To start of I would look to say that I am in no way a professional writer. This is the main reason I have chosen to sign up with this rather interesting looking forum. I hope to get advice and criticism on anything I eventually get the nerve up to post. I have no expectations of becoming a world famous author but simply want to create an adventure for my newphew. He has just turned one and I would love to be able to have a story with him as the main character by the time he is old enough to understand things well enough to enjoy a book. Now to tell you a little about myself. Name: Neil Age: 25 Location: Merry Ol' England Favourite Author: I have many favourites but if I were to pick one it would have to be Terry Pratchett. One of the first authors that got me interested in reading something other than a television magazine and ultimately lead me to want to create a world/adventure of my own. Experience in writing: Very little to say the least. I have read a lot of websites giving tips on how to start writing, about the basics of how to make make a story evolve. However, I know I have so much more to learn, I hope I can find all I need to know amongst the people of this forum. Well thats about all I think. If there is anything else about me you would care to know please don't hesitate to ask, I will answer if I am able to
No one starts as a professional, or intend to become one, but if you keep at it and it is something that you love to do and charters are already in the making, start now. Listen to your heart, mind and soul, not to mention your dreams. It telling you something and you need to let it out.
Hello Neill, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Posting your own work should not be among the very first things you do here anyway. 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. 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!