1. Ramlatus

    Ramlatus New Member

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    How is everyone? I'm new here.

    Discussion in 'New Member Introductions' started by Ramlatus, Dec 27, 2009.

    Hello everyone. I'm new here and hope to enjoy my time here. I of course like to read, but I have rarely in my life had people to talk to about the books I read. In recent years I have found it harder and harder to even find people that like to read. Most of the time I meet people that think that spending the time to read a book is insulting, or the activity of retarded people. This of course doesn't make sense as reading increases your knowledge and ways of thinking. I end up feeling sad for them as they don't know what they are missing and sad for the world of literature because each day it gets closer to extinction.

    Do any of you feel this way at times?
     
  2. SurrealOdyssey

    SurrealOdyssey New Member

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    Hi there, I'm new here too.

    I find I can't talk to most people about books because most people I know, even if they like to read, aren't interested in 'literature' per se. I can be a bit of an intellectual snob in matters like this, and many of my bookworm friends love Twilight and Harry Potter, but think One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is crap and boring. I say, but, what about the awesome metaphors? But they aren't interested. :(
     
  3. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

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    Hello Ramiatus, Welcome to the Writing Forums.

    I honestly don't waste much time thinking of those people. They are happy enough in their own right, so I don't feel a need to "fix" them. It would not be a good enough life for me, but that is me.

    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 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!
     
  4. Gigi_GNR

    Gigi_GNR Guys, come on. WAFFLE-O. Contributor

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    welcome.
     
  5. TWErvin2

    TWErvin2 Contributor Contributor

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    Ramlatus,

    I'm an English teacher, so yes, I do find many individuals who don't think reading is a good time investment. But I can say that in the last two or three years, I've seen an uptick in the number of my students who read more than the works they are assigned.

    Welcome to the forum

    Terry
     
  6. writewizard

    writewizard New Member

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    Greetings earthling. I am glad you love to write and are spreading the love. I hope you enjoy your time here. Come back soon. ;)

    Edit: What is your favorite animal?
     

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