My name is Grant, I'm 26 years old, and I live in the United States. I'm a huge fan of hard science fiction and cyberpunk. I'm also really big on American literature in general. I sometimes like fantasy and horror, depending on the writer, and I inhale a certain kind of crime novel, especially if Elmore Leonard wrote it. I'm fairly big on movies, too. I want to publish some short stories and novels someday, but haven't had any luck so far, maybe due to lack of trying. I have published some nonfiction articles here and there on the web. So far, my writing has earned me a whopping total of $4.50... okay, so I haven't quit my day job just yet. I also wrote a screenplay that I jokingly call "Indiana Jones and the Matrix of Doom," but other than the fact that it's a science fiction/adventure film, it really doesn't have much in common with those two movies. I just heard that during a pitch, Hollywood producers like to hear, "It's a cross between ____ and ____!" I'm thinking about trying my hand at freelance writing while I'm still young. I'm not married and I have no kids, so I figure now is the best time to give it a shot. I don't know, though. Maybe you guys can help me make a decision. EDIT: By "give it a shot," I meant writing. Not marriage and kids... eww.
Hello Grant, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Sorry, but I won't try to advise you whether to get married or have kids. I've done both, and am now happily single, with a full grown son and daughter I'm proud of. But your mileage may vary, and only you can map your journey. Posting your own work 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!
lol I don't need help on THAT part; I'm pretty dead certain that neither marriage or kids are for me, actually. Just need help on whether or not freelance writing is for me and, as is such, I was interested in meeting people who make a living writing. Nice to meet you and thanks for the help and links. I wasn't planning on posting anything of my own just yet, but I'll definitely help out whenever and where ever I can apply myself. EDIT: I checked out all those links and wanted to thank you for the help. That's really cool that you have weekly contests.
