Evening Guys, Alex, 18 here from the UK. The forum is looking great! packed with some very experienced and talented members by the looks of things. My main goals at this time are to improve on all aspects of my writing style and creativity, it'd be so cool to be able to write a novel of some kind. Also if there are any music Journalists out there that can offer up any advice, I'd really love to speak with you. All the best
Hello Alex, Welcome to the Writing Forums. A novel woulds indeed be a proud accomplishment, but it requires a huge commitnent, even after you have gained some mastery in writing shorter pieces. Go for it, but with your eyes open to the challenges it represents. 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!
Thanks Cogito, May I ask where to start? free course, ebook maybe? Taking a good look through general writing forum, but wondered if you recommend a starting point for newbies? Alex
The Lounge is a good place to get to know people. The writing Issues foruns are good if you have specific questions, or even to get an ov erview of what other memebers have wrestled with. And, of course, the weekly contests are good fun and a place to test your ability to write to a theme on short notice.
