Hello - my name is Ethan, and I am a sci-fi geek and aspiring author. I am currently working on a novel called The Shooter Vanished, a not very good first draft of which I wrote as part of National Novel Writing Month in 2009. I also have two other half-written novels rumbling around my brain. I work as a paralegal, and the main challenge I have right now is finding energy to sit down and write after a long day at work, especially since I'm also incredibly busy with World of Warcraft (wry grin). Eventually I want to quit work and write full time, but that's not in the cards for another few years at least.
Let me be the first to welcome you to the writingforums- you've definitely come to the right place haha. And WoW... haha I was pretty big into that til the pre-cata patch lol. That's great that you already have some experience with contests, that's always helpful and as a WoW enthusiast, I'd like to direct you to Blizzard's annual writing contest. I'm not sure if you've heard of it, but the prize is pretty epic. (haha... pun...) It starts around mid-summer, but I'm gonna be getting started on my entry soon. anyways, welcome!
Thanks - no I hadn't heard of Blizz's writing contest. I'll take a look. Just got my venerable fury warrior up to the level cap of 85 last night. It was a big moment for me.
Hello Ethan, 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!
