Hello, my name's Adam, though the title might have told you that. My username is Folken24. I'm 26. I have an BA in English and I'm getting an MS in Educational Technology. I started out with a love of writing, but over time that has expanded to include a lot of other things, like video and film editing, dvd menu authoring, and a little bit of photography, though writing is where it all started for me, and I think that the written word will always be special to me. My taste in stories tends to be a bit eclectic, though a fair amount of it is fantasy and science fiction. I tend to skim the cream off a lot of things, read or watch a few good examples of action, romance, drama, comedy. Similarly my writing tends to involve a little or a lot of magical elements, but on occasion I do write realistic fiction. I decided to come here because in the past I've been a member of writing groups, and I miss that sense of community, fellow story lovers and storytellers, sharing their work and their reactions. Looking forward to reading what's here and hearing what others think of my stories.
Hello Adam, Welcome to the Writing Forums. 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. 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!
