I have officially been a member of this site for about an hour and am already in LOVE!!! so many interesting people - so many interesting stories. I can't wait to share, and be shared with, and read and learn and get totally immersed in the best world there is... the creative one I absolutely adore writing and if you do too then you're my kind of person. I won't say I'm an aspiring writer because that implies I'm not already a writer, which I am, though I haven't finished my first novel yet (technicality) So hi to all... I hope to hear and speak to you soon! -- Jamie, xo
Hello Stargazer, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Please read How to Use the Review Room 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 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 Jamie and welcome! I'm sure this forum will be able to provide you with all kinds of interesting nuggets of knowledge and inspiration. I myself have learned that I still love writing! Even after three years of having my passion beaten out of me while writing radio ads. I also discovered that I love Poppin' Candy, though I made that discovery myself and it had little to do with the Forum.
Hi Jamie and welcome! As Jeff Arch says 'You're not an aspiring writer. You are a writer.'Good words to live by don't ya think? I know this quote changed my perspective.
Hello Jamie! I am a new member, too (but the fact is I just registered a few days ago, though I always paid a visit to this web page), and I have the exact same idea as you do, I love here, and hope to share and be shared great stories, discussions, and threads. I love writing, too, and I am working on my first novel (all my other writings are novellas and short stories)
