Hello! My name is Artemis, and I am an aspiring writer-reader-editor sort of creature. I was searching for writing forums via 'Google', and after taking a look about decided I'd try it out here and see how this forum fits. What really drew me in is the system of reviewing over writing; I've been in quite a few writers' forums today as a guest, browsing, and it disappoints me to see on many websites just how few reviews are actually posted. Here, I checked the forums out and saw that maybe one thread in twenty had "0" in the 'Replies' column. I was quite impressed by the system set up here. I love to critique, edit, and review others' writing as much as I enjoy trying to write my own pieces, and it's true that outside comments and assistance help immensely when trying to improve one's skill as a writer. Once again, it's nice to meet you. I hope you have a splendid afternoon. Artemis
Welcome Artemis! I can guarantee you'll find what you are searching for here, and everyone in these forums are great people!
Hello Artemis, Welcome to the Writing Forums. I'm delighted that you like our approach to reviewing. It certainly sets us apart, but I feel that the reasons for our approach are solid. As you already noticed, 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!
