Hi everyone! This is the first new forum I've joined in a long time now. Unfortunately alot of my old online hangouts have died out and there's a void in my life that was previously filled by my old writing forum which needs filling again! A bit about myself: I have a degree in Computing and am now back at college doing Creative and Media which I realise now is my calling. I love graphic design and for my extended project I'm illustrating one of the books I have written, and I'm completely loving it. I've written a fair few books now, although none published. I intend to self-publish the book I'm illustrating on Lulu.com when I'm finished since I need to get it printed anyway and I've come to realise as I'm proofreading it for the tenth time that it was more or less unpublishable anyway. I've also got a few more books I've written; some that I'll never allow to see the light of day again, some that I like and will allow a select few to read, and then others like the one I'm writing now that I'm completely in love with and want the rest of the world to read! I look forward to chatting with y'all and getting back into my writing groove!
Hello XV, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Posting your own writing for comment 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 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!
Welcome! Welcome to the WF! I'm new as well, but I figured since I got a warm welcome that I would help in the effort to give some other new people one too.
