Hey Writing Forums, I've been hovering around here for awhile now, but never anything formally. So, I'm Josh. A 20 year old Medic in the U.S. Army, currently in the Airborne Infantry -- also currently in Afghanistan. Writing has become a huge part of my life, as well as reading and editting other people's work. I don't have much time here, but believe me, you get plenty of time to let your imagination roll when you're watching for IED emplacers at three in the morning. I look forward to hopping into this place and adding a positive influence. I've had a couple short stories published in some very small E-Zines and local magazines, but nothing bigger. I look forward to working with everyone here on anything that you can imagine, feel free to approach me about anything on any subject. Cooperative writing, editing, general life questions -- anything. Random Facts: From Northern California Drives a 1969 Chevelle Can type upwards of 90 WPM. Is a stickler for grammar on anything, ever.
Hey Echoes and welcome! Wow...up to 90 wpm? I can only do half that. I look forward to reading your stuff. LMC
Hello Echoes, 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!