1. monarchwing

    monarchwing New Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    Hello from Minnesota!

    Discussion in 'New Member Introductions' started by monarchwing, Jun 14, 2010.

    Hi everyone! My name is Patty, and I joined the forum about a week ago. This is my first post here. I've been reading the rules and posts and exploring the site, and this looks like a fun place.

    I've been a diarist for a long time. Sometimes I look at diary entries and think there might be good stories there. I have an Associate's degree in general studies, but I've never taken a formal creative writing course. In my academic writing classes I received good grades and some positive feedback (i.e. my essays had good "tone" and nice "flow"). Due to my current budget situation, I'm going the "self-taught" route. I am saving money to take a class or two, though!

    I haven't decided yet if I want to write short stories or novels. I enjoy reading both. I have a wide variety of interests, too--everything from 19th Century Russian Literature to Harry Potter. Some contemporary US authors I like are Anne Tyler, Pat Conroy, Billie Letts and Wally Lamb. When no one's looking, I love a good celebrity memoir :eek:

    I'm hoping to meet some new friends here. I'm also hoping to learn by giving and receiving feedback.

    Take care,

    Patty
     
  2. Shinn

    Shinn Banned

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    Hello Patty and welcome to WF :D

    And I'd love to be friends with you!
     
  3. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    Hello Patty, 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!
     
  4. Gigi_GNR

    Gigi_GNR Guys, come on. WAFFLE-O. Contributor

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    Welcome.
     

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