I have looked around, and I tend to like the forums. I am looking forward to learning to critique others works, and hence learning to better critique my own. I am 29, and a mother of 3 young girls, and had never considered putting pen to paper for any real purpose until november last year; though I have known I feel comfortable writing, all my life, having kept a journal when I was younger. There is nothing quite like the newness of a fresh writing pad. The potential is inspirational - I just never knew what to write. I enjoy - no, I really enjoy - writing my fantasy themed story, and some poems to go along with it (some of which didn't make much sense at first, but they are coming along nicely, I think! lol). I have found that when I am not writing it, my mind is dwelling on where it will go next, plot possibilities and the like. It's totally encompassing. Hopefully sometime soon I can post the first chapter of the story I have started (after I have learnt how to review and critique it better myself!), and see what everyone thinks of it. Looking forward to participation, Elistara oh, and favorite authors included Roald Dahl as I was growing up, but now Terry Goodkind.
Hello Elistara, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Posting your own work should not be among the very first things you do here anyway. 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!
