So, my name is Kyle and I'm a beginning novelist. I've been working on my very first novel for about a year and a half now and have, at last, arrived at my 21st chapter out of an estimated 30. I've just posted a little tease from my novel in the forums, so if you could pop over to the novels section, I'd be overjoyed. I live in Virginia and tend to use my forested surroundings as settings as I've yet to live in any big city. I absolutely love coming up with epic fantasy ideas, ones that have a lot at stake and are particularly inventive. As a result, I love writing fantasy and reading it too. Story plots that involve a web of characters who are on their own separate journeys and criss-cross every now and then at unexpected times. Now THAT is my kind of book. So as you can probably see, I am kind of melodramatic. Anyway, I'm really excited about this website. I've been looking for a place to share and review pieces of personal literature for a while now and this place is by far the best. Hope to have some memorable moments with all you fellow posters. Farewell and good luck.
Hello Kyle, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Posting your own work should not be the very first thing you do here. It is really worthwhile 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 reviewing as a critical 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!
Oh, don't get me wrong. I've been surfing the forums, seeing how writing styles differ and such, and, I have to say, it's definitely affecting my state of mind for the better.
