Hello, all! I have found this forum in the hope that I will find a place where I can receive honest critiques of my short stories, without people "sugar-coating" it, as such. I would however appreciate clarification on the copyright scene of things- does posting here count as "publication"? Thanks, ShadyWilbury
Hi there Shady! If you post, you WILL receive honest critiques. There are many dedicated reviewers here. However, you must post two constructive and thorough reviews of others' work before you're permitted to post your own. It does not count as publication in the sense of becoming a published writer. But as far as copyright goes, bear in mind that ANYONE can read and steal your work.
Hello Shady, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Posting here, or on any public forum, does not affect your ownership of the copyright. That is yours automatically when you complete your work (US and most other countries). However, most publishers will consider posting on a public site "publication", and will not complete a contract if they require first publication rights; this often means you will be unable to get it published. Posting your own work should not be the very first thing you do here anyway. It is really worthwhile 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. Enjoy your stay here, and have fun!
