I've never really melded into a writing forum before, and maybe this could be the first. I get little to no feedback on the majority of my work, which discourages me a great deal. Sometimes I don't write as much because of it, even though I know that it's a horrible reason not to write. I shouldn't care as much about the approval of others, but sadly, as a teenage girl, it's pretty hard not to. Especially when it's something you put effort towards. Am I welcome?
Hello Snow White, Welcome (<== yes!) to the Writing Forums. Our critique process isn't designed to tell you how good your writing is (or isn't). Instead, we focus, and you learn to focus, on ways to improve it. Every piece of writing can be improved. So it doesn't matter how good your writing is now, it only matters how good you can make it. 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!
Hey Snowwhite, welcome to the Forum and of course you're welcome! And in terms of approval, I'm very much the same. I constantly need praise and encouragement whether I'm writing for work or recreation. But I have found that that's what friends and family are for. What you'll get here is positive, constructive critique that will help you develop the technicalities behind your writing. And as for how good you are, that is purely subjective. I personally think David Eddings is a hack, but millions buy his books. Rambling welcome over!
