Hi all! I debated whether I should introduce myself and decided why not The quick facts are that I am 27, living in Texas, going to school for accounting, and 2 years married. I recently decided to start writing for fun and have started dabbling in writing a young adult novel. Not even sure how, but I stumbled across this forum and got a little excited about really writing as a hobby and getting involved in a community like this. I sort of hate writing for English classes, but I really think that I write well and have gotten compliments from teachers in the past. Not really sure where the conflict is except that maybe it just comes down to being told what to write and read. That, and it really it has only been in the last few years that I have begun to read more. The book I am writing is still very much just in the beginning stages, but I am having fun with building the characters and finding ways to make it interesting to read. We'll see how far I get! I'm also hoping to build my skills and hopefully my love of writing with some creative writing assignments, so that should be interesting too. See ya soon!
Hello Lucky, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Compliments are great for validation, and to fan the embers of interest. However, the next step is harder. The next step involves ripping your writing apart ruthlessly but respectfully to find where the greatest improvements can be made. It's a humbling process,and not everyone takes it well, but if you can set aside ego, the value is immense. So posting your own work should not be the very first thing you do here. It is really worthwhile 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 reviewing as a critical 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). 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!
