Another newbie, here. I hope everyone's well? I began writing aged six, after watching a class video about the terribly hard lives of children working in a brick-making factory; their suffering made me feel things I hadn't experienced before, and my usual distraction techniques (ball games, chase games, Let's Pretend etc) didn't do those feelings justice. So I sat down with some folded pieces of paper that Mum helpfully stapled for me, and wrote a story about those brickmaker children; only this time, I allowed them an escape, a possible happy ending. I've no idea where that little book is now, but I owe it a lot, as well as that video; it made me realize that writing was going to be my "outlet" in life. So that's why I continue, why I imagine any real writer continues, when no publishing deal appears or money rolls in; that *itch* doesn't go away (unless dreaded writers' block sets in, which feels like mental constipation) and it needs to be addressed. Even when the words don't seem to do the feelings justice, I can at least say I tried. All that muck aside - Hello
Hello Celena, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Please read How to Use the Writing Workshop 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 Writing Workshop, 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 Writing Workshop, 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. We also impose a two-week waiting period before you may post writing for critique, to give you time to become familiar with what is expected and how the site operates. The Writing Workshop 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 Writing Workshop 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!
