It's hard for me to believe that I'm actually beginning this journey. My 34th birthday was last month. I imagine, like most, I used some of that time to think about the things I wished I had done. For me, each year it usually comes back to getting started on that novel I've been wanting to write. Writing a novel is my life project. I don't want to be rich, famous, or acclaimed. This is what I feel I must do in order to just say, "I did it". Naturally, I want to develop and hone my style and skills in order to produce to the best of my ability. Getting published isn't the ultimate goal. I look forward to simply typing those final two words: The End. On a more related level, I am an avid reader. I have read nearly all of what most would consider to be "the classics". By far my favorite author is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, writer of Sherlock Holmes. Stephen King is another favorite, though I haven't read any of his recent works. I look forward to interacting with all of you!
Hey, Browncoat. Welcome to the Writing Forums. I'm sure you'll get ample advice when writing your novel. So do you have any hobbies or intests? What do you like to write and read? However you answer, I'm sure you'll fit right in. Welcome, and enjoy your path to literary enlightenment. Oh, and feel free to call me Hedge, or Greg. Whichever you prefer. :]
Hello Browncoat, Welcome to the Writing Forums. 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. 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!
