Oh, hello there internet, I didn't see you come in! I was busy reading some fine classic English literature. But nevermind that, I suppose I should formally introduce myself so as to avoid being rude. My name is Frank and I'm a 19 year old unpublished writer who has been crafting stories since before I can remember. My capacity for writing has greatly improved than it initially was, I'm no child progeny or any of that nonsense, but I seem to have confidence issues when it comes to charing my work. I've written what I consider a rather short novel at 125 hand written pages single spaced in small chicken scratch, as is my way, but I refuse to have it published. I just don't feel as though it represents my style. Besides my writing I am a student with Trent Univeristy majoring in English Literature, specifically classics such as Shakespeare and post-colonial literature. I'm also a big fan of philosophy and religious debates as well as politics. I find myself increasingly bothered by problems in the world due to my newly found obsession with actually paying attention to what politicians are doing, validating the claim that ignorance is bliss. So, now that I've divulged a little bit of me maybe you can divulge a little bit of you? We'll chare, get to know one another, and who knows, maybe we'll all be better for the experience? In short, "hey how're you doing?"
I think we all have confidence issues when it comes to sharing our work...especially when it comes to sharing some of our first works or the works that mean the most to us. Learning to take critiques on even the pieces that are the closest to home for us is what helps us improve as writers so that we can develop the skills that will lead us to be more confident in our craft. Anyway, welcome to the site! I hope to see you around ~Lynn
Hello Frank, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Posting your own work 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. 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). 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!
