Hello all. One day I'd like to be able to write a book on the side (not as a job) and have it published. I have much to learn and practice before I can even start to put my ideas together in a meaningful way. As a child, I didn't have TV or games, but I had books. Every week my father would take us to a book store and my brother and I could pick out two books each. Two books! That only lasted a few days! I would desperately trade my brother, doing his chores and cleaning his room so I could end up with 4 books. Now, older, I've had some amazing experiences in two branches of the U.S. military and am a firefighter for a major city. I go to college and major in philosophy. That's it in a nutshell. Hi, again. If anyone likes to review stories, I'd appreciate it to no end if they would keep tabs on me. I'm thankful of criticism. I'll ask for more of it, I have thick skin by now. Thanks to whoever keeps this site going and those that share their stories and reviews. Reading some of the stories here makes me realize what "good" is.
Hello Cinders, 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. 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!
Reading is one of the best ways to learn, and it sounds like you love to read! Awsome, welcome aboard.
