Hey guys. This is my first post which you probably realized since its under 'New Member Introductions' I dont write a whole lot, in fact, very rarely, but i though it would be nice to get some anonymous critiques. I hate sharing pieces with people i know personally; they always try to make connections that aren't there... Anyways, my name is Kate. I'm 21 and am a senior in college. Haruki Murakami is probably my favorite author, but Mark Twain and Edgar Allen Poe are pretty sweet too. Well hopefully you guys will help me improve my dismal writing skills without tearing me apart too much.... Thanks Kate
Hello Kate, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Before you can get critique, you must first give critique. This is not just a quid pro quo, it is because improving your critiquing skills is the primary focus of the Review Room workshop. 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). 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!
Welcome philoso! Don't worry if your writing doesn't feel strong to you, this is a great place to develop and learn. Reviews are helpful, but I often find reviewing others' work is just as helpful. Good luck.
Welcome Philosoraptor! You will love it here....I know I do! If you help others as much as you want to be helped, you will go a long way. Look forward to seeing some of your work!
hi kate! ahhh, the connections. gotta love that part don't ya? lol. i hope you find time to get your stuff down on paper - best of luck with it!
Welcome to Writingforums.org. We will break you. There will be no defence. We will find your work and we will break it. It will break where it is weakest and hold where it is strongest. If you survive watching your work broken, together, we will rebuild it, into something far stronger than it once was. Enjoy your stay. </durden>