Don't have a studio to paint or sculpt anymore, so decided to go back to writing. Haven't written anything since college, so it's like learning to walk again. First problem I'm having is what to write. "Write what you know". I don't know ****. Anybody who claims to is either a liar or ignorant. I don't much care for structure and form, but I'm good at it. I find myself constantly rebelling against it. Anybody wanna guess what kind of art I make?
Hello Hank, 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. 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!
Thanks cogito. I didn't mean to sound so self absorbed and brash. I came to this site because I do value other people's writing (and criticism). I am happy to critique as well. However, ultimately to improve my own skills. I think it's possible to do both. You've given me a good idea of where to start.
Hey Hank. I have no idea what type of art you generally create, but visual art and writing go wonderfully together. It's a combination I practice myself, though I mostly stick to pencil drawings. Good to have you on the board, anyway. And what you stated earlier is not at all self-absorbed; most people here, myself included, had/have exactly the same reasoning for joining this site.
