Hello, everyone. I was so relieved to find an active, free site like this. I joined one years ago, but couldn't remember the name and a google search for writing groups didn't turn up much, not on par with what I remembered. I was starting to think people had given up on them...? An introduction... This is somewhat strange for me. I haven't been part of an online writing group, or any online group, in years. I just recently left a cult and it's a slow, arduous process reclaiming myself but one of my principal passions since childhood was writing. I'm not quite sure how it fits into my life now, as I gave it up while I was in. One of my most bitter regrets about the whole affair is that I tore up all of my stories (or in some cases, physically broke the disks) because I was convinced that the writing was evil (and on some level, I think, because I just wanted it out of the way--I was so concerned about someone finding it). Now I have almost no writing left. I have found little bits of notes since then, and kept them, but that's all I've got left. This may be TMI. It's hard for me to gauge the appropriateness of things now, especially in social situations. Sorry in advance for any faux pas or if I step on toes in the future. I'm like someone who needs interpersonal physical therapy ( ) after a train wreck. ANYWAYS... I've been writing since childhood like I said. I'm interested in all kinds of fiction but especially sci-fi/fantasy. I seem to come up with ideas fairly easily but delivery has always been problematic for me; largely because I wasn't willing to discipline myself enough in the past. Now I don't have a choice about discipline because I literally can't function without it. But attempts to reclaim my creative side by writing have been unfruitful. I think I've just developed such an inhibition to it that, even though the ideas still come (they never really stopped), trying to write them down is like trying to walk through an imaginary wall that, in my mind, is fully real. I thought joining a writing community would help, in perceiving a different perspective of reality, and realizing that the wall is not in fact real. Hard to explain but maybe I've got my point across. Somehow. Other than that, I like cats, hiking, music, travel, meditation, reading popular science books, and many other books.
Hello Summercat, Welcome to the Writing Forums. 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 the RPG forum for improvisational fiction. Also try 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!
Well, that was a long introduction. Not that I mind. I'm glad you managed to leave that cult, that must've been a very difficult thing for you. I also think it's a shame you had to get rid of your writings, but what can you possibly do? I suppose your experience as a cult member gave you more insight and maturity, and that should be reflected in your future works. Hope you will enjoy WritingForums, here we worship Cogito but it's totally healthy, so don't worry. I will see you in the forums! Looking forward to reading some of your stuff.
