So now I'm here doing this. I've lurked for five minutes and everyone here seems marvelous so I thought I would pop in and say hi. I hope to critique more than I am critiqued. I will always take it personally. I hope to learn something too. Cheers, Phlogiston
Hello Phlogiston, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Please read How to Use the Review Room before you do decide to post there. 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 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!
Hi, Phlogiston. I like your attitude! Andy Warhol died in 1987. Must have been one of your old cats he ate. Probably what did him in.
You can never take it personally as a writer. You have to be strong and take criticism well to make it. Its essential for you to grow a tough skin because there's always a critic out there that will trash your work. The ones who make it are persisstent and learn from their mistakes. The one's who refuse to grow as writers will forever be stuck at the same level with their craft. They will go nowhere. But its great to have you here and I hoped to see your craft in the future. Criticism can cut deep but don't let that deter you from posting your stuff. Learn, persist, evolve, grow.
Thank you all. I hope to see everyone around the forums. minstrel - Andy Warhol is what I call my vacuum cleaner... Wordhacker - That is excellent advice for any writer to keep in mind! Gigi_GNR - I did think long and hard over the title, it's good to know that has been appreciated. Phlogiston
Like everyone else has already mentioned... loved the title! If your writing is half as appealing, then I think we're in for a treat! Welcome!
Hi Phlogiston! I'm new too. But welcome anyways- I could not resist myself from leaving a comment after your title. I recently received "25 Cats Name Sam and one Blue Pussy by Andy Warhol and Holy Cats by Andy Warhol's mother" book. So yeah- kudos on the title
