Hi there, My name is Kresha and I live in South Africa. Now that the general introduction is done I can tell you a little about myself. I have recently turned 22, but - according to everyone I know - I am more like a 30 year old. I am a bit in between at the moment - not really sure if I am coming or going. I have become very inquisitive with all things related to life - meaning, evolution, etc. I think it all relates to recent family crises that have occurred, but that will not hold me back. I am studying Criminal Psychology part time through UNISA and I work full time at an Art Gallery. Art has never been a focal point in my life, but ever since I started this job 2 months ago, I have acquired new found talents for sketching and painting - although I doubt anyone would agree that I have any talent at all! My past is a story with many mountains and mole hills, but it has all brought me to a point now where I can cope with almost anything thrown at me. Even though I still have many an issue with my past that I live with on a daily basis, I have grown so much in the last year and my inner strength is slowly beginning to improve. Writing is something that has always intrigued me. I have thought about writing about my life and giving people who are or were in the same position that I was in something to look to for support or understanding, but when it comes down to actually putting pen to paper (or, should I rather say, finger tip to keyboard ) I seem to chicken out. I have so much respect for authors and those people confident enough to write. I am hoping that by joining this forum, I will gain the confidence to write and to actually show my writing to others!
Hello Kresha, 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!
Welcome to the forums, Kresha! I wish I was in South Africa right now, or maybe before England lost 4-1. I hope you post something, too, your introduction was certainly interesting. - Andy
