A favorite teacher of mine once told me that writing is not a solitary pursuit. It isn't done by wizened, old men locked away from the world in towers. Nor is it accomplished in a vacuum void of the critique and influence of others. I found this very discouraging, as I'm deeply introverted and highly insecure. I'm afraid of opening myself up to criticism. I suppose that's why it took me two years to even join a writing forum. That's also why most of my writing is done in my head and just as soon forgotten about as written down. I recently had my hours cut. While part of me lamented the change in my fortune and my diminished wages, another part brightened. The thought of having days alone to myself to pursue my interests, mainly digesting other's stories and creating my own, delighted me. It was then that a had a choice to make, pursue my "career" elsewhere (I'm a data entry specialist) or start on a road that may lead me to fulfilling my dreams. It was hardly a choice at all. While I realize that I may not find a Hemingway/Fitzgerald kind of friendship, I'd love to make some connections while I'm here. Thank you for reading, and thank you for writing. -B.H. Miller
i beg to differ... writing IS a 'solitary pursuit'... as most any seasoned writer will attest to... however, considering the surfeit of writing sites and writing groups and such that exist, talking about writing certainly isn't! in any case, welcome to this writing site, bh!... you've come to the best one on the net... love and hugs, maia
Hello BH, Welcome to the Creative Writing Forums. Yes, writing IS a solitary pursuit. Still, a writer can learn a lot by sharing techniques and theory with other writers. Please read How to Use the Writing Workshop before you try to post there. Posting your own writing for people to comment on should not be among the very first things you do here anyway. 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 Writing Prompts, or the Writing Workshop, 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 site rules, too, to avoid any misunderstandings or hurt feelings. Respect for one another is our principal mandate. As for the Writing Workshop, 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. We also impose a two-week waiting period before you may post writing for critique, to give you time to become familiar with what is expected and how the site operates. The Writing Workshop 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 Writing Workshop 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!
