I'm James, though my friends like to call me JB. I'm an aspiring author with a few completed manuscripts, one on the publishing doorstep--visit my website, www.jbhoke.net, for more information on that. I've written professionally in the military for several years with various news and feature articles published in many newspapers, magazines, and websites around the world. In recent years, my writing career has stagnated, as I no longer work as a journalist, but focus on my true writing ambitions. I will most likely spend the majority of my time on these boards in the Review Room, though I'm sure I will venture into Writing Issues often, too. I'm a member of a few other writing forums around the net (though I'm not sure why it took me so long to join this one). I enjoy critiquing others' work (and will probably try to post 2+ critiques a week), but more so, seeing them benefit from the critiques offered. I do like to get solid reviews and looks at my own work, but I won't post anything up until it's time. I also like to get into the conversations about what you should know as a writer and improving my knowledge base of everything associated with writing. Hopefully, I will enjoy the stay.
Hello James, Welcome to the Writing Forums. 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!
