Hi Everyone, I love this website! I have been lurking around for some time and I’m now ready to start posting. I am in the process of drafting my first novel and I have SOOO many questions as I have no idea what I’m doing! I have written a few pieces in the past, mainly in my private journals. I would love to contribute but I’m only a novice so I don’t think my advice will be of any help just yet! I look forward to getting to know you all….
Hello Nervous, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Everyone here is learning. Your opinion IS valuable, not least because by expressing it, you are taking a chance. We learn from successes, but we learn more when we stumble. Posting your own work 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. 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!
Welcome Nervous.......and don't be. Everybody has an opinion and you shouldn't be afraid to offer yours. I am a newbie too and I'm slowly becoming accustomed to reviewing peoples work. My strengths don't lie in grammar or sentence structures, so I concentrate more on plot elements and tone. Having posting work myself I can honestly say that even the smallest of comments or observations can have a big impact on your work. Use your unique voice and express yourself. I am the Imposter.
