More than anything, I find my own reaction to the discovery of this forum, intriguing. Now approching middle age (ha!) I haven't more than dabbled in writing, though I've always loved it and dreamt I could. My issue is always inspiration, as well as follow through. I'm one of those with the actions of, but without the excuse of Attention Deficit Disorder. My interests run the gamut from dogs, to politics to fitness and food. My own ugly truth to tell a writers forum is that I have trouble reading fiction because I often lose interest and want to move on to other things. My arrival here was spurred on by my new intention of starting a fiction blog for other food fans. Whether I write these stories myself (which scares the crap out of me) or find others to help, this forum has brought a new level of excitement for writing to me. So, thanks!
Hello Tonik, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Just to make certain there are no misunderstandings, you may not recruit members for your blog project. Please read How to Use the Review Room before you post there. 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!
