Hi all, After nearly 20 years, I am finally acting on my desire to write. Some guys get a little red sports car when they reach my age. I guess I'll write about one (a lot less expensive) I've had an intro paragraph in my "book" folder on the computer since 1995. It's only 300 words but it's a start. Now that I've decided to do something with it I'm having a lot of fun thinking of all the different ways the story could unfold. I've always enjoyed Science Fiction and Techno-Thriller stories so as of now that seems to be the way I'm heading. I'd like to use some of my life experiences in the story if possible (people I've met, jobs I've had, etc). As I sit here tonight, I'm considering writing the story in the "near future" of 10-20 years from now. I've got a lot to learn as I've never done any real writing so I will be reading the forums for tips and ideas. I'm in it purely for the fun at this point and have no illusions of getting published. I'm looking forward to learning as much as possible and sharing some examples of my story as it develops.
Hello Rule, 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!
