Hello, this is the first writing forum I've ever joined. I've enjoyed storytelling since I was a child. I spent eight years in the Army [2001-2009] and haven't written a whole lot of anything during that time. What really sparked me was an old recording one of my aunts sent me for Christmas. It was a recording of me in May of 1990 telling several stories I had made up. I realized I had let the 'real world' distract me from something I've always enjoyed. I decided it was time to get to it before I get any older and thought a good writing forum could help me along the way.
You said, Army? Very nice. I almost went active duty after training this past summer. Welcome to the site!
Well Hello Muscle, My name is Dan, from Pennsylvania, I'm in the same boat as you! So, first, I'd like to welcome you, and say that if you'd ever like to talk or compare notes, I post on here quite often and raise many questions by design to help myself and others. This is an amazing site with truly incredible people, what do you like to write about and have you completed anything, in the form of work, publications, novels, etc.? -Daniel danielperson75@gmail.com
P.S. Also, (By design, the world, social media, etc.) is meant to distract you, it's to distract people, I am glad you broke away from that and via your aunt's recording found your way back to yourself and what really matters to you, It's nice to see you here! This is the nicest forum I've found, with the most clever, intriguing people I've ever met, glad to have you in the aggregate with us!
No I haven't completed anything. I am about as unaccomplished as it gets. I enjoy suspense, science fiction, fantasy, and westerns in no particular order. Thanks for the welcome.
Hello Muscle, 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 the RPG forum for improvisational fiction. Also try 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!
