Hi there everyone, I’m a sixth former in my last year of A-Levels, hoping to study English Literature and Creative Writing at University. I’ve joined because I feel I need more input on my writing and because I think being part of a community like this should help further my passion for writing. Being entirely honest, it has been a very long time since I actually finished a piece of writing - at the start I’m happily caught up in whatever idea has come to me, but by the third sitting I’m usually extremely judgemental and critical of everything that I’ve done and have planned. I just give up and look for a new idea, which in turn follows the same pattern. I’m hoping that a bit of guidance is all I need to address this - as it is a worry for someone who is looking to do Creative Writing at University! A little about myself. I'm 18, I live in Wales, I'm an avid jazz/blues guitarist currently playing with two bands. I have a great interest in creative film and entertainment and my favourite authors' novels are James Baldwin's Sonny's Blues and Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner. I hope to be spending lots of time here!
Hello Tomaz, Welcome to the Writing Forums. 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. 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 reviewing as a critical 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). 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!
