...lovely to meet you. My name's Darren, and I'm an insomniac, which is why i'm on here at 7 in the morning. I'm also one of the laziest people around (I think the two are related). I've never shown my writing to anyone, largely because it's not very good, but also because I never complete anything. However, as I have recently been made redundant I figured I have the time to actually work on my writing and figured this would be a good place to get some tips, ideas, and motivation. So yeah, thats about it. I look forward to getting to know you all, but right now I can feel the possibility of sleep so I'm going to try and grab the opportunity while I can. Bye!
Hi and welcome! I lost my job two years ago and haven't found anything since, but I have managed to write two novels in the meantime However, losing my job after 32 years working as a professional has been a huge blow to my self-esteem and confidence so I don't post any of my work here any more, since the feedback I get only makes me want to give up or run away screaming. Good luck with the writing and remember the lounge here is a pretty relaxing place to be!
Hello Darren, 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. 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). 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!
Hey Darren. Welcome to the forum (if I can say that, having been here only moments myself). I'm of the opinion that it takes a brave person to write scintillating fiction and that it takes courage to expose one's fiction to others. I also think it may be that very vulnerability that infuses great fiction with some of its most compelling, delicate, elusive, and unusual qualities--maybe even gives it its "edge." So, grab onto the challenge and go with it! Welcome, Molly
