Hello everyone! I'm new...obviously, since the little counter by my name shows (now) 1 post. Writing has always been something I enjoy, yet have had little success in pushing to the "next level". I seem to struggle with a flood of ideas, but plotting and adding conflict to create a novel-length piece trip me up repeatedly. I'm hoping being here and interacting/learning/reading all of you will help me clear this hurdle.
Hello Vivian, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Why not start smaller? Write some short fiction while you are planning your novel. It will give you the opportunity to develop your style and build your confidence level. 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!
Get some short stories completed before you jump on a novel! Welcome to the site, I hope you find what you're looking for here. - Andy
I agree on starting to small. I've rushed through stories before laying out the plot before adding the details. Or other times I would force myself to the end even if I didn't want to. Until I gained my interest back.
I'm new to writing as well Viv. I do have a novel in mind but I am taking the advice all us new posters are given and starting small. Write a scene from a novel, write a short story and practice things like description, how characters interact and how you narrate it. Feel free to message me any time you like if you want me to critique your stuff.
