September is one of my favorite months. The weather begins to cool and children go off to school. Time is no longer scarce, but flowing with abundance. I'm Mysti. I have two boys, aged 5 and 1, respectively. They are my world in many ways. I have pretty well taken the last year off from writing. It certainly wasn't the easiest choice I've ever made, but a necessary one. I'm venturing back out into the freelancing world and feel as though I'm just dipping my toes into water for the first time. I look forward to meeting you all! Mysti Guymon-Reutlinger
Hello Mysti, 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!
Thank you for the warm welcomes! Re: names ending in I They totally rock! Actually, I love the uniqueness in that spelling. Re: Length of time writing That's funny. Or not. But the question must be answered as it has been asked. I began writing when I was seven. I actually started out with plays/scripts complete with archaic images. In the third grade, I was pushed by my teacher to explore the world of poetry. So I did and had my first poem published through a community sponsored contest. I continued down that path with Young Authors through high school. Then came adulthood. I continued to write, though I kept most everything private until recent years. I had my first credited article published in 2008, though I found ghost writing much more my style the prior two years. I would say that's it in a nutshell, but it's a pretty large nut.
Hi Mysti, and welcome aboard. Funny, that--I just started taking a year or so off from work to write. I've been to Cheyenne. I lived for about a year in Gillette, other side of the state, north-wise.
I've traveled through Gillette, too! I'm actually knee-deep in purchasing a home in Pine Bluffs; nestled on the WY/NE border. I love the picturesque views and amazing inspiration that comes from the pine trees growing on the cliffs surrounding the city. Amazing is this state. And thank you all around!
