Hi, I'm Paul and I'm a UK-based writer and teacher. I have two WIP currently bubbling away: the first is set in occupied Great Britain during WW2, and the second is a how to write book aimed at beginners (with an eye on a sequel for more advanced writers). I am currently struggling to write regularly since the birth of our baby boy earlier this year, but don't let me give you the wrong impression - I love him to bits! I'm tip-toeing my way tentatively towards snatching enough ten minute scribble sessions here and there to make up a whole hour per day fitting around my hectic work day and marking at home. My best tip is to use a recording MP3 player while out walking the dogs, and send the resulting files off to an audio transcribing service for typing up. Leave the results for a few weeks, then be amazed at some of the things you created while out in the forest in the rain ;-) Looking forward to meeting you all, I should be logging in here a couple of times per week and making a few friends I hope. Best regards, Paul
Welcome to the forums, Paul! Have fun and enjoy it here when you get a free moment! Congrats on your son!!
Hello Paul, Welcome to the Writing Forums. 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!
Hello Paul. Welcome on the birth of your baby boy, and congratulations to the forum. ...or something biddy