Hey everyone. I have been thinking about trying my hand at writing for a couple of years, but had been putting it off while I poured myself into my music instead. But the ideas have just kept piling up so I decided that it was time to try and get them written out. It didn't take long for me to realize that I had a new craft to learn. So now, as I am working on this new journey, I hope that I can make some new friends as I did in my musical pursuits.
Hello Sliver, Welcome to the Writing Forums. 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 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!
Welcome to the WF! Do you know the song that goes: BOOM -BOOM ----BOOM -BABDAS- CHA - CHA- TWEdility - deet -doo- dah? I love that one! Well enjoy the forums!
Hello(...again) I thought I would re-introduce myself. I came here about a year ago when I was looking to get into writing stories. At that time I had big ambitions and looking back now I realize that I was pushing way too hard. I gave up early due to frustration. Now, I am returning and rather than pushing so hard, I am focusing on enjoying the ride. I haven't really been writing much of anything in a long time, but I think about story lines often. So, right now I am working through the book Immediate Fiction which I really like. I am also brushing up on my grammar through Painless Grammar. I tend to lurk more on forums. So, I may not be noticed often, but I intend on sticking with it. Which should be easier since I am enjoying it this time around.
That's the attitude. When I first decided I wanted to write at a professional level, it was a gruelling and exhausting process to turn my amateur writing into semi-competent writing, and it's still difficult now to turn my semi-competent writing into semi-salable writing. I've had my share of brutal critiques, rejection letters, and moments of diffidence like the next guy. But I found myself enjoying all the time I spent reading about writing and learning about writing. So welcome back.
