Hello everyone. I've just joined, but I've been reading lots of the stuff posted on the various forums on this site and have been really quite impressed with the standard of criticism people are offering. I'm in my twenties and from the UK. I mainly write tall tales; fantasy, sci-fi, and horror with a surreal twist, but I've been known to dabble in a bit of verse. Hopefully I can make some helpful comments on other peoples' work, even if it's just saying what bits I like. I'm always after feedback on my own work, even if they hate it it's good to know that it's gone through someone else's eyes and into their brain... (Evil laughter.)
Hello Jefferson, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Thank you, we focus pretty heavily on developing the reviewing skill with constructive critiquing. Details in feedback are all-impoirtant, and make all the difference between a useless thumbs up/down and something the writer can use to improve the writing. Posting your own work should not be the very first thing you do here. It is really worthwhile 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!
Thanks very much for the kind welcome everyone. Quite some time has passed since I registered, and in my semi-lurking state I hadn't actually noticed all your comments. It's a pleasure to join you.
