Hi everyone, For several years I've wanted to write a book. I've been going over ideas in my head, writing down notes, brainstorming, coming up with short excerpts, everything except actually sitting down and writing it. I still haven't started the actual contents itself, but now I'm making a more dedicated effort to actually do this. Over the past couple days I've been writing an outline of the story idea I've had, and working to fill any gaps I haven't thought of. I've always liked writing, but the funny thing is I don't actually do alot of reading, and I was never particularly good at the arts, so my writing certainly suffers because of it. Nonetheless, I'm hoping that signing up to this forum will give me some extra incentive and motivation to carry on. I'll be seeing you guys on the boards.
Hello skimhitz, Welcome to the Writing Forums. 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!
Hi! I'm in the same boat as you! I've been addicted to reading for years and have always wanted to write a book and have just started jotting down ideas. I'm hoping to make a short story of it. Good luck to you!
Welcome, and good luck to you! Having just recently begun my own novel, let me share one piece of advice. Don't worry about the gaps. Just start writing and they will fill themselves in as you go. Before I began my novel I wrote a two page synopsis of my story. By the third page of my actual novel, it was obsolete because the story took on a life and direction of its own. Now, at just over 30,000 words, it bears little resemblance to my original idea but it is a much more compelling story, imho.
