Hi, All. I’ve been writing a lot recently and have been searching for some willing victims to test some material on. I hope I’ve come to the right place. I maintain a blog and have always been partial to telling stories. I have had some amazing life experiences and hope one day to publish a saleable memoir. One has to start somewhere, however, and asking people who aren’t gushing friends to review my fictional work is a start. I was a little taken aback at the review-before-posting requirement and though I can see the merit in it, I think that had I known it would have prevented me from joining in the first place. Come to find, it’s an eye-opener and so far I’m glad I stuck around. I am not partial to sifting through pages of policy and arbitrary rule sets, so is there a quick link to a general outline of what’s expected from me as a contributor? The last thing I would like would be to find myself the subject of a scathing reprimand, having foregone some minor convention. - Jason
Hello Jason, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Posting your own writing for comment 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!
Mmmm. Automated responses.. So warm and fuzzy. maybe I should automate my reviews.. I read your <short/novel/poem> and found it very <compelling/trashy/sad>. As a result I would like to <Hear more/hang myself/stab my eyes out with a fork>. In general your work appears to be <Well though out/plagiarized/edible> and I hope you <continue/stop/never again take up> writing. <sincerely/spitefully/in love>, Dystronic.
Don't mistake templated for automatic. I use a template for the standard greeting to make sure I cover the important points. But I read every intro I reply to first. The rules really aren't that long. mIn fact, they are shorter than my welcome post. But please do read Why Write Reviews Before Posting My Work?, as you seem to have doubts about our reviewing requirements. It explains why the Review Room is a critiquing workshop, not a "place to get feedback."
Its not that i'm doubtful. I understand the purpose. It's just that I was about to post some days ago and then I happened across Hobbywriters story. It was and remains closed even though Ive seen a couple of critiques he's posted since. For that reason I was attempting to clarify the parameters concerning reviewing and trying to determine what you consider acceptable. I just don't want to make the mistake of getting my thread locked. As it concerns the automated reply, I was trying to be funny. Perhaps I should wait until you establish a comedy writing forum.
HILARIOUS! Welcome to the forum. Don't worry so much about the reveiws! It isn't really the ordeal some make it out to be. Hey! I know! If anyone gets really nervous, just let me know. I'll post something that has lots of SPAG for you to practice on! LMAO
